On (18 Oct 97) Jim Dunmyer wrote to Kyle Hearn...
 JD> From what I've read in HomePower magazine, it appears like
 JD> going 100% AC, using inverters, is the way to operate today.
 JD> Twenty years ago, most AE households used mostly DC lights and
 JD> appliances because of the inefficiencies of the inverters of
 JD> the day.
I agree. We've been running a DC and AC household off-grid for 15
years. If I started again, I might go mostly AC, and I'd certainly
recommend it to non-tinkerers. I still like DC though - no
conversion losses, no EMF, more efficient motors.
But I'd still recommend running major loads like fridge and freezer
directly on DC.
 JD> scale. I think I'd start with a decent-sized PV panel,
 JD> charging a 12 volt RV battery. Use the battery to operate a
 JD> couple of lights, a small TV, or a laptop computer. Be sure
 JD> that those appliances are ones that you actually USE on a
 JD> daily basis.
 JD> Doing the above will give you some hands-on experience with a
 JD> PV system, maintaining batteries, etc. You'll also gain an
 JD> appreciation for how much useful energy can be provided by
 JD> such a system and how it relates to consumption.
Great advice!
                        Ian
... Balance the budget in 7 years?!? How about 7 days!                        
 
... The Dems and GOPs only disagreement with the bombers is *who and when* it
is acceptable to bomb, not *if* it is acceptable to bomb.
--- PPoint 1.96
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