The Lindborgs go solar

In our never-ending efforts to keep from knuckling under to "The Man", we opted to put about 3000 Kw/h worth of Photo Voltaic (PV to the hipsters) solar panels on our roof.  Yes, you can go solar in Seattle - the angle of the sun up here and such gives you about %80-%85 efficiency give or take (at least at my house) - so you toss 3000 Kw/h up there and you'll be generating right around 2400.

This is one of those projects best left to professionals - installing the panels and dealing with the collection end of it is easy since it's all DC and such, the whole bit where you hook it to your panel and send your excess juice back onto the grid is a bit more complex than we care to tackle.  So the fine folks out at Puget Sound Solar came out and gave us a hand.  They're awfully nice folks and did a snappy job.

(click on thumbnails to get a larger picture)

	18 Sharp 167 watt panels installed on the south facing part of our roof.  So pretty.
	Yeah, our neighbors are the only ones who can see it (I have to go into their yard when they're not around to check it out) - they're not quite as thrilled about solar energy as we are.  But then again they're a pretty cranky pair and aren't thrilled with much so what are you going to do?
	The DC wire goes down through the roof...
	...along the side of the house near the hot tub room...
	...and in to the basement...
	...and finally into the most excellent Xantrex (two, yes TWO X's in their name!  Extra cool!) inverter unit.  Older setups used to take 2 or even 3 boxes spread out all over the place, but now it's all in one snappy, compact unit.  Check out that manly heat spreader on that bad boy.  It feeds right into our power box...
	...and out to the 2nd meter - once the inspector comes out and hooks it up we can sit and gaze at the meter rolling backwards during the day.  Sweet. Now I just need to get some razor wire, a bunch of freeze dried food, a .50 cal machine gun and finish that manifesto I've been working on so I can complete the Mt. Lindborg compound project.  Stay tuned...

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