Has the hammer fallen on the OB Forum?

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JRHill
JRHill Registered Users Posts: 450 ✭✭✭✭
in Solar Skeptics, Hype, & Scams Corner #1
Hopefully its a hiccup. It has come up a few times if the forum could be taken private to protect years and years of valuable content for OB stuff.
Off Grid. Two systems: 1) 2925w panels, OB VFXR3648, FM80, FNDC, Victron BMV-712, Mate3s, 240 xformer, four SimpliPHI 3.8; 2) 780w, Morningstar 30a, Grundfos switch, controller and AC/DC pump, 8 T105. Honda EU7000is w/AGS. Champion 3100. HF 4550, Miller Bobcat.
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  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 7,041 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    What a contrast of how well Schneider has managed their phase out of offgrid. They too lost all of their forum content in 2006 so I hope Outback's can be saved.

    In other news the last Federal 30% solar credit has to be claimed before Dec 31st but it does not have to be installed by then. They are giving breathing room.

    Might have to get another array and battery in the fall...
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

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  • JRHill
    JRHill Registered Users Posts: 450 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Our 15 year old panels suffer in heat with no breeze. Otherwise they are producing. The heat is the problem and that happens during long hot days so it's off setting for demand and production. I just plan stuff accordingly.

    I have no desire to replace panels at this point but I am thinking of adding a string, two or three. That would take another FM80 and the roof space I have left is a 12/4 so only good in the summer. In the winter I couldn't add enough panels for production so I don't even go there. In the summer we don't worry about it - I run the genset for exercise and for things like pressure washing with the water well cycling and the washer running at the same time. But over the years I KNOW HOW TO STAGE things with the weather. Do big deal - I can change a project to another day.

    Plus another aspect: another FM would give me a backup. THIS is on my mind. I have a VFXR backup. So I guess I am keeping my eye's open for a FM80 from a system that has been changed over to something else AND IT WAS IN SERVICE WHEN RETIRED. From a reputable source.
    Off Grid. Two systems: 1) 2925w panels, OB VFXR3648, FM80, FNDC, Victron BMV-712, Mate3s, 240 xformer, four SimpliPHI 3.8; 2) 780w, Morningstar 30a, Grundfos switch, controller and AC/DC pump, 8 T105. Honda EU7000is w/AGS. Champion 3100. HF 4550, Miller Bobcat.
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  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 7,041 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    You have to do what you think is best. I just know there is no way I would run anything but a HV mppt. Just too easy and even easier to make changes that you have not thought of yet...

    The Costco all in one battery even has a couple HV mppts!
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

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  • SumPower
    SumPower Registered Users Posts: 110 ✭✭
    edited July 20 #5
    JRHill said:
    Hopefully its a hiccup. It has come up a few times if the forum could be taken private to protect years and years of valuable content for OB stuff.

    I noticed this morning, and thier business web page comes up with the same page with the same message as above. This time it not just thier forum that is unavailable!
    Maybe, they might be back?
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  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 7,041 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Sarcastically, what business?
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

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  • SumPower
    SumPower Registered Users Posts: 110 ✭✭
    #7
    Well it appears they want to be a business? Thier website and forum were up earlier this morning to give us hope I believe!
    But now down again.
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  • JRHill
    JRHill Registered Users Posts: 450 ✭✭✭✭
    #8
    We won't talk about fire reporting in our area with too many talking heads.

    It worked for one thing: all the city people vacated.
    Off Grid. Two systems: 1) 2925w panels, OB VFXR3648, FM80, FNDC, Victron BMV-712, Mate3s, 240 xformer, four SimpliPHI 3.8; 2) 780w, Morningstar 30a, Grundfos switch, controller and AC/DC pump, 8 T105. Honda EU7000is w/AGS. Champion 3100. HF 4550, Miller Bobcat.
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,141 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #9
    After this morning the Forum him seems to be up and running

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

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  • SumPower
    SumPower Registered Users Posts: 110 ✭✭
    #10
    New owner of Outback Power is "Energy Access Innovations." Per the CEO of said company, James Showalter.

    This link is compliments of a user named Sparkey on the Outback Forum.

    Energy Access Innovations Acquires OutBack Power, Announces Strategic Investment and New General Manager | World Energy News Online

    World Energy News Online is an online news publication focusing on energy in the General: Bringing you the latest news on energy
    wwwworldenergynewsonlinecom www.worldenergynewsonline.com


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  • JRHill
    JRHill Registered Users Posts: 450 ✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24 #11
    Up and down. The OpticsRE has no graphs but is showing real time harvest.

    All in all a could give a ____. If paid for the service I would be mad. Maybe the info will populate, maybe not. Frankly I don't care. The system has been stabile for a long time so my interest is in the OpticsRE history. Yup, we run a download report from time to time when we think things have changed. We do that with weather data too.

    My concern is what will happen with years and years of history?
    Off Grid. Two systems: 1) 2925w panels, OB VFXR3648, FM80, FNDC, Victron BMV-712, Mate3s, 240 xformer, four SimpliPHI 3.8; 2) 780w, Morningstar 30a, Grundfos switch, controller and AC/DC pump, 8 T105. Honda EU7000is w/AGS. Champion 3100. HF 4550, Miller Bobcat.
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