Installation of the panels and electronics

So, we've got a crew of four installing the hardware for the solar system...brackets, racks, panels, inverter, and the connections.  They feel they'll get done today. At first they were a little nervous about the three story building, then they realized that the roof is only slightly pitched (15 deg) and consequently easy to work on.

brackets and racks for panels

So we're rocking!  As I wrote this, I got an email from the the company, O3 Home Solar, that we are ready to start the next step, connecting the system to the grid and dealing with the power company.  Moving along indeed.

UPDATE:  Tim and I discovered an issue.  We did not get the system that allows us to draw power during a blackout.  He was right that our contract didn't call for it.  So I called the office and spoke to Ronnie.  Between the two of them we figured out a solution and settled it very quickly and professionally.  It takes another service call, but we got it handled.  Yay.

[any further updates will be new posts]

Here Comes the Sun (doo bee doo bee)

Subtitled: Going Solar

Coming this Tuesday, December 17, 2019, we will have solar panels installed on our roof.  We are staying on grid for now and doing the buy-back option. Reliant/Oncor have a good buy-back program...we've been told.  We'll see how everything works.  Let's face it, it's not what we're used to and will take some adjustment.  We know some folks in town who have them from another company, but they've promised to help us with the rough bits we'll come to.

I'm going to post pictures, videos, Facebook streaming videos,  and narratives as we get them in and as we adjust to the panels.  Some things should stay exactly the same on our part.  Some things will change.  They're not a miracle, just another energy source.

For those of you who don't know, we intended to use solar from the beginning.  We're 90% + electrical for that reason.  In the future, as storage systems improve in quality and price we'll think about adding that to our system, but for now it's just a no go.  Anyway, I'll keep you posted.  Not every day, of course, but more frequently than usual at first.  After a while it will only be when there is an issue or a victory.

Thanks for reading.  I'll definitely have stuff on Tuesday.

Progress isn't over-rated

Okay...since last I posted much has been accomplished.

Posts for the gate have been set.

A wedding has been hosted in the back patio area.

An A/C window unit has been wired and installed.

The enclosure for the living quarters access stairs has been framed, sheet-rocked, and a door hung.

The basement wall on the corner has been repointed and sealed. (Thanks Brandon and Malick)

And an access panel was cut in the upstairs ceiling and a cupola built to cover the roof access hatch.

Lots has been done.  Summer is a time when I can really get things done if i stay on task... and I have.

Baby it's cold out there.

Okay, so I've been pretty lax about working down at the Manor for a bit.  It gets really cold in there!  Freezy fingers get smashed and slashed and gashed pretty easily.  Boy's gotta be careful.

Once I got my propane heater back from the "Grinch's Lair" (Jeremy Janz, Sonia Martinez, and Ian Warmke), I am able to work pretty well.  I've done some down there, but it's hard to find the time.  So much to do- so little time.  There are three upstairs windows I need to rebuild, one ground level window to finish rebuilding, and most of the basement windows to redo.  After that, rehang the garage/basement "barn door" and work on sealing it.  Those are the next things on the agenda.

After that, plumbing to the upstairs.  It shouldn't be too hard to rough it in since we will have a  "wet wall".  (Am I over-using quotation marks today?)  I want to get this done before spring break in March.  I am NOT on track for a July move-in so I must get myself in gear.

Game of Porcelain Thrones

Success!  We now have two toilets in what will be the "Ladies Room".  The permanent lavatory should go in tomorrow with the dividers shortly thereafter.  This is a major milestone on the way to habitable.  The vinyl tile floors were hell on my knees and back (even with knee pads), but it was worth it.  Once the sink/lavatory is in, I can start bringing the water and drains upstairs and over to the "Gents Room".  If I had to, I could stay there now.  I wouldn't like to, really, but I could if I had to.

Somebody tried to break in last Sunday, but were foiled not by the alarm system, but by a well constructed door and the steel bar cages on the basement windows.  Take that!

Here is a sequence of pictures of the restroom construction:

Asbestos I can remember...

Had the building checked for asbestos today. None in the building, BUT the slate shingles on the rickety old shed out back are. Dang! That's $1k for disposal. I was tempted to just accidentally have them disappear, but no, asbestos can truly cause problems, and I don't want that on my conscience.

The basement, however, is getting cleaned quite nicely. The "dirt" floor I thought was there was simply 100 years of dirt covering a tile floor. Quite lovely. Tomorrow we'll get the rest of it cleaned out and then work will halt for about two weeks as I journey to Kenya. I'll post a summary of my travel journal here when I get back. I doubt I'll have a chance to post before then.