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butterfish55

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Posts posted by butterfish55

  1. Hope parents wake up and start being frank and honest with their kids. A 2.4 GPA and a BA in Business from the local state school is just about worthless. Much better bet to enter a trade.
    I went to a very good prep school in RI from 6-12 grade, graduated college in 4 years and tried working for awhile in my field (Communication/Journalism). I hated it. Long story short I ended up going back to school (NE Tech) and have been an electrician for about 17 years. The money is definitely better and, for me, it's just a much more enjoyable way to make a living.

    It would be nice if kids went into the trades coming out of HS instead of taking on $200k in student loans only to get a job that pays $40k a year. I guess it's not very glamorous though
    • Like 4
  2. Oh yeah. Good point.  Shortage of demand.   Def a current shortage of people doing that work
    I'm a master electrician been working for myself for about 8 years. Everytime I go for a code update class they tell us the average age of licensed electricians in MA is something like 54 or 55. They are definitely not enough kids coming into the trade and the demand will only increase as all these older folks retire

    • Like 3
  3. As a electrical contractor I've installed probably a half dozen in the last several years . Everyone I did was a 50 or 60 amp circuit.  The last one I Installed a circuit for was a couple weeks ago for a customer/ friend.  Had to run the wire through a finished basement of a large home . Approximately 120 feet total run. Had to use #4 SEU aluminum and make a junction within 6 feet of garage wall in basement to transition to copper . Copper is through the roof right now as you know I'm sure . I made 3 holes in drywall and replaced the pieces.  Took me 8 hours by myself.  I charged him $800 . 120' of #6 Copper would have made it a $1,200  job . A non friend $1500 . I think he paid around $800-900  for the Tesla charger itself w/25' cord . So he had $1,600- 1,800 wrapped up .
    My level 2 charger cost me $600 from the dealer when I picked up the car. It's on a 40a circuit with #8 copper. It's not too far from the panel so I used a piece of wire I had lying around.

    I do 75% of my driving in my work van. So this is more to mess around and figure out the pros and cons of owning an EV. I think the range and cost are where they need to be. If they can figure out a way to speed up the charging, then I think EVs will take off. They are fine for daily commutes, then plugging it in overnight at home. But if you want to take a long road trip, you have to really worry about where/when you can charge. Then, you may be sitting there for hours if it's not a DC fast charger. If you could recharge in 10-15 minutes from empty to full, then we will be into something. Maybe in a few years
    • Like 4
  4. Not sure why someone would not invest in a Level 2 charger if getting an EV.  There is some cost ($1k-5k depending...). 
    I picked up a Check Bolt about 2 months ago. Pretty happy with it. The range is about 260 miles on a full charge. I installed a level 2 charger in my garage for it....but, being an electrician, it was easy.

    The EVs definitely drive differently than a normal car. The acceleration is kind of nuts and they are silent.
    • Like 2
  5. Either they had covid 19 or some other coronavirus and the first dose triggered a reaction due to t-cell memory? I know so many people that had no reaction to the first and only some fatigue with the 2nd. I just had my first on Wednesday, this morning is the first time I have felt "normal", headache and fatigue the past couple of days. Can't wait for my second one, yuck...

    My 84 year old grandmother with multiple comorbidities had no reaction to either of the doses. 

    I understand the older you are, the weaker your immune system is, but you would expect some sort of reaction on the second dose...

    Yeah it's strange. I'm 46 and other than a sore arm, I didn't have any noticeable reaction to either Moderna dose.

     

  6. 7 minutes ago, Hoth said:

    Yale doing the same for students. Waiting on a decision for faculty, staff and outside contractors. 

    UMass said they are "encouraging" faculty and staff to get it, but not requiring it

    • Thanks 1
  7. Daughter just got an email from UMass Amherst that all students will be required to be vaccinated for the Fall semester.  Not sure about other campuses, but I'd assume it's a system-wide policy.   Email also confirmed full, in person classes and residence halls.  Didn't say anything about testing or masks, but that will likely be ironed out this summer.  Very happy for her...she spent her entire sophomore year home taking all classes remotely.  That sucks 

     

    Have to think most colleges (in the northeast anyway) will require vaccinations for the Fall 

    • Like 2
  8. Had my 2nd Moderna shot on 3/29. Sore arm and a little tired but nothing bad at all.  

    Me, my wife and my daughter(19) are all fully vacced.  None of use had any adverse side effects.   My son(14) will get the shot as soon as it's approved for ages 12-16 shortly.  

  9. So as far as Tesla solar goes, what is the story with the SRECs?
    Ive been doing some digging and there is some commentary on how Tesla keeps these? And that these credits are losing value in general? I’ve talked to Matt (butterfish) and the profit from those alone would make the system worth it, if it stays the way it is.
    Can anyone explain why they would keep them, or what the story may be with that?
    You should get some quotes from local companies too. They will do a better job of explaining it to you as well. As long as you own the panels you get the SRECs. A company in CA monitors my system remotely and every time I generate 1MWh it it automatically creates a "solar renewable energy credit". It then sells it for me, keeps a small percentage, and sends me the rest as a direct deposit. I think I have corresponded with them three times in the last five years.

    Don't do or sign anything that doesn't allow you full and complete control.
  10. I think that's all included, I've been to quite a few houses since they came out and that's about what they all tell me they cost give a take a few thousand. I'm looking into too, even if you broke even on your electric bill for 5 years you still get free power after 5 years and a lot of people tell me they get money back.
    The savings I get on my electric bill is nice, it I make way more money selling the renewable energy credits (SRECs). I use a company in CA that monitors it for me and sells my credits in the market when the price is high. I've been getting about $350 per credit (it used to be over $500) and usually make between around $2500 to $3k a year from it. My system is pretty small though. It's cool to get a direct deposit for hundreds of dollars 4 times a year for doing nothing.

    I've tried to buy Tesla powerwall packs. They are a fortune. It's also my understanding, as of the last time I checked, that Tesla won't sell Power walls by themselves...you can only buy them as part of a whole system. Not sure if that is still a thing though.

    Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

    • Like 1
  11. 3 hours ago, DavisStraight said:

    You own or lease? I'm looking into now.

    Own.  We bought them straight up when they were installed.  Not a huge system...18 panels , 4.5 KW.   More than paid for themselves already and  well worth the investment.

     

    Plus, I just bought a new EV car (Chevy Bolt), so I try only to plug it in on sunny days  to charge it for free.  Win win!

    • Like 6
  12. What a month for those of us with solar on their houses. I've had solar on my roof for 7 years and I already broke my record for March production last week and there's still 5 days left. I just checked and this March has also given me more production than any April as well. Good stuff

    Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

    • Like 1
  13. It took a year but gas prices, food prices, lumber prices, taxes etc etc . Time to pay the piper. Not great for anyone
    Try to find circuit breakers (square d) or plastic electrical boxes. Nope
    • Like 1
  14. Im a electrical contractor and Romex wire has skyrocketed the past 2 weeks . It had been stable all last year and actually started to drop early this year .
    Same here. The price of Romex is out of control. I just bought 125 ft roll of 6/3 for $350. A roll of 12/2 is now $100. It's unreal
  15. 24 minutes ago, weathafella said:

    Great choice given what I know about your demographics!

    Had my second Moderna yesterday.  Had a headache and felt really tired last night but by 11pm I was fine and feel good today.  Overall very mild reaction it seems.

    I have my 2nd Moderna on the 29th.  Glad to hear it wasn't too bad.  My parents both had the 2nd Moderna 2 weeks ago and had no effects other than a little fatigue.  Cant wait!!

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