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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 20, 2024 6:37:15 GMT -5
The Kohler rep will drop by Wednesday evening to evaluate house requirements and generator siting. We’ll look over the quote & see. Even if we accept the quote immediately, it’ll be months before the generator is installed ( permits, gas-line tie-in, slab poured, licensed electrician for transfer switch, etc.).
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Post by leonski on Aug 20, 2024 14:18:16 GMT -5
I URGE diesel since it is independent of ALL public services......Storage of Diesel is not like storing gasoline or even LPG. Fuel Saver a must....
I'd calculate based on about 1 gallon per hour.....or less, even though such as you are thinking about will use more than that
at 100% capacity.....
A regular schedule of starting and running such a genset is vital to reliability.....
Just an example? My house has only a 100 amp panel. Do I really need anything above about 11kw or 12kw?
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 20, 2024 16:23:32 GMT -5
I appreciate the diesel generator recommendation leonski, but if I choose that route, I have to store a week's worth of diesel on my property (neither the local Fire Marshall nor my insurance agent will be impressed). I've lived here for 72 years, and not once have water or gas pressures ever been lost (through a LOT of hurricanes). Diesel deliveries during a natural disaster, however, have historically been spotty. A friend of mine is an exec at the world's third largest data farm. The State keeps most of their data there, and every hospital in the state keeps their HIPPA data there also. The server location has a HUGE battery backup, and a half-dozen BIG diesel generators. They also have contracts with three different suppliers to deliver diesel when they need it. During Hurricane Katrina, ALL of their diesel delivery trucks were hijacked ("officially confiscated") by the Homeland Security boys. After the hurricane, the data farm execs had a sit-down with the Homeland Security folks, explaining WHY their diesel deliveries were so important. At the end of the meeting, they signed a contract with Homeland Security - H/S would supply armed guards on all diesel deliveries required by the data farm in any and all future natural disasters. Unfortunately, no diesel truck would make it to my home in a disaster (no armed guards = confiscated truck). This is why I want natural gas instead of diesel. I'm even less enthused about liquid propane. My back yard has student apartment parking on two sides. Should some stupid (and/or drunk) kid choose to shoot my aluminum propane tank, I could have a BLEVE in my back yard! Now my house IS in an older part of the city, and the natural gas lines were sized for 1950's demand. My house, though, is the first drop off the main municipal gas header passing by. It seems highly unlikely that MY house would see low gas pressure (we never have before). The houses in the back of my subdivision, however, may find themselves with natural gas generators but not enough gas pressure to run them!
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 20, 2024 17:27:13 GMT -5
I have discovered (the hard way) that the Lightning connector on iPhones and iPads is NOT reliable enough for headphone listening from those devices. Channels pop in and out with the slightest movements of the headphone cable, and sometimes lose connection completely. The "alternate solution" I see is a pair of Bluetooth headphones. Any recommendations on an inexpensive set? Thanks - Boom Postscriptum - Just to clarify, here are the things I do and don't want: WANT:- Cheap price
- High reliability
- Fairly long playing time
- Good Amazon reviews (4-5 stars only)
- LOTS of reviews on Amazon (one or two person reviews don't count)
- On-ear or In-ear design - I find ALL "over-ear" models too hot to tolerate
DON'T WANT:- Noise-cancelling
- Microphone
- Super high fidelity (these will be used for watching movies & TV-series on my iPad in the evenings)
Some products that seem to meet my criteria: JLab Rewind Wireless Retro Headphones / $19.85 / 11,033 ratings / 4-stars JVC HA-S23W Wireless Headphones / $24.99 / 424 ratings / 4-stars GNMN Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth Headphones / $12.99 / 257 ratings / 5-stars
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Post by leonski on Aug 20, 2024 18:01:48 GMT -5
what level? Critical Listening -> distraction?
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 20, 2024 18:07:18 GMT -5
I don't listen loudly AT ALL. There will be no ambient noise to worry about.
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Post by leonski on Aug 21, 2024 3:03:15 GMT -5
looks like you've already narrowed the field. And I like your idea about reviews. I never pay atttention to any reviewed product with fewer than 40 reviews. This provides a reasonable statistical base. I further look for patterns in the worst reviews. a 5 star review doesn't really tell you much.
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 21, 2024 8:50:23 GMT -5
OK - I pulled the trigger on my very first set of Bluetooth headphones. The choice I opted for was the JVC HA-S23W Wireless Headphones / $24.99 / 424 ratings / 4-stars. I chose them because JVC is a known brand, the price was right, and the review sample was probably large enough to be at least somewhat reliable. I'm sure they won't be perfect, but if I really like the concept of Bluetooth phones after using them, I can always get better.
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Post by garbulky on Aug 21, 2024 12:19:29 GMT -5
Let us know what you think of the JVC's! Bluetooth is extremely convenient.
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Post by leonski on Aug 21, 2024 13:55:54 GMT -5
Excellent plan! Test 'em and if a higher price point is warranted, you can still go that way.
One minor addition. Sure.....4 star rating. But you have lots of reviews. I'd cull thru the 1 star part of it and check for patterns. Also, my danger level for 1 star is about 10%.
Years ago when searching for a B&W Laser printer (all in one, as it turned out) I was looking at the HP stuff over at the market. Some had 20% and higher 1-star ratings. As a matter of fact, the entire line was awful and I eneded up with a Brother......
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 22, 2024 1:17:17 GMT -5
The Kohler rep estimates about $18K to install the 26kW air-cooled generator. A liquid-cooled one would be about $10K more.
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Post by leonski on Aug 22, 2024 2:10:36 GMT -5
What is difference in SOUND from the Air to Water cooled? Is one (I'd expect water) substantially quieter? Any DIESEL models?
26kw? That's what? OVER 200 amps? Are you a welder in your spare time? An EV in your future needing to be charged?
All run at lower speeds? 1800rpm or so?
Any chance of SOLAR with battery for that kind of $$$? Now that I think about it and see a real bid number? SOLAR should be
on the list. With 2x or 3x batteries to total 25kwh or so.......
How much of a factor is a weather-induced outage?
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 22, 2024 6:42:24 GMT -5
The last time we lost power from a hurricane, we had no power for about three weeks. Normally, it’s just my wife and I who are at home, but after a major event, friends and neighbors may need to stay here also (the house is a five-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath). Also, in that last major hurricane, our house was one of the few in the subdivision without roof damage, due to the hedges I planted around the house as windbreaks. The two central air conditioners (one for each floor) would need to run simultaneously if we had visitors upstairs.
Although the monthly utility bills are normally between $100 and $200, including gas, electricity, water, and sewer fee, they’d double or triple if we had friends staying upstairs. The extra power consumption would require the bigger generator. Besides, having a generator capable of powering the whole house is a selling point for when the house is sold. The cost difference between a smaller generator and the 26K one is trivial. The majority of the install cost is fixed overhead anyway (permits, slab for the generator, 160ft. of high-pressure gas piping, transfer switch, carbon-monoxide monitors, maintenance contract, etc.).
We did consider solar, diesel, and propane, but for our needs, natural gas seems the best choice. We’ll seldom need it, but when we do, we’ll REALLY need it.
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Post by leonski on Aug 22, 2024 14:28:09 GMT -5
In my LAST electric bill from Sempra? Over 200$ gas and electric. My house would fit on ONE floor of yours. Were I to add my trash (billed by trash company, now) and water/sewer? You'd BLANCHE at the sum...... We are on one of the TOU plans.....Time Of Use.....so when we Need the AC most, the power also costs the most.... The MAIN principle is to let nothing interfere with the Executive Bonus Program at the power company....
We are using LESS water than ever by 60% or more. Bill for just water? Far HIGHER. We have a privately built desalinization plant 5 or 6 miles away.......PRIVATELY BUILT. Seems successful, so far......but the powers that be do not like not having full control.....
With rate increases a REGULAR part of the landscape, and more solar restrictions due to Net Metering laws, we are suffering the 'Death Of A Thousand Cuts'.......
I'd like to compare the monthly nut with anyone at all. Sure, I just thought this thru and at this house? We get a City Bill for water-sewer and some bonds, Trash. pickup every week, trash/recycle/green. Electric? Perpetual increases Includes Gas. ADD? Taxes. If you bought this house right this minute at ask? You'd be down for 6K$ yearly UP........
The total surprises even me.
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 23, 2024 8:11:38 GMT -5
OK - Here are my first impressions of the JVC HA-S23W Wireless Bluetooth Headphones / $24.99 @ Amazon: - The Bluetooth headphones paired immediately with my iPad after being charged from their USB port.
- I tend to watch movies & TV series later at night with the headphones on to avoid disturbing my wife's sleep.
- These cans have no cups or foam for your ears - there is a hard plastic, perforated plate over each driver, and those plates rest directly on your ears.
Despite the lack of aeration between my ears and the "headphone grates," my ears didn't get hot or uncomfortable in the 1.5 to 2 hours that I had them on. - The headphones have their own volume up/down buttons. To maximize run time for the iPad, I turned the phones' volume all the way up & restricted volume at the iPad. Had I turned down the volume on the headphones, a significant portion of the wattage being delivered to the headphones would have been lost to resistance in the headphones' volume controls.
- Sound? I didn't really notice (and that's good)! I got lost in the soundscapes being delivered with the videos, and although these JVC headphones are not "audiophile quality" in any sense, they seem ideal for my purposes.
- What keeps the headphones from being "Audiophile quality?" No low bass & no high treble. But the phones DID get the midrange right. Voices sounded full and readily intelligible. Sound effects, even down to insects buzzing onto the screen from one side and exiting the other are clear and easy to follow.
- Construction quality? These JVCs seem to be of significantly sturdier construction than the Koss headphones that I bought initially. I'm satisfied.
For their $25 plus tax price, I'd highly recommend these to you. Postscriptum: These headphones do not have noise-cancelling technology, although they do have a microphone. They sport a 17-hour run time and are available in black, blue, turquoise, and orange. PS #2: Once connected by Bluetooth, you’re controlling the volume of the source, whether you use the buttons on the phones or the controls on the source.
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Post by leonski on Aug 23, 2024 17:01:39 GMT -5
My brother in law bought some headphones for his mother. Who is hard of hearing. But they didn't play loud enough.....! How loud do the JVCs play?
I wish my brother in law had access to a bluetooth feed.
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 23, 2024 19:05:00 GMT -5
I have no idea except “louder than I want to listen!”
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Post by leonski on Aug 23, 2024 22:16:44 GMT -5
Is there any such thing as an Optical (from TV out) to BT transmitter?
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 24, 2024 15:04:09 GMT -5
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Post by leonski on Aug 25, 2024 14:31:09 GMT -5
Thanks, Boom. JUST what I had imagined. And a little more, with many 'input' choices available..... Now no need to 'obsolete' a good TV simply to gain ONE additional feature.......
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