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Tesla Energy

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Re: Tesla Energy

#561

Post by JoeAltmaier »

hammock wrote: post #463
NickM wrote: post #449

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But, I'm also not going to put the battery pack(s) "inside" my house (e.g. utility/laundry room). Why not? The whole point to making it wall-mounted is that it won't take up any substantial amount of space. A utility/laundry room seems like exactly the logical place that you would want to put it.

Fire hazard

The big technological thing Tesla batteries have going for them is, short of complete mechanical destruction, they don't catch fire. There's a thermal shutoff on every cell. So not the big issue it might have been.

Re: Tesla Energy

#562

Post by JoeAltmaier »

DaniFong wrote: post #558
robot wrote: post #493

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem with all of your examples is they still only sell one thing. Tesla now sells 2 things. That means sales, marketing team, strategy, support, for 2 things. Like, having 2 companies.

Another example, Standard Oil: don't just sell the oil. Refine it, and sell the kerosene, and the lamps, and also sell the gasoline, and when you're left with paraffins invent paraffin candles and sell those too...

Ha! The aboriginal Americans have nothing on Standard Oil. They just used every part of the buffalo. Standard Oil invented uses for every part of the oil.

Re: Tesla Energy

#563

Post by marincounty »

digerata wrote: post #518
_delirium wrote: post #513

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is also standard with other parts of a house. For example if you upgrade your kitchen to high-end finishings (granite countertops, etc.) that it didn't have before, that increases the value of the house. Not necessarily by the amount of the purchase/installation price, though.

You don't need to obtain a permit to upgrade your countertops. I believe the only time that an upgrade could possibly increase the taxable value of your house is if the township/county knows about it (I.e., you got a permit to install it). I also live in Michigan, but haven't researched renewable energy sources vs taxable value. I'm surprised to hear the gp say they had an increase.

It's really tricky. Replace the counter top--fine. Move the sink a few inches you're suppose to get a permit. A new electrical outlet--a permit. Solar system--permit. I can only think of a few things that don't require a permit--a fence maybe?

Always claim you just replaced the switch. Just replaced the plumbing. Even then they can make your life miserable if they want. (I can go into most people homes and find multiple code violations--some homes just a few years old.)

These towns are trying to make money. In my town, if you take a few pictures and sell them on eBay, or elsewhere the town wants a fee from you--guess what, you're a Professional Photographer.

My point is these counties/towns are drunk with power, and preventing homeowners from upgrading their homes. They are looking for every dime they can extract from you. A simple electrical switch in you house will require an Inspector in you home at least two times.

If you feel an inspector is picking on you; pull your video camera out and tape every move they make.(Keep the evidence if needed in a lawsuit.)

A building inspector can walk into your home without a warrant at any time. That needs to change, along with enacting all these petty laws most people don't even know they are breaking. Stop passing their bonds, bonds, bonds, bonds, until they stop harassing us.

(It's up to an inspector if they feel the improvements added to the value of your home in the counties I have worked in. Try arguing with some guy who just just looks up codes, and given way too much authority.)

Re: Tesla Energy

#565

Post by JoeAltmaier »

marincounty wrote: post #563
digerata wrote: post #518

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't need to obtain a permit to upgrade your countertops. I believe the only time that an upgrade could possibly increase the taxable value of your house is if the township/county knows about it (I.e., you got a permit to install it). I also live in Michigan, but haven't researched renewable energy sources vs taxable value. I'm surprised to hear the gp say they had an increase.

It's really tricky. Replace the counter top--fine. Move the sink a few inches you're suppose to get a permit. A new electrical outlet--a permit. Solar system--permit. I can only think of a few things that don't require a permit--a fence maybe? Always claim you just replaced the switch. Just replaced the plumbing. Even then they can make your life miserable if they want. (I can go into most people homes and find multi…

Pretty short-sighted. You know its all about keeping con men from cheating you by installing substandard or dangerous plumbing/electric etc? Those inspectors are not just out to make your life miserable. They're trying to keep your house, and the neighbors house, from burning down.

Re: Tesla Energy

#566

Post by brc »

roel_v wrote: post #271
brc wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My air conditioner is 12 kW. No chance.

If your air conditioner actually draws 52 amps at 230 volts (or 110 @ 110 if you're in the US), you must be air conditioning a gym hall with a black, tin roof somewhere in a desert. But you're probably not, and that was my whole point - my stove top is rated at 10kW, too, yet even when using alongside all other appliances in my house I have never gone above 4kW actual use. Actual need != summing all the nominal maxim…

To be honest, I don't know. It has 12kw on the outside. It's a DC inverter ducted system. I had to get the wiring to the house upgraded with 3 phase when it was put in. It doesn't use 3 phase but one of the phases is dedicated to the aircon. My electricity bill in summer is 20% higher.

Re: Tesla Energy

#567

Post by DaniFong »

lotsofmangos wrote: post #524
DaniFong wrote: post #485

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish it did; we are very far from harmonizing all the different utility rates. Once that data is clean up and available, an interactive website should not be too difficult to build. If anyone is interested in doing a paid internship to help us build it, send me a note with a portfolio at dfong@lightsail.com -- I run a compressed air energy storage company.

Was going to ask if you are ever planning on doing a home system, as although compressed air tanks can be risky, presumably they are slightly less risky than normal gas supplies.

Compressed air tanks are tested very rigorously; including the gunfire test, bonfire test, impact test, sulfuric acid test, over test, over pressurization test...

It is definitely safer than gas supplies, which strike me as an insane idea, especially in San Francisco where it previous burned down the city.

We will eventually do a home system. It is in the planning stages

Re: Tesla Energy

#568

Post by DaniFong »

spiritplumber wrote: post #79

Funny that something called Tesla Energy brings back direct current to the home. I wonder how many people will catch that.

Perhaps even better; the one of the most prominent inventors of the Lithium Ion batteries is a man named Goodenough.

Re: Tesla Energy

#569

Post by alkonaut »

mikeash wrote: post #552
alkonaut wrote: post #510

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd think, but that depends on how many times you can sell the same battery. As others have said, it's plausible that this is a way for Tesla to make use of used car batteries.

I really doubt that's true, just because it's too early for it. There are approximately zero used Tesla batteries available right now. The fleet is just too new. Maybe in another ten years.

When the used batteries start piling up, it's best for tesla if this system is already in place. Entirely possible that this will be new and subsidized batteries initially. They will need to find a use for the old car batteries.

Re: Tesla Energy

#570

Post by CHY872 »

lsaferite wrote: post #297
CHY872 wrote: post #275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you get 90% charge/discharge efficiency, you're multiplying the economy 7 tariff by 1/0.81 = 1.23456790 (so close) so it's more like 12.5 years, and a bit less compelling.

That is of course ignoring the other aspects, like battery backup for the house, better for the environment (?), the ability to do solar tie in, and any possible government incentives.

In the UK power cuts are very rare in most places (and generators are cheap), so it's not a huge advantage. The enviroment factor is at best tenuous due to 20% of energy stored lost as heat and high energy requirements for producing the batteries; and in any case unilateral green action makes no difference.

The solar tie in is quite nice, but current feed-in tariffs are huge in the UK (30p per kWh perhaps), so you're getting more out of paying it back than you would for storing.

Government incentives obviously change the calculations, but there aren't any at the moment.

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