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If you want to get rich, design a reliable sub-micro turbine that fits in a urinal.

You would probably do better with a gravity water wheel than an impulse turbine. Even with zero flow in the pipe, you have a maximum of 28PSI static pressure @ zero flow, but I suspect with friction you will have something less than 50gpm of flow, near zero pressure, and something less the 5fps...

First confirm the head by installing a 0-30 or 0-60 pressure gauge in the outlet end of the pipe, with the pipe full of water and the outlet closed, what is the pressure? Next, weigh an empty 5-gallon plastic bucket. With water flowing thru the pipe, time how many seconds it takes to nearly...

https://www.ktool.net/thhn-thwn-2-1/?page=2 Sorry it took so long; I have no excuse. Aluminum would be a little stiffer but use liberal amounts of pulling lube and it will be fine. Do not ever use aluminum wire without "Noalox" or something similar on the bare wire ends when connecting...

Your project has distracted my attention this afternoon. Personally, because of the low pressure available, I would fabricate a simple overshot water wheel and use a timing belt drive to a suitable E-bike hub motor. You have about 415 lbs of water a minute for energy and a water wheel would not...

PG&E NEM2 gives you three years. Note if your contractor flakes out, I was told there is a procedure that allows you to change or even DIY. I am doing my own NEM2 and have been allowed to change inverters and add batteries on a replacement application and keep NEM2. Good luck!

Assuming the line has a little extra length, it would be easy to cut out the damaged part and solder (sil-fos) it together with a copper coupling. That would require using a gauge set and vacuum pump to evacuate the line for a few minutes before releasing the refrigerant from the condensing unit...

For fasteners of all types and virtually anything else for real hands-on projects check McMaster-Carr online. They have massive inventory, great service, and instant shipping from at least 3 regional US locations. They can be beat on price sometimes, but nobody beats their service or inventory...

I didn't know it was a barrel. However, I certainly don't want anybody to convert an AC water heater to DC without understanding that the thermostats will not work and that a suitable high amp DC contactor or relay must be used to stop, start, and control temperature. Whenever I see a similar...

I'm finally happy, major design selections are made, and a lot of major components are either on-hand or ordered. Still need to buy a nice 40' shipping container & the steel to fabricate mounts for the 24X400W bifacials mounting on top of the container. The county building dept. is good with...

Something to consider when having A/C start issues whether grid or inverter powered. If the A/C starts at first then overloads on the power supply side of the electric system when restarting the A/C, the problem may be the condensing unit controls. When the A/C is running, and the thermostat...

Cheap stainless steel fasteners suck, yes they love to gall whenever it is stainless to stainless. I have had many SS threads gall before actually starting to tighten. With premium 316 fasteners a liberal coat is SS anti-seize is usually adequate. For cheap SS fasteners I have found that glass...

Typically tank heating elements are enclosed in stainless steel pipes with external flanged ends placed horizontal thru the tank. The element is isolated from the pipe, the element heats the pipe internally and the element is fully serviceable. In this case the rocks would be heated by direct...

Same math different voltage so, 16A X 400V X 1.73 =11.072 so, math good & data bad.

My existing A/C and the future heat pump would require similar KWH in the summer so the main difference will be in the heating season. I want to limit propane use to cooking and a small amount of water heating so want to eliminate the propane furnace. $800+ propane deliveries suck just as bad as...

Yes, it has 28psi at dead head, zero flow. But if you drill a hole in the side of the pipe a few inches above the outlet, tap it, and install a pressure gauge you will see near zero pressure when there is full flow. If you install a tiny nozzle to the end of the pipe it will have near 28PSI, the...

From this, I think you need to use a gaggle of bifacial panels and stand them up proud on ground mounts (solar fence). Minimize structure behind the panels, everything white or reflective, mount the panels by the long edge without any rails crossing behind the back of the panels. In cloudy...

Yes, replace it, especially if you know an electrician. If not, network here on the forum for someone nearby to help you. A small grid-tie inverter would be cheap now days. Certainly, don't spend big money. Oop's, I forgot Call the PG&E SNEM Paired Storage people @ 877 743-4112 and tell them you...

Very impressive.

With no demands you may make steam, melt plastic piping, suffer steam or hot water burns or with the failure or lack of a T&P valve have an explosion. Overheated water heaters were the MythBusters favorite episodes, very impressive and even more dangerous. Search on YouTube for MythBusters...

9.99KW version of 18KVP that still has 200A AC pass-thru. There may be a place for a 9.99KWH 48V battery in the 14.9KWH enclosure too.

I have a full 35 panel pallet on hand & 39.6KWH of battery & inverter due Wednesday. Let the price increase begin, I'm covered (for a change).

2" pipe friction @ 50 gpm = .0537 per ft. x 1100 = 59.07 feet plus some for fittings so just about equal to the total head. At the outlet it should equalize at roughly 50GPM, zero pressure, and 4.78 feet per second velocity. The best way to make power with it, I'm pretty clueless.

Years ago, Missouri Wind & Solar really was pushing DC conversions of water heaters. They offered a DC rated contactor specifically for the application and enough data to prove exactly why the AC contacts were unsafe and would fail. They convinced me. That part and its supporting documents are...

To clarify everything: My goals: A. Reduce overall energy costs for electricity & propane by installing the PG&E NEM2 agreed 9.6KW PV system. B. Eliminate frequent power outages. C. Replace (obsolete) split unit ducted HVAC 4-ton R22/propane heat with a new ducted inverter 4-ton heat pump (Will...

Gave up on the forklift battery idea when the EQ4 14.3KWH & also EP Cube batteries became so cheap. When I factor in a $200. per KWH Ca. rebate, a 30% federal tax deduction, a 5% discount, and free shipping then my net cost for an EP Cube system w/inverter and 19.8KWH of battery takes the...

The advantage of using sand or rock is that the material is cheap, readily available, will withstand very high temperatures, and there are no problems with fire or pressure. Considering the low specific heat of these materials, very high temperature differentials are required to store enough...

This will be a rural California Sierra foothill grid-tied installation. I have PG&E NEM-3 authorization to grid-tie a 9.6KW system w/24ea. 400W bifacial panels. I will probably also use a new 750KWH 3,000lb 48V forklift battery and a 10KW propane generator w/300-gal dedicated propane tank. After...

I agree, slow down, define goal, make a plan, make a list, and then execute. Buying a package can sometimes save money too.

I would double up the strut back to back for at least 2' below ground and 2' or more above ground.