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Sunpower Diary A SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT DIARY |
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Saturday, May 31, 2008. Rainy and overcast today. Sunup 5:22 a.m., sundown 8:28 p.m. System on at 5:49. Generated 6 KWH for 2,077. N.G. meter at 2,591. I am enjoying watching the generated total (2,077) close in on the purchased today (2,591). When they are equal, we will have generated half our electricity (since installation) from the sun. As of today, it is 44.5 percent from the sun since last August 31 when we turned it on. During September we generated 78.1 percent of our electricity but the days were getting shorter, and then the snow came. The running total bottomed out at 39.3 percent from the sun in late March. There were days then when we got none from the sun. We won't hit 78 percent again because we now have electric hot water -- before, it was off the oil furnace that ran all $ummer. Friday, May 30, 2008. Generally sunny today. System on at 5:53. N.G. meter at 2,582. Generated 14 KWH for 2,071. Thursday, May 29, 2008. Sunrise 5:23, sunset 8:26. System on 5:51 a.m. Generated 15 for 2,057 KWH since system start. N.G. meter 2,575. Wednesday, May 28, 2008. System on at 5:52 a.m. Sunny. Generated 16 for 2,042 KWH. N.G. 2,572. Tuesday, May 27, 2008. Sunrise 5:25, sunset 8:25. System on 5:58 a.m. Generated 11 for 2,026 KWH. N.G. meter 2,565. Monday, May 26, 2008. Memorial Day, and a beautiful day it is. Sunny in the morning, mostly sunny in afternoon. System start 5:48. generated 14 for 2,015 KWH since system start. N.G. meter 2,560 KWH. Sunday, May 25, 2008. Sunrise 5:26 a.m., sunset 8:23 p.m. Partly sunny in morning, mostly sunny in afternoon. System start 5:57. Generated 15 for 2,001 KWH. N.G. meter 2,555. Saturday, May 24, 2008. Partly cloudy in morning, partly sunny in afternoon. System start 6:04 a.m. Generated 11 for 1,986. N.G. meter 2,553. Friday, May 23, 2008. Morning overcast. Afternoon partly sunny. System start 6:03. Generated 12 for 1,975 KWH. N.G. meter 2,544. Thursday, May 22, 2008. Sunrise 5:28 a.m., sunset 8:20 p.m. System on at 5:58 a.m. Rain today. Generated 9 for 1,963 KWH. N.G. meter 2,537. Wednesday, May 21, 2008. System start 5:56 a.m. Sunrise 5:29, sunset 8:19. Overcast today. Generated 8 for a total of 1,954 KWH since start last Aug. 31. Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Sunrise 5:30, sunset 8:18. System start 5:56 a.m. Generated 14 KWH for 1,946. N.G. meter 2,515 KWH. Monday, May 19, 2008. Sunrise 5:31, sunset 8:17. System start 5:46 a.m. Generated 5 for 1,932. N.G. meter 2,502 KWH. Sunday, May 18, 2008. System start 6:18 a.m. Gloomy day. Generated 6 KWH for 1,927. N.G. meter 2,489. Saturday, May 17, 2008. Sunrise 5:33 a.m., sunset 8:16 p.m. System start 6:08 a.m. Generated 10 for 1,921 KWH. N.G. meter 2,474 KWH. Friday, May 16, 2008. System start 6:08 a.m. Overcast in morning, light rain in afternoon. Generated 4 for 1,911; N.G. meter 2,469. Thursday, May 15, 2008. Sunrise 5:35, sunset 8:14 p.m. System start 7:08 a.m. Mostly cloudy in morning, partly cloudy in afternoon. Generated 9 for 1,907 KWH. NG meter 2,457. Wednesday, May 14, 2008. Sunny in morning, partly cloudy in afternoon. Sunrise 5:35 a.m., sunset 8:12 p.m. System on at 6:05 a.m. Generated 14 KWH today. N.G. meter at 2,450. Tuesday, May 13, 2008, day 257. Sunrise 5:37 a.m., sunset 8:11 p.m. System on a 5:59 a.m. Mostly sunny today. Generated 15 KWH for a total of 1884. Had 9 KWH by 1:25 p.m. N.G. meter 2,447. Monday, May 12, 2008, day 256. Overcast and chilly today. System start 6:20 a.m. Generated only 4 KWH. N.G. meter 2,438 at noon. Sunday, May 11, 2008, day 255. Sunup 5:39 a.m., sundown 8:09 p.m. System start 6:44 a.m. Generally sunny in the morning, clouding in afternoon. Generated 15 KWH today. Since April 1, we have generated 2/3 of our electricity from the sun. In March, it was 38 percent and February only 26 percent. N.G. meter 2,424 at 12:50 p.m. Saturday, May 10, 2008, day 254. A nice day today. System came on at 6:34 a.m. We generated 12 KWH for a total of 1,847 since the system was turned on Aug. 31, an average of 7.2 KWH a day and most of that was in the winter when days are shorter and snow can cover the collectors. N.G. meter 2,421 at 12:40 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2008, day 253. Sunrise 5:41 a.m., sunset 8:07 p.m. System on at 6:15 a.m. Mostly cloudy today. Generated only 7 KWH. N.G. meter 2,412 at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 8, 2008, day 252. System on at 7:09. Cloudy today. Generated 13 KWH for 1,828 since system start-up. N.G. meter 2,409 at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2008, day 251. Sunrise 5:44 a.m., sunset 8:05 p.m. System on at 6:35 a.m. Generated 13 KWH today. Partly cloudy in the morning, mostly cloudy in afternoon. N.G. meter 2,400 KWH at 12:45 p.m. — we bought 4 KWH. Tuesday, May 6, 2008, day 250. Sunrise 5:45 a.m., sunset 8:04 p.m. System on at 6:11 a.m. Mostly sunny in the morning, sunny in the afternoon. Generated 15 KWH for 1,802. N.G. meter 2,396 at 1:37 p.m. — we bought 5 KWH. Monday, May 5, 2008, day 249. Sunrise 5:46 a.m., sunset 8:03 p.m. System on at 6:07 a.m. Mostly sunny and clear today. Generated 15 KWH for 1,787. National Grid meter 2,391 at 1:58 p.m. — we bought 11 KWH. Sunday, May 4, 2008, day 248. Sunrise 5:47 a.m., sunset 8:01 p.m. Daylight today: 14:14. System on 6:53 a.m. Overcast in morning clearing to mostly cloudy in afternoon. Generated 5 KWH for a total of 1,772. N.G. meter 2,380 — we bought 18 KWH. Saturday, May 3, 2008, day 247. Sunrise 5:49 a.m., sunset 8:01 p.m. Daylight today: 14:12. System on at 7:27 a.m. Overcast. Generated 4 KWH for a total of 1,767 since start-up. N.G. meter 2,362 at 1:10 p.m.; we bought 14 KWH. Friday, May 2, 2008, day 246. Sunrise 5:50 a.m., sunset 7:59 p.m. Daylight today: 14:09. System on at 6:53 a.m. Morning overcast, afternoon rain. Generated 2 KWH for 1,763; N.G. meter 2,348 at 2:10 p.m.; we bought 7 KWH, total use 9 KWH. Thursday May 1, 2008, day 245.Sunrise 5:51 a.m., sunset 7:58 p.m. Daylight today: 14:07. System on 6:20 a.m. Morning partly cloudy, afternoon mostly sunny. Generated 15 KWH for a total of 1,761 since system start. N.G. meter 2,371 at 12:55 p.m.; we bought 9 KWH. Total use, 24 KWH. Day 244 Wednesday 4/30/08. Sunrise 5:53 a.m., sunset 7:57 p.m., system on at 6:30. I calculated percent of use generated for each month today, based on average daily generation and average daily use for the month, as follows: September 2007 — 78.1% of need generated Bear in mind we are a family of two and do not use a tremendous amount of electricity. Day 243 Tuesday 4/29/08. Overcast in the morning, mostly cloudy in afternoon. Generated 8 for 1,735 KWH. 2:10 p.m. Generated 3. National Grid meter at 2,328. Day 242 Monday 4/28/06. A rainy day and the system did not come on until 8:05. Generated 3 for 1,727. National grid meter 2,313. Day 241 Sunday 4/27/07. Sunrise 5:57, sunset 7:54. System on 7:00 a.m. Overcast bright in the morning, partly cloudy in afternoon. Generated 12 for 1,724 KWH. 12:45 p.m., generated 4, National Grid meter at 2,306. Day 240 Saturday 4/26/08. Partly cloudy all day. Generated 14 for 1,712. 11:55 a.m., generated 4. National Grid meter at 2,303. Day 239 Friday 4/25/08. System on 6:25 a.m. Mostly cloudy in the morning, partly cloudy in the afternoon. Generated 15 for 1,698 kilowatt hours. 8:50 a.m. Nothing generated yet. National Grid meter at 2,304. Day 238 Thursday 4/24/08. Sunrise 6:01 a.m., sunset 7:50 p.m. System on 6:30 a.m. Sunny all day; generated 16 KWH for a total of 1,683. 12:05 p.m. generated 5. N.G. meter 2,301. Day 237 Wednesday 4/23/08. System on 6:35 a.m. Morning partly cloudy, afternoon mostly sunny. Generated 14 today. N.G. meter 2,292. In the afternoon we turned the electric hot water back on after two days. Solar alone just was not warm enough for showers. 9:35 a.m. generated 1 for 1,654 KWH. 12:05 p.m. generated 5. N.G. meter 2,297 2:30 p.m. generated 10. 6:30 p.m. generated 14. N.G. meter at 2,292 Day 236 Tuesday 4/22/08. Sunrise 6:04 a.m., sunset 7:48 p.m. System on 6:30 a.m. Generated 15 KWH today but my total use was only 8 so the meter ran backwards. Having the electric hot water off contributed a lot to that. The HW heater seems to use 10 to 12 KWH a day. 11:25 a.m. generated 4. 2:50 p.m. generated 11 KWH. N.G. meter 2,293 KWH. Day 235 Monday 4/21/08. System on 6:35 a.m. Generated 15 for a total of 1,638 KWH. N.G. meter at 2,300. Forecast is favorable so we turned off the electric hot water heater to see what the sun will do along. Day 234 Sunday 4/20/08. Sunrise, 6:07 a.m., sunset 7:46 p.m. Generated 15 KWH for a total of 1,623. We were away but meter must have run backwards Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It was clear and sunny all days and we had everything turned off. 11:35 a.m. generated 4 KWH for 1,612. N.G. meter 2,291. System has operated a total of 2,173 hours. Max output was 2,918 watts at an undetermined time. Day 233 Saturday 4/19/08. System on at 6:35 a.m. Generated 15 KWH. Meter has been running backwards. 4:25 p.m. Generated 14 so far. N.G. meter has gone down to 2,282. 1:05 p.m. Returned from two-day trip. We generated 15 KWH today for a total of 1,608 since system start. N.G. meter at 2,284. Day 232 Friday 4/18/08. Out of town, no readings. I estimate 16 generated today (prorating what was generated while we were away). Day 231 Thursday 4/17/08. Estimated generation, 15 KWH (prorating what was generated while we were away). 7:30 a.m. It has already generated 1 KWH which seems unlikely to me due to sun angle and reported output (less than 500 watts when checked) so I expect it was near 17 and retained the fractional reading when it shut down last night. I don't think I have looked at it this early before. Leaving until Saturday so no later readings today. Day 230 Wednesday 4/16/08. Happy 108th birthday, Dad. Sunrise 6:14 a.m., sunset 7: 41 p.m. System on at 6:40 a.m. Generated 16 KWH. 1:30 p.m. generated 9 for a total of 1,555 KWH since start-up. 2:30 p.m. generated 11. Day 229 Tuesday 4/15/08. System on 6:40 a.m. Sunny. Generated 17 KWH today. 10:35 a.m. generated 3 for 1,532 KWH. 1:40 p.m. generated 10 for 1,539. N.G. meter 2,284. Day 228 Monday 4/14/08. System on 6:50 a.m. Generated 11 KWH today for 1,529.. 11:35 a.m. generated 3 for 1,521 KWH. N.G. meter 2,280. 1:15 p.m. generated 5. N.G. meter still 2,280. Day 227 Sunday 4/13/08. Sunup 6:18 a.m., sundown 7:38 p.m. Generated 10 KWH. for 1,518 since system started. Midday sometime, generated 4 for 1,512 KWH. N.G. meter 2,260. Day 226 Saturday 4/12/08. Mostly sunny. System on 6:55 a.m. Generated 11. 2:10 p.m., generated 6 for 1,503. N.G. meter 2,251. 5:45 p.m. generated 10. Day 225 Friday 4/11/08. Overcast. Did not take readings. Estimate we generated 5. Day 224 Thursday 4/10/08. Sunrise 6:24 a.m., sunset 7:34 p.m. Mostly sunny. System on 7:40 a.m. Generated 15 KWH today. 1:35 p.m. generated 9 for 1,486. N.G. meter at 1,220. Day 223 Wednesday 4/9/08. System on at 6:50 a.m. Generated 14 KWH. Did not read N.G. meter today. 2:35 p.m. generated 11. 1:05 p.m. generated 7 for 1,470. Day 222 Tuesday 4/8/08. Sunrise 6:27 a.m., sunset 7:32 p.m. System on at 6:50 a.m. Generated 15 KWH for a total of 1,463. 11:50 a.m. generated 4 for 1,452 KWH. N.G. meter at 2,201. By the end of the day, we had generated 40.0 percent of our electricity since the system was turned on Aug. 31 – 1,463 of 3,660 total kilowatt hours used. I have just put that daily formula into the spreadsheet with the data. The first week this system was running, it generated 100 percent of our use. Since then, of course, the days got shorter. Also, we use a lot more electricity in cold weather than in hot weather. And, since then, we put in electric hot water instead of heating it off the oil furnace. The cost of heating hot water in the summer is why we got into this in the first place. The result is that during winter we generated less and less of our use but now we are generating more and more of our use. Here are the month-by-month numbers: By Sept. 30 we had generated 80.7 percent of use, Oct. 31– 65.9 percent, Nov. 30– 58.6 percent, Dec. 31– 44.4 percent, Jan. 31– 43.0 percent, Feb. 29– 40.1 percent, Mar. 31– 39.7 Day 221 Monday 4/7/08. System on at 6:45 a.m. Generated 16 KWH. 11:40 a.m. generated 4 for 1,436. N.G. meter 2,194 KWH. Day 220 Sunday 4/6/08. System on 6:45 a.m. Generated 14 KWH. 1:10 p.m. generated 6 for 1,424 KWH. N.G. meter at 2,181. Day 219 Saturday 4/5/08. Generated 8 KWH. 5:15 p.m. generated 7 for 1,417. N.G. meter 2,172. Day 214 Monday 3/31/08. Generated 3 KWH for 1,378. N.G. meter 2,094. Day 213 Sunday 3/30/08. Sunrise 6:42 a.m. Sunset 7:22 p.m. System on at 7:00 a.m. and record by 5:50 p.m., 18 KWH! 4:40 p.m. Another record - 17 KWH. 12:55 p.m. generated 8 for 1,365 KWH. N.G. meter 2,079. Day 212 Saturday 3/29/08. System on at 7:30 a.m.. A little overcast early but 15 KWH today. 1:40 p.m., generated 8 KWH for 1,350. N.G. meter 2,071. Day 211 Friday 3/28/08. Snow today, generated only 2 KWH. 12:25 p.m. generated nothing. N.G. meter 2,057. Day 210 Thursday 3/27/08. Sunrise 6:48 a.m., sundown 7:18 p.m. System on at 7:20 a.m. Generated 6 KWH. 12:50 p.m. generated 4 KWH for 1,338. N.G. meter 2,039. Day 209 Wednesday 3/26/08. System on 7:20 a.m.. Generated 14 KWH. 12:55 p.m. generated 5 KWH for 1,325 total. N.G. meter 2,029. Day 208 Tuesday 3/25/08. System on 7:10 a.m. Generated 15 KWH. 1:05 generated 7 for 1,312 KWH. N.G. meter 2,019. 2:00 p.m. generated 9. 3:30 p.m. generated 13. 4:40 p.m. generated 15. Day 207 Monday 3/24/08. System on at 7:15 a.m. Generated 13 KWH today. 12:05 p.m. generated 5 for 1,297. N.G. meter 2,016. 5:10 p.m. generated 12. Day 206 Sunday 3/23/08. Easter. Sunrise 6:55 a.m., sunset 7:14 p.m. System on 7:10 a.m. Generated 16 KWH today. Day 205 Saturday 3/22/08. System on 7:15 a.m. Generated 16 KWH today. 11:45 a.m. generated 4 for 1264. N.G. at 1962. 2:25 p.m. generated 11. 4:30 p.m. generated 16. Day 204 Friday 3/21/08. Generated 14 KWH today. Grandchildren arrived. We will be tracking the difference in energy use with seven people in the house rather than two, until Monday. 3:15 p.m. generated 11 for a total so far today of 1,257 KWH. N.G. meter 1,938. Day 203 Thursday 3/20/08. System on 7:55 a.m. Overcast today. Generated 9 KWH. 2:05 p.m. generated 3 for 1,240. N.G. meter 1,925. Day 202 Wednesday 3/19/08. Sunrise 7:02, system on at 7:35, sunset 7:07. Overcast and rainy today. Generated only 1 KWH. N.G. meter 1,903. Day 201 Tuesday 3/18/08. System on at 7:20 a.m. A little cloudy; generated 8 KWH. 1:20 p.m. generated 6. N.G. meter 1,877. 12:30 p.m. generated 4 for 1,232 KWH. Day 200 Monday 3/17/08. Sunrise 7:05 a.m., sunset 7:07 p.m., more than 12 hours of sunlight for the first time this year. System came on at 7:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m. generated 10 KWH for a total of 1,222 since start on Aug. 31. N.G. meter 1,869. System has operated 1,781 hours and reduced carbon dioxide pollution by an estimated 1,588 pounds. Output has peaked at 2,918 watts; the date of that is not recorded. 3:00 p.m. generated 13. Three in the last hour! 4:00 p.m. generated 15 so far. 4:55 p.m. generated 16, a record. Day 199 Sunday 3/16/08. Generated 6 KWH for 1,212. N.G. meter 1,861. Day 198 Saturday 3/15/08. Generated 4 KWH for 1,206. N.G. meter 1,837. Day 197 Friday 3/14/08. Sunrise 7:10 a.m., system on 7:45 a.m., sunset 7:03 p.m. Generated 5 KWH for 1,202. 11:45 a.m. generated 2 KWH for 1,199. N.G, meter 1,818. Day 196 Thursday 3/13/08. On at 7:40 a.m. Generated 10 KWH for a total of 1,197. 1:15 p.m. generated 6 KWH. N.G. meter 1,803. Day 195 Wednesday 3/12/08. On at 8:00 a.m. Generated 9 KWH for a total of 1,187. 2:40 p.m. generated 1 KWH. N.G. meter 1,789. Day 194 Tuesday 3/11/08. Sunrise 7:16 a.m., system on at 7:40 a.m. Sunset 7:00 p.m. Generated 15 KWH today for a total of 1,178 since system start-up last Aug. 31. Since then we've only had to buy 1,775 KWH from National Grid. That's a 40 percent savings during the poor season. 11:25 a.m. generated 3 KWH. N.G. meter 1,775. 2:00 p.m. generated 9. 3:10 p.m. generated 12. 3:40 p.m. generated 13. 4:45 p.m. generated 15. 5:55 p.m. generated 15 for a total of 1,178 KWH. Day 193 Monday 3/10/08. On 8:40 a.m. Generated 11 KWH today for 1,163. Noon generated 2 KWH. N.G. meter 1,768. 2:35 p.m. generated 10. Day 192 Sunday 3/9/08. Sunup 7:19 a.m. On 7:50 a.m. Generated 12 KWH today for 1,152. Sundown 6:57 p.m. 12:50 p.m. generated 3 KWH. N.G. meter 1,752. Day 191 Saturday 3/8/08. On 8:55 a.m. 3:15 p.m. generated 1 KWH. Day 190 Friday 3/7/08. Generated 9 KWH for a total of 1,139 since start-up last August 31. Day 189 Thursday 3/6/08. A record! We generated 15 KWH today, the most ever. Sunrise 6:24 a.m., sunset 5:54 p.m., system on at 6:45 a.m. Today we get 11 hours 30 minutes of daylight. Eleven days ago, on February 24, we got 10 hours 58 minutes. 12:30 p.m. generated 8 for 1,123 KWH. N.G. meter 1,712. Day 188 Wednesday 3/5/08. On at 7:25 a.m. Generated 3 KWH today for 1,115. N.G. meter 1,697. Day 187 Tuesday 3/4/08. Sunrise 6:27 a.m., sunset 5:51 p.m., system on at 7:45 a.m. By 1:45 p.m. generated 2 for 1,112 KWH, thence no more. N.G. meter 1,676. Day 186 Monday 3/3/08. On 6:50 a.m. Generated 10 today. 12:25 p.m. generated 4 for 1,104 KWH. N.G. meter 1,659. Day 185 Sunday 3/2/08. A bright day. Sunrise 6:31 a.m., system on 7:25 a.m., sundown 5:49 p.m. Generated 14 KWH, a great way to start the month. Thrice before we have hit 14: September 5 and 17, and February 25. I suspect length of day and tilt of Earth are major factors -- they will determine how high in the sky the sun gets. The shorter days seem to have lost the peak generating time. On January 28 we had 9 hours 50 minutes daylight and a bright, clear day, and we generated 11 KWH. Today we had 11 hours 18 minutes and generated 14. 2:20 p.m. Generated 12 KWH for a total of 1,098. 12:30 p.m. Generated 7 for 1,093. N.G. meter at 1,644 KWH. Day 184 Saturday 3/1/08. Generated 4 for 1,086 KWH. N.G. meter at 1,630 KWH. Day 183 Friday 2/29/08. Leap Day. Sunrise 6:34 a.m., sunset 5:46 p.m. As of today, the solar system has been operating for six months. System on 7:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m., Sunny, generated 2 for 1,074 KWH. 1:00 p.m., generated 5. N.G. meter at 1,620. Day 182 Thursday 2/28/08. Generated 4 for 1,072 KWH. N.G. meter 1,601. Day 181 Wednesday 2/27/08. Overcast and snow. System on at 8:30 a.m. 1 p.m. generated 0 for 1,068 KWH. N.G. meter 1,584. Day 180 Tuesday 2/26/08. Overcast and snow. System on 7:20 a.m. Generated total of 2 KWH today. Noon. Generated 1 for a total of 1,067 KWH. N.G. meter 1,561. Day 179 Monday 2/25/08. Sunny. System on at 7:05 a.m. Generated 14 KWH today, the best since September 17. 2:25 p.m. generated 12 KWH for a total of 1,064. N.G. meter 1,539. Day 178 Sunday 2/24/08. Sunrise 6:42 a.m., sunset 5:40 p.m., system on at 9:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m., generated 5 KWH for a total of 1,050. N.G. meter 1,522 KWH. By 4:00 p.m. generated 7 for 1,052 Day 177 Saturday 2/23/08. Sun broke through late in the day but not enough to turn it on. N.G. meter 1,515. Day 176 Friday 2/22/08. Forgot to take readings until late. N.G. meter 1,501 KWH. Day 174 Wednesday 2/20/08. Sunrise 6:48 a.m., sunset 5:35 p.m. System on at 7:10 a.m. 1:03 p.m. generated 4 for a total of 1,030 KWH. N.G. meter 1,490. 2:45 generated 7 and it's bright and sunny. Will we hit 10 today? Day 173 Tuesday 2/19/08. Overcast and snow. System did not come on until 10:20 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 0 generated; National Grid meter 1,486. 12:40 p.m. clearing; generated for a total of 1,022 KWH. 4:40 p.m. generated 5 for 1,026. Day 172 Monday 2/18/08. System on at 7:25 a.m. 3:15 p.m. generated 2 for 1,021. N.G. meter 1,475. Day 171 Sunday 2/17/08. Generated 7 KWH today. N.G. meter 1,461. Used a lot of electricity today -- dryer was running quite a bit. Day 170 Saturday 2/16/08. Sunrise 6:54 a.m., sunset 5:30 p.m. System on 7:10 a.m. 1:30 p.m. generated 6 for a total of 1,012 KWH. National Grid meter 1,447. Day 169 Friday 2/15/08. Generated 6 KWH today for 1,006 total. By 1:55 p.m. had generated 3. Day 168 Thursday 2/14/08. System on 8:00 a.m. 1 p.m., generated 1 for a total of 1,000 KWH. N.G. meter 1,429. Day 166 Tuesday 2/12/04. Sunrise 6:59 a.m., sunset 5:25 p.m., system on at 7:15 a.m. Generated 3 KWH by 11:40, 4 for 997 by 1:05 p.m. N.G. meter at 1,408 KWH. Day 163 Saturday 2/9/08. Generated 3 for 985 KWH. N.G. meter at 1,383 KWH. Day 162 Friday 2/8/08. Sunrise 7:04 a.m., sunset 5:19 p.m. Generated 4 for a total of 982 KWH since turn-on last August 31. National Grid meter is 1,375 KWH purchased since then. Day 161 Thursday 2/7/08. Generated 2. N.G. meter at 1,360 KWH. Day 160 Wednesday 2/6/08. Sunrise 7:07 a.m., sunset 5:17 p.m. Overcast; system not on until 9:00 a.m. Generated 1 KWH for a total of 976 KWH. N.G. meter at 1,349 KWH. Day 159 Tuesday 2/5/08. Generated 2 KWH for a total of 975. Day 158 Monday 2/4/08. System on 7:30 a.m. At 2:35 p.m. had generated 2 KWH for 973 total. N.G. meter at 1,328 KWH. Day 157 Sunday 2/3/08. Generated 6 for a total of 971 KWH today. N.G. meter at 1,314 KWH. Day 156 Saturday 2/2/08. Generated only 1 KWH today. Day 155 Friday 2/1/08. No sun, no juice. Day 154 Thursday 1/31/08. Sunrise 7:13 a.m., sunset 5:09 p.m., system on at 8:25 a.m. A bright sunny day by 1:20 p.m. Generated 5 for 959 KWH. N.G. meter at 1,281. We had already cranked as high as 2,240 watts. By end of day we had 964 KWH total so we generated 10 today. Day 152 Tuesday 1/29/08. 4:25 p.m. System on at 7:40 a.m. Overcast today, generated only 2 KWH for a total of 954. N.G. meter at 1,265 KWH. Since August 31 we have generated 43 percent (954 KWH) of the electricity we have used (2,219 KWH, sum of generated and bought from N.G..) Day 151 Monday 1/28/08. 4:10 p.m. Sunrise 7:15 a.m., system on at 7:45. Bright and clear today. Sunset 5:05. Generated 11 KWH for 952. N.G. meter at 1,255. 2:45 p.m. generated 10 for 951; N.G. at 1,255. Day 150 Sunday 1/27/08. A clear, sunny day. System came on at 7:55 a.m.. Generated 12 KWH for a total of 941. !2:45 p.m.: Generated 6 KWH so far for a total of 935. N.G. meter 1,245 Day 149 Saturday 1/26/08. Generated 4 KWH for a total of 929. Day 148 Friday 1/25/08. Generated 11 KWH for a total of 925. N.G. meter 1,223. Day 147 Thursday 1/24/08. Generated 5 KWH for a total of 914. Day 146 Wednesday 1/23/08. Generated 9 KWH for a total of 909. N.G. meter 1,227. Day 145: Tuesday 1/22/08. Generated 3 KWH for a total of 900. N.G. meter 1,223. Day 144: Monday 1/21/08. Sunrise 7:21 a.m., sunset 4:55 p.m. System on at 7:45 a.m. Bright and clear today, and what results! Of course, it's now about a month after the winter solstice. The last great reading was about a month before the solstice. I spent some time at the Naval Observatory website where you can generate a sunrise-sunset table for any place in the world. We have nine hours, thirty-four minutes (9:34) of daylight today. I built the table below to know the amount of difference. Interesting that there is only a half-hour change from winter solstice until today (one month) but a three and a quarter hour difference, winter to spring (three months).
4:00 p.m. generated 11 KWH, the most since the 12 of Nov. 11, for a total of 897 since the system went into service.. 2:00 p.m. generated 8 KWH for a total of 894. We have put out at 2,718 watts today. N.G. meter 1,214. Day 142: Saturday 1/19/08. System on 7:32 a.m. By 3:00 p.m. generated 5 for 878 KWH. N.G. meter at 1,197. Day 141: Friday 1/18/08. System on 8:20 a.m.. By 2:15 p.m. generated 9 KWH for 871 total. At 3:05, 10 KWH. Generated one more before shut-down. We have peaked at 2,289 watts today, at 2,918 sometime during the 1,253 hours the system has been on. N.G. meter 1,188. Day 140: Thursday 1/17/08. System on 7:45 a.m., bright overcast today. By 1:40 p.m. generated 3 KWH for 861. 1,119 lb. CO2 generation avoided, 1,243 total system operating hours, N.G. meter at 1,183. Day 139: Wednesday 1/16/08. System on at 8:10 a.m.. By 12:10 p.m. generated 3 for 852 KWH. N.G. at 1,179. 1:50 p.m. 6 for 855. 3:48 p.m. 9 for 858, N.G. at 1,176. Day 138: Tuesday 1/15/08. System on at 8:40 a.m., read at 12:55. 0 for 848, N.G. at 1,181 Day 137: Monday, 1/14/08. System on at 10:30 a.m., read at 2:15. 1 KWH for 848. Day 136: Sunday, 1/13/08. System on at 7:45 a.m., read at 3 p.m. 6 KWH for 847, 1,101 pounds of CO2 generation avoided, in 1,124 hours. N.G. 1149. Day 134: Friday Jan. 11, 2008. Generated only 1 KWH today. Total generated 839; N.G. meter 1,131. Day 133: Thursday Jan. 10, 2008. 3:25 p.m. Generated 6 for a total of 837 KWH. 1:35 p.m. Generated 5 for 836. 11:50 a.m. System came on at 7:45 a.m. Sunrise 7:26 a.m., sunset 4:42 p.m. Generated 3 for 834 KWH. N.G. meter at 1,122. Day 132: Wednesday Jan. 9, 2008. 4:00 p.m. WOW! Generated 9 KWH today for 831, the best since some time in November or maybe October. N.G. meter at 1,116 KWH. 11:50 a.m. On at 8:30; generated 3 KWH for a total of 825 in 1,178 hours of operation. We have avoided generating 1,072 pounds of CO2. Day 131: Tuesday Jan. 8, 2008. Generated 6 KWH for 822. N.G. meter at 1,108. Day 130: Monday Jan. 7, 2008. 4:10 p.m. Sky fairly clear now. Generated 6 KWH today, 816 total. N.G. meter still 1,097 KWH. 1:55 p.m. Generated 4; N.G. meter 1097. System has operated a total of 1,164 hours; It estimates 1,058 pounds of CO2 generation avoided. 10:35 a.m. Overcast. Sunrise 7:27, system on at 8:26. Generated 1 KWH so far. Day 129: Sunday Jan., 6, 2008. 1:05 p.m. Generated 2 for 810 KWH. Day 128: Saturday, Jan 5, 2008. 3:50 p.m. Generated 4 KWH today for a total of 808. N.G. meter at 1,072. Day 127: Friday, Jan 4, 2008. 3:20 p.m. Generated 6 KWH for a total of 804. N.G. meter 1,054, a drop from earlier today! We generated enough that it ran backwards! 1:05 p.m. Generated 3 for a total of 801 KWH. System on for 4:23 hours today, 1,139 hours total. 1,041 pounds of CO2 generation avoided. National Grid meter at 1,055. Day 126: Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008. 3:50 p.m. Generated 4 KWH today. It cut off just as I was getting ready to read the total generated. National Grid 1,042. Day 125: Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. 3:35 p.m. Generated 2 KWH for a total of 794 today. National Grid meter at 1,030. 12:35 p.m. Generated 1 KWH so far today for a total of 793. N.G. meter 1,027.We are going to resume frequent readings for awhile to see what the situation in winter is.
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