14 Mar 13 11:09 AM
Battery life is dependent on a number of factors, the most relevant to this thread being cycle life. Yes, traction cells are generally rated on C5 basis and expected to last 1500 cycles but to 80% DoD......read more
23 Jun 12 3:01 PM
Hi Ledguru, The different in testing between fhat and the new IC testing is as follows: - Fhat testing only had the insulation over the top of the light hence the heat sink on the rear of an le......read more
23 Jun 12 3:00 PM
Hi Ledguru, The different in testing between fhat and the new IC testing is as follows: - Fhat testing only had the insulation over the top of the light hence the heat sink on the rear of an le......read more
11 Jan 12 1:19 PM
Bought out by Terra Lana http://www.terralana.co.nz/ I have used both and think the T Lana product is better....read more
10 Jan 12 8:35 AM
Grid Tie inverters used in Aus and NZ already need to comply with AS4777 which sets upper and lower voltage limits beyond which the inverter will self-disconnect. The "problem" raised in the......read more
20 Dec 11 10:00 AM
Hi JD, I don't know about liquid membranes but I have worked on a dead flat roof that was coated with a thick layer of fibreglass which was sprayed on. The beauty of this product was it can be applied......read more
20 Dec 11 10:00 AM
Hi JD, I don't know about liquid membranes but I have worked on a dead flat roof that was coated with a thick layer of fibreglass which was sprayed on. The beauty of this product was it can be applied......read more
20 Nov 11 3:15 PM
"However, the chances are that a hot water heat pump used for heating water or heating a house will pay for itself (in simple terms of energy savings) in around five years" And some of my cu......read more
16 Nov 11 11:33 AM
Caziques, On a simple capital invested costing your assumption is correct but you have not allowed for the limited life of a heat pump versus the much longer life of PV. Any reputable module will carr......read more
16 Nov 11 11:25 AM
I can second the Natural House products. I have oiled foot traffic areas and the feel in bare feet is wonderful! There are also floor waxes you can use to more effectively seal the timber but none of ......read more
16 Nov 11 11:25 AM
I can second the Natural House products. I have oiled foot traffic areas and the feel in bare feet is wonderful! There are also floor waxes you can use to more effectively seal the timber but none of ......read more
28 Oct 11 10:08 AM
UL approval means diddly squat here. If it does not have AS4777 compliance it won't be accepted. Also feeding via any plug system is not permitted here. In general micro-inverters have some pros and c......read more
16 Oct 11 6:46 AM
Hi LME, Banks do create money out of nothing - look up fractional reserve banking which is the system used almost globally and why we had to drop the gold standard....read more
13 Oct 11 2:54 PM
Yawn - yet another quick buck merchant using this forum to advertise for free........read more
18 Sep 11 9:35 AM
To the best of my knowledge they don't make anything apart from the normal taxation process. Years ago the renewables industry tried to get PV incorporated as an offset by allowing the power companies......read more
1 Sep 11 3:29 PM
The main doping elements used in production of PV cells are Boron and Phosphorous. Sure, some technologies use other materials such as Tellurium (CdTe) and Gallium (GaAs) thin film types but the vast ......read more
31 Aug 11 8:47 AM
Hi Tearai, 44Voc indicates a 72 cell module but the Vpmax won't be at 17V for a module of that configuration, more like 33 - 35V. At present the modules I have at this price are a 60 cell module, prim......read more
30 Aug 11 8:26 AM
Hi Nofear. Yes, a frameless module would be considerably lower in price but difficult to mount. I have done it once and never again! They are just too fragile while handling. Although I don't have 230......read more
26 Aug 11 5:52 PM
www.freedomenergy.co.nz...read more
26 Aug 11 1:41 PM
As an update on this thread, we are now able to offer a top Japanese brand with a 25 year warranty (that will be supported if ever necessary) for $3.40/W incl GST. The price drop has just come through......read more
19 Aug 11 2:47 PM
Hi LME, that theory makes sense. My air inlet is on the front and not far off the bottom. Does not take much heat to keep gas flow through the chamber. I would think that a CO detector would only be n......read more
19 Aug 11 1:24 PM
Hi LME, you raise some valid points. Mine is an old log burner, around 30 years old. It is a simple box design with a baffle plate to promote gas swirl in the chamber. If it is up to temperature and h......read more
19 Aug 11 9:16 AM
PPS, these days the battery will be around 40% of the system price for an off-grid PV based system so what seems to be a low price may not be if "battery not included"!...read more
19 Aug 11 9:11 AM
The quality of the wood will have a lot to do with it. Wood is basically cellulose and lignin, regardless of species. As such, kg for kg, all woods will produce the same amount of heat per unit weight......read more
19 Aug 11 9:00 AM
As a post-script, Evergreen has just filed for bankruptcy protection...read more
19 Aug 11 8:59 AM
Nofear, there are a number of factors at work. The first is the quality of the manufacturer. In the US the really trusted brands are not selling that cheap. Only the cheap "whatever name you want......read more
18 Aug 11 10:00 AM
Quote: "This is a discussion and debate forum not a hug forum. " EXACTLY. Discussion and debate, not sarcasm and belittling. My request to ALL posters is to address the topic and not to make......read more
17 Aug 11 2:24 PM
Hey guys, let's try to keep things a bit friendly. This kind of tit for tat slinging off when there is a difference is really uncool! You both have a point of view, nobody is right and nobody is wrong......read more
29 Jun 11 6:25 PM
"the losses im guessing are going through heat and the fan in the inverter and heat in the laptop power adapter" Must be either an incredibly inefficient inverter or the laptop adaptor is to......read more
29 Jun 11 10:11 AM
Stonemason you say "Did some tests today, laptop draws 1.6amps running with 12v adapter, running 240v with a 600w inverter draws 6amps. similar story for my 12v T.V." Something does not add ......read more
28 Jun 11 8:48 PM
Hi Tearai, don't fret about losses from a 230 - 12VDC driver for LEDs. If you use a good quality one it will run several lights and be up in the very high 90% efficiency range so lost power will be wa......read more
27 Jun 11 11:41 PM
OK not going to get into any mud slinging here but point out a few FACTS. AS/ZNS3000 was revised last year so 2007 no longer applies. ALL ELVDC installations were brought into it. So, you don't have t......read more
27 Jun 11 7:36 PM
I would second the view of running your lights from a 230VAC supply if you have an inverter in the system. If you try to use 12V you are limiting yourself to a 12V battery and that in turn will limit ......read more
10 Jun 11 10:29 AM
heck with these guys http://www.switch-lighting.co.nz/...read more
24 May 11 12:24 PM
There are numerous options available within NZ. The main criteria are going to be the amount of water you want to move per solar day, the delivery head, how you are going to control the pump so it won......read more
10 May 11 9:19 PM
Hi Robert, interesting stuff. Assuming the Electricity Commission is correct in their figures (who knows?) and given the current wholesale rate of around 3.5c/kWh, this demonstrates the effect new bui......read more
9 May 11 8:49 AM
Hi Nofear, the Govt 100% owns Meridian, Genisis and Mighty River. They have a shareholding in Contact but it may be a minority one by now (less than 50%). The only powerco that the Govt does not have ......read more
7 May 11 11:32 AM
Yes - but. You are taking information about a market half a world away where the electricity costs and structure are very different to here. Population distribution and the whole scale of things bear ......read more
7 May 11 10:11 AM
Hi Nofear, I would disagree on your comment about electricity pricing. Three of the big four "gentailers" are still owned by the NZ govt as SOE's. The fourth has some NZ public shareholding.......read more
12 Apr 11 6:24 PM
A product such as this violates a number of regulations and certainly would not comply with AS4777 or AS/NZS3000. If one is found in your house, no insurance in case of fire!...read more
12 Apr 11 6:16 PM
Seeker, that kind of thing makes me despair! It is done by those that chase a quick sale, will scale a system to suit a budget in order to get the sale and then walk away from responsibility when thin......read more
11 Apr 11 10:03 PM
From an Architect friend: Goldfoam, and Composite insulation in Chch import it http://www.composite-nz.co.nz/dynamicPage.asp?pageID=21 Web page states warehouses in Napier and Chch. Also page calls it......read more
11 Apr 11 9:56 PM
Hi Tearai (Peter), the ROI for grid tie systems is difficult to calculate unless you are pretty sure you know what power prices will do over the next 10 years. Sure they will go up, that is inevitable......read more
11 Apr 11 6:03 PM
Sorry but mix water and photovoltaic collectors and you are asking for trouble. PV generates electricity. Solar thermal makes hot water. You have your technologies crossed. ...read more
11 Apr 11 6:00 PM
Sorry, forgot to address ACQ. Might be best to look at some info on it here http://oak.arch.utas.edu.au/tbia/view_article.asp?articleID=288 http://www.pinetimberproducts.com.au/technical5/timber-prese......read more
11 Apr 11 5:53 PM
Yes, arsenic is a "natural" element and occurs in rocks throughout the planet. Sorry Just Do It but your argument lacks objectivity. Just because something is natural does not make it safe. ......read more
11 Apr 11 8:16 AM
The only concern with ploystyrene is that it is not 100% moisture proof. Any puncture in the vapour barrier and over time it will absorb moisture and thus loose it's insulating properties in that plac......read more
11 Apr 11 8:06 AM
You can get a traditional vertical board and batten look by simply fixing decorative battens over the ply. Softens the overall look of the place and it does not have to be done straight away....read more
11 Apr 11 8:03 AM
In all honesty I believe that treated radiata takes a lot of beating. It is reasonably stable, does not splinter excessively and is relatively low cost and available. For those that claim it is toxic,......read more
11 Apr 11 7:56 AM
HI Tearai, with the risk of hijacking this thread into an off-grid discussion, I can understand where you are at. Most of my off-grid clients faced the same decision but most opt to go for a larger sy......read more