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In this thread I will give a little info on how Solar Panels operate, and what is some of the technology that has changed the Solar Game. A friend of mine down in Indianapolis started monkeying around with Solar about four years ago. He has kept me up to date with his system and what he has done and I decided a few months ago to do some research for myself. I have looked at hundreds of brands of equipment and there is very much to learn if you want to have an efficient long lasting system. Technology has come a long ways and I am shocked how far they have came in the past 10 years. The inherent problem with Solar Panels hooked up just like a Batteries they are as only as strong as their weakest link. If you have for D CELL BATTERIES in a flash light, which are in series’ For example say that 3 of them are 1.5 volts and one of them are 1.2 Volts then all 4 are now 1.2 v batteries. The same with Solar Panels if you have say an Array of 20 Solar Panels and 19 of them are in full sun and one is in the shade and only putting out 5V DC when the others are putting out 35V DC guess what? all of them are putting out 5V each. NOT ANY MORE....... Everyone knows the DC needs at some point be turned into A/C Voltage and this is usually done by a Large Inverter and depending on the size of your system Usually takes 6 to 10 KW System to do an average house That's between 24 to 40 Solar Panels Plus a couple Large Inverters These Inverters are Very Costly at about $5,000.00 to $8,000.00 each and The Panels are about $ 250.00 each plus the racking to mount them and all the wiring and Misc Items a whole system will cost easily between $12,000.00 to $24,000.00 depending how elaborate you want to go. Up until the past 4 years these panels and these BIG INVERTERS were inefficient because the technology wasn't there and Remember the weakest link lesson? One panel gets leaves on it, gets dirty, gets shaded, cloud goes over taking Ole Mr. Sunshine away there goes the efficiency on all of them right down in the CHITTER. Not anymore! They now have Micro-Inverters Like the Enphase M-250's Each Solar panel now has its own Micro-Inverter installed on the back of them they are all daisy chained together and each individual Panel and its own Micro-Inverter adjusts itself independently for maximum efficiency. Now for the neat part... Each one of these Panels and inverters reports to network computer through a Gateway and all this data is reported on an animated computer program. It tells you how many KW's your making, per hr, per day, per week, per month, per year, and since system was started. Tells how much each panel is putting out in real time, charts all kinds of data and history to help troubleshoot system problems. These micro-inverters have more than quadrupled the efficiency of these Solar Systems. Not only that but being since they run independently of each other if one gets weak or goes out it has no effect on the others so this means you don't loose efficiency due to the WEAKEST LINK rule. The other benefit is you can start out small say 2-3 panels and keep adding more as time goes on or as the budget permits and then daisy chaining them together until you get as big as you want to be, After you have a zero -0- electric bill and your pumping your surplus in to the grid the electric company can now pay you monthly. THE RACK & MOUNT - Depending on where you want to mount them Roof, Ground or a combination of the two there is more systems out there than you can shake a stick at. It can get awful confusing and Very Expensive. Luckily I am blessed in that I can fabricate and weld and have some equipment to it with. My system will be kinda roof and ground mounted as I am using the roof of my Yard Barn Shed and then sloping down to the ground. There is a company out there called IRON RIDGE and they make a neat Solar Mount System and they are pretty proud of the price at around $ 2500.00 What this company did was make a BIG MISTAKE by showing me or anyone else that goes to their website their videos on their system, provide drawings and assembly instructions and data and measurements on all their components they sell. I downloaded all this and saved to my puker. So what Ole Duke did was basically copy their system by using common materials available to the public or tradesman. There was already a 3” Pipe cemented in the ground for a large 10’ Sattelite dish that I just took out so I used that pole for my lower Solar Panel Grid Support. I installed two more lower 3” support poles and cemented them in the ground 4’ with 400 lbs of concrete. The poles have special fabricated caps that support a 2” Galv Pipe horizontally that in turn supports 1 5/8 12 ga Unistrut Framework. The upper unistrut framework rests on special support flashings that support the Upper Unistrut framework and elevate it above the shingles on each support rafter and on this 16’ yard barn I am using 4. The unistrut fastened to the bottom 2” Galv Pipe with 3/8” Stainless Steel U BOLTS. On top with 3/8” Stainless bolts on the unistrut spring nuts. I had to design and fabricate stainless steel fasteners to bolt the Solar Panel Modules down to the unistrut. That will be done with ¼” stainless hardware and ¼” spring nuts. I am using Qty 12 SolarWorld 265 W Panels with 12 Enphase M-250 Micro Inverter with and Envoy Gateway. Here is a Microsoft Paint rendition of somewhat how they will look installed. Then the Fabricated parts and ground mount rack assembled and wired. Basically at this point I am ready for the Panels and Inverters and I could be making electricity in an easy day. They are ordered and on the way and should receive them end of January. Here are some U Tube links to my equipment below. And some pictures. Future plans include 12 more panels and Inverters for a total of 24. This amount of Panels will get me with a credit bill each month. Solar World Solar Panel Modules >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rh4jcE6Pk0 Ground Rack Mount Iron Ridge >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYdi68lN7UE Enphase Micro-Inverters >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DelroRJsjpI Enphase Envoy Gateway >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-OLb8_macg ~Duke

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Every One! I'm a welder/fabricator by trade and have access to the fab shop I work in any time I need it. I was thinking about getting an extra set of rear rims and making them 10" wide. I know there are ag tires that are sold in the 10.5" width that fit our machines but the rims are a little on the thin side. My question is this, do you gentlemen think there would be interest in the wider rims if I was to go through the trouble of making the jigs and searching for extra rims to make them wider? I of course am a certified welder, take pride in my work, and guarantee everything I make. I'd appreciate any feed back. Thanks.

I bought my 1st wife a "Solar Clothes Dryer"!

What I find of most interest is the fact that this post about nothing generated more response than anything I might post with a real subject. Go figure!!

we need more open ended topics, kind of like a real conversation, thanks for almost starting it.

I use Harbor Freight dollies that I add a frame of 1x6 and 2x4 lumber to hold the deck. This a 5xi 48" deck. I slip it on the dolly frame to the deck, and then lift up.

Realizing you can`t work for nothing, it would depend on price. Maybe supplying our own rims would help. I think some would sell at the big show since there would be no shipping charges. Figure up a price and throw it out here and see what happens.

I guess for now, I'll stay with my 7. This is what my local tecky recommended when he cleaned up my puter several weeks ago. He also got rid of google chrome and installed Mozilla/firefox. He claims google is riddled with ads with high potential for virus that was causing all my problems. He removed over 400 infections and also installed C Cleaner and Malware protection. Seems to be working well so far. My only concern is if the hardware dies and I have to buy new , I'll be stuck with Windows 10 and my learning curve is pretty flat. Mrs. K says " this old dog doesn't take instruction very well".

I was looking at my plow earlier today and decided the way to eliminate this problem would be to attach the cylinder to the yoke which only moves on one plane. That could be accomplished by welding a tab somewhere onto the pivoting yoke and it most likely will require moving the current anchor point from where he has the "dead" end.currently located. That would completely take the trip action of the blade out of the equation and possibly would take some of the stress off of the hydraulic ram. Just a thought!

A good day is a good day. I just got in from the garage myself. 25 degrees outside, but I have heat in there to. Makes it a better working place. I was straightening out the workbenches and cleaning tools and trying to tidy up. The place is now half a wreck. I kicked back in my chair and envisioned a snowcab on each tractor. Wishfull thinking again. Glad your day was good Doug, and Jack, my food tastes a little better when the mrs picks up the tab. Its rare,,,,,but happens. Glenn

20 degrees at 11:00 am, fired up the wood furnace in the garage and in about half an hour the coat was off and I was taking off both running boards and side panels on the '88 520H. Found mouse nest filled with mouse poison pellets on the brake pedal side and a ton of oily, dirt and grass covering and burying everything. Installed a new belt from motor to trans. on right side and then started cleaning up the mess on the other side where the mice had been. discovered the reason my park brake and motion lever return were not working. Rod going through frame to linkage was not connected and about 20 minutes later and several swear words I could push the brake pedal and the motion lever would return to the stop position and the park brake could be set and holds and even the dash warning light worked properly again. Found the steering block grease zerk you guys told me about by turning the wheel all the way to the right and greased the dickens out of everything again. Thanks every one for all your help and advice. My tach and charging system were repaired a few weeks ago as well from all your tips and knowledge. What a great day!!!!

One of my favorite forums is almost completely like this. It goes off topic all the time, just like real conversations. Much more fun than rigid, dry forums

We had those party lines at the relatives in rural Wisconsin when I was 16. I worked for Illinois Bell, started in 1974...we wrecked the last "Iron Wire" and what we called "Crazy Wire" here around me in Illinois in the late 70's. Managed to salvage a bunch of the old "10 Pin Arms" and glass insulators. Brings back a ton of good memories.

I've been using one like the $12.08 one for years. To check the calibration, just point it at a florescent lamp, and it should read 7200 RPM.

I used 4x4's between decks so they cleared each other. Stacked 5 D250 decks that way put a ratchet strap around them all and left the wheels of the bottom deck down so I could roll them as a group

Furniture dolly, 4 casters frame, build a double rack on top of it? Move it whereever you wish!

I hear ya, I'm still learning windows 7 and I sure don't want to start with something new if I don't have to. Maybe sounds crazy to you high tech guys but I was there when TV was introduced as the newest thing. Also started the tractor with a hand crank so hope you can see my point. I can still learn just takes a little longer.

Elvis is drafted into the United States Army.

Glen Waite till you retire. I have every nut and blot put away from the summer. All parts lined up ready to be put on. You so much time on your hands. They say you never have enough time when you retire I have not found this to be true yet. But it is fun when you have something to work on. You have the time to think it thru. Gary B....

Did the same thing took her shopping. Ended up with 6 bottles of home made wine, and a gallon of homemade Cheer. My kind of shopping

When the trip springs are activated won't that damage the cylinder ram or it's mounting to the blade? Or, are you going to lock the trip action some way to eliminate that problem? Nice job with the modification but just noticed this potential problem.

Sounds like you had some fun Doug. I took the wifey Shopping but I did get a good Dinner out of the deal. Did some work on the K321 today.

I am of the opinion that exercise may be hazardous to your health. Glad it wasn't worse!

Four years later, I was finally able to get my hands on this '59 Farm-ette Model 45 today. It needs a serious cleaning and repair to a drive hub, but I think it's so cool looking and it's a very rare machine.

How can that be....there never was a topic.

Thanks Guys! Don, no I am not going Battery The Inverters pump 240V directly into the grid. What I pump in gets used up first, what I don't burn up runs the meter backwards and adds me up a credit and I burn that credit up when the sun goes down. My system will start at 12 265w panels for a total of 3180 watts but I figure I will need double that at 24 panels or about 6,300 watts. Since I know what I average in KW usage per month The Inverters tell me how much I am saving per day, week, month, & year it should be able to tell pretty quickly after a few months how I am doing. ~Duke

I can remember as a kid walking past the phone office and seeing the lady sitting there plugging in the wires when someone would ring. She would ask who you wanted to talk to then plug in their wire and ring for them. Fairfield isn`t very big today but then it was less than a thousand people and not all of them had phones so we only needed one operator. Still don`t have a red light.

The worst part I recall about the party line was the problem of attempting to call others on your party line. We had to call their number, let it ring and attempt to guess how many rings it would take for them to pick up, hang up before they answered then pick up again before they hung up. For the most part it was easier to walk down to their house! As for the computers, the only reason I have 7 is because the hard drive on my XP laptop crashed and I had to replace it. Now I have to subscribe to windows every year, it came installed on the old one. I must admit it is a bit faster, but I wasn't in a hurry anyway. I had never heard about all of these "Chrome" problems, I went to it from Explorer based on what Karl had recommended and haven't had a problem.

Mike brought a calendar to the house this morning. All I can say is WOW. What a great looking, professional job this calendar is! Kudos to all that made this happen. The pictures and layout is top notch, I'm positive any one that has one coming is going to be more than pleased. It certainly is a fine Christmas present.

The hand is healing quite well, Ed. Thanks for asking. I go on Jan. 11th to set a date for surgery to have my finger removed at the second knuckle. I'm not really trying to make big bucks off of making wider rims, I was just wondering if any one thought there would be an interest in them. I'll have to start looking for a set of rims for cheap so I can try it out. I'll start a thread when I do with step by step photos. When I get a set done you'll be the first to know Ed. Thanks.

Hey Jay, I wonder if those party phone lines would be legal today. We were on a four party line in the forties with each phone having a different ring. Of course you knew by the ring which one your neighbors was getting a call. It kept everyone informed as to what their neighbors were doing. Also made it very easy to set up conference calls.

I can also remember when no one had a TV. I was 15 when we got a telephone, and it was a party line. You would hear a click and you knew the neighbors were listening in. Isn`t any wonder these `puters give me a fit.

I think its a great move i hope you can keep us updated on how it works and how much it helps you electric bill

I have had my 520xi for almost 4 years now. Great machine, well built and so far, very reliable. Only weakness I had was a balky fuel pump which after replacement seems to be OK, although the last couple of times something in the fuel system was acting up. I disconnected the smart steer-lots of trees here and it slows way down. No power steering on the 520 and it has not been a problem, but it would sure be useful when the loader is on. When I bought mine (used) there were few for sale. Now, they are much more available, many with 200-600 hours. The only downside is that there are not too many used attachments around and the ones that are tend to be more expensive than the classic tractor (supply and demand at work)

I had a deck on my main mower blasted and powder coated this last spring. The powder coat had a teflon mixed in. Nothing stuck all summer. This fall, I flipped it over and washed it. Looks like new.

No, you have to download and install windows 10. It can't do it by itself so you're ok.

Rob .,,, I'm sorry to hear about the injury and the "so-called" way it happened. Now the way I'm LQQKing at it is , thats your reasoning side of your brain. I'm a thinking you had an implant " I DON'T NEED ANOTHER WHEELHORSE " chip placed in there. just sayin. Get recouped bud , good luck. Get back in there and pick the remaining bowls - - still a bunch of them Rick

Here is a test. OK, that one worked. https://youtu.be/-NvkzanjmDM And that one didn't But the second one works in it's own post. But I have had some in their own post that just made a link, like the second one above. No idea why, and no rhyme or reason when it is or isn't going to work. I assumed it was something with the video settings Can you tell I am considering another project? https://youtu.be/Ooi0iFTlrK8 Now that one didn't work, and it is the only video in the post. Well, it was, until it merged my posts. I really dislike that feature

We have to stop telling everyone how great these tractors are! More for the few of us who know!

You could use these..... Deestone D401, I have seen these on the later wider wheel as well, but i think they look just right on the earlier narrow wheels. Search 'Deestone D401' on eBay they run about $70 a pair (inc. tubes and shipping). Ive had a good experience through eBay seller: k-morrow.

Gary. I am retired. the place is still a half mess. A project us always waiting. Seems theres no let up. Thanks for the thoughts. like Trace Atkins sings "I'am Tryin" Glenn

Thanks for the heads up, I never thought about it, I think I shall put a swivel joint on it. Always good to have more eyes look at a project. Thanks again

I've used small pulleys from rafters to hoist canoe then tie off rope to side wall. Then small length of chain as a "safety" from canoe to the hook so rope isn't taking all the weight and in case rope breaks. Probably would work for a deck - roughly same weight? Just a thought...

Sorry to hear... you're our first new canidate. Should look perfect on you in the gym.

Hay, what about Battleship Gray, or even Air Force Blue, we need to give some recognition to the other military branches.

Watchya sayin Jim ? That I should ignore all these ads from Microsoft that want me to upgrade my good working Win 7 to a FREE nonworking Win 10 .

Looks like Western PA had more than enough dealers! No wonder we have so many Stallions in PA.

I have attached the pictures I was emailed. Looks good! Can you get a video of it operating? We can upload it to a free youtube account and link it here.