RN made it down yesterday with the solar panels and a few other care packages. I didn't have a chance to do much with them until after he left this morning though. Still haven't done much with them other than rewiring three of them so far and directing them at charging the battery that runs the swamp cooler. Both fans were operating all afternoon off of the battery and one of the panels was actually running both and charging the battery at the same time. That leads me to believe that each of the panels are over 20 watts each because the fans pull 10 watts each, but it was also charging the battery at the same time. I don't have a way of knowing how much over 20 watts they are.
We went to the Grub Shack for breakfast and while there met a couple of new people about to take up residence down here. (Leddie & Rebecca Robertson) Rebecca recognized me from my blog and said David Smith. I said yes and she said they follow the blog. :) More good folks soon to join us here. Also saw John Wells there and she recognized him also. Doc Savage was also there wo there was a pretty good crowd to chat with.
The picture below shows three of them that I actually got rewired and was testing out late this evening. The same picture shows one of 4 chairs
Just Me turned me on to today. Cool chairs so I guess I'll have seating for guest when they show up.
While sitting outside later it was starting to get fairly dark, but I could still make out anything around me on the ground. I spied something slithering towards me, but couldn't tell what type snake it was. It was very small (Maybe 14 inches total), so I jumped up and almost stomped it. I thought better than that for safety sake and let it slink on by and go under the dungeon. I guess I have a new pet now. Oh Joy!
The photo of the evening. Just before seeing the snake.
Update
Got three of the panels up and charging the main battery bank and one charging the swamp cooler battery. Unfortunately though one of the panels is bad. According to what Just Me told me yesterday it may be repairable, but probably not by me because I wouldn't have a clue how to do it. Never the less the three are doing a good job of charging the bank and so is the other one keeping the evap fans running for ventilation and charging the battery at the same time.
Congrats on the new solar panels, that is a strange looking battery. What a beautiful moon rise!
ReplyDeleteOMGoodness. You really were going to just "stomp" on a snake? A snake you didn't know? Just gave me more to worry about.
ReplyDeleteHappy you had such a nice day, and happy you got more goodies. Happy there's only three more days. Just, plain-o, happy :)
And I LOVE THE PICTURE!!
frann, that's an old deep cycle battery I've had for years, but its still in service and running most of the swamp cooler. Will likely be running it full time before long with the use of one of the panels.
ReplyDeleteBTW Rebecca says she reads your blog also and is a big fan.
RN and I got one of JW's be Benita post cards at the GS today and a personal autograph on it. :) We'll both make millions with them some day. ;)
Great news about the batteries and chairs.
ReplyDeleteWatchout for those small rattlers, they are the dangerous ones.
MC, no worry. I had on my snake flip flops. ;) You're such a Happy Girl. :)
ReplyDeleteI just Googled "snake flip flops" and ended up with "don't mix"! You and Rebecca must have had a nice visit, she was excited as she met lot's of people she had been reading about. I hope to meet her this fall.
ReplyDeleteGood people frann, Unfortunately I think she said their land is about 24 miles from the Grub Shack. Both John and I invited them out to our places and she did seem to be pretty excited.
ReplyDeleteAdded an update and picture of three of the 5 panels now charging the main battery bank.
ReplyDeleteMore power! w00t! :)
ReplyDeleteDo you know yet how many watts of solar you are charging with now?
ReplyDeleteImpressive. I'm wondering if that RV is on the road to you yet. Hopefully so.
ReplyDeleteOh my, unfortunately those baby rattlers are hatching and I hear say they are as deadly as full grown ones :-(
ReplyDeleteHave you considered getting a couple of cats?
The solar panel wattage is over my head but I am glad you got some more to help you out up there.
Love the moon picture!!
we here in florida saw 3 rat snakes today slide right by us like we wern't even there!! i guess its snake time....
ReplyDeleteStorms went through last night and took the power down in the area all night long so no internet here. Still don't know what the wattage is on the panels? I just know it is over 20 watts each. Maybe 30 watts? Right now considerably less than that because it is totally cloudy. You might know once I got solar there wouldn't be sun to power them. :(
ReplyDeleteMsB, Yes I hear the baby rattlers are actually worse than the big ones because until they mature their venom is mostly nuro toxins like the Mojave has.
Andy, the RV is supposed to leave at 3:00 am in the morning and should be here in the afternoon some times. Maybe 2:00 or 3:00???
It's hard to believe that a company can make those panels without putting their name, model, serial, brand, or any kind of traceable numbers so that you could look it up! They probably put all the information on the inside! Even a light bulb has the wattage printed on them!
ReplyDeletehey fred thats right. maybe the broke one can be taken apart?
ReplyDeleteThey have tags on them, but they are faded out and can't be read.
ReplyDelete