He's in Wisconsin - my home state and where I live still. In the Fox Valley as they call it.
Todd

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for the record I've lived in Beloit and Wauwatosa but many moons ago

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

Hi Mark, sorry to hear that your company is in a slow down. I dont know where you live but in NY We do get unemployment for the days we dont work. At this time of year my company has its usual slowdown and they sign us up for unemployment. Now I grant you a days pay on unemployment sure dosent beat a day working but it helps. Maybe you can look into that for your state?

Mark, I lost my job in 2004 when it moved to China. Took me 2 years to get this job,And I had to learn new skills to boot. Hang tough my friend.

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[/quote]

Old James

They named a valley after me? Cooool!

Seriously, best of luck Mark.

This place is poorer without you.

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He's in Wisconsin - my home state and where I live still. In the Fox Valley as they call it.
Todd

Yeah that is a bit farther north than I'd like, Not impossible, But It would require a good southern exposure, But I at least tried to help. I'm going solar as soon as I can get the house that I've made an offer on, And yep, still nothing yet on that, It's a short sale and the Bank that owns the place is driving, But then I'm the only offer @ $55,000.00 or at any amount for that matter.

Oh and Who says that solar isn't practical in Wisconsin??

And Hey that Bull Dog is wearing a Green Bay Packers jersey! My favorite team in the NFL.

http://solarpowerrocks.com/wisconsin/
http://www.solarhome.org/freesolarevaluation_wi.htmlFree Evaluation!


ecw wrote:

Some people think there is not enough sun in Wisconsin for solar energy systems. They are wrong! Madison is at 43o North latitude, the same as Rome. During the summer, Wisconsin receives about 75% of the annual solar energy received by the deserts of Arizona and Southern California (Figure 1).
[snip]
One benefit for photovoltaic (PV) solar energy systems in Wisconsin is that the annual peak of the solar resource (and a PV system’s output) occurs on sunny summer days. This corresponds exactly with utilities’ highest energy demand periods – and their highest energy charges.

http://www.ecw.org/wisconsun/learn/learn_solar.shtml

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Hey Mark, Have You ever considered going Solar? As in get some electricity from the Sun?

I get sick of the "go solar" out cry
Might be great for the south west but in the north east it's a bust

As for UPS supplies , batteries, inverters for off peak use
these aren't cheep esp on a forced reduced income
And lead acid batteries need proper storage & ventilation

Most solar installations now days are grid connect, so you can scratch the batteries and associated hardware. This pretty much leaves panels, inverters, and grid switches.

But whether it will pay off for you (it will but in how long is a serious question, and there is no fast and accurate answer, it always "depends") is something you have to justify to yourself.

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Janice

Hi Mark, sorry to hear that your company is in a slow down. I dont know where you live but in NY We do get unemployment for the days we dont work. At this time of year my company has its usual slowdown and they sign us up for unemployment. Now I grant you a days pay on unemployment sure dosent beat a day working but it helps. Maybe you can look into that for your state?

Mark, I lost my job in 2004 when it moved to China. Took me 2 years to get this job,And I had to learn new skills to boot. Hang tough my friend.

I went through that 6 years ago.

Was out of work for almost 2 and a half inbetween.

I could not live through that again.

I could not.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

They named a valley after me? Cooool!

Seriously, best of luck Mark.

This place is poorer without you.

LOL.....the fox river valley, my friend.

The Fox.

We who live here seldom stray.

It's such a fine place to live, even in the winter.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Hey Mark, Have You ever considered going Solar? As in get some electricity from the Sun?

I get sick of the "go solar" out cry
Might be great for the south west but in the north east it's a bust

As for UPS supplies , batteries, inverters for off peak use
these aren't cheep esp on a forced reduced income
And lead acid batteries need proper storage & ventilation

Most solar installations now days are grid connect, so you can scratch the batteries and associated hardware. This pretty much leaves panels, inverters, and grid switches.

But whether it will pay off for you (it will but in how long is a serious question, and there is no fast and accurate answer, it always "depends") is something you have to justify to yourself.

Many people think just cause their not in the southwest that solar is not for them, I mean Wisconsin is in the same latitude as Rome Italy, Germany is farther north than that and they have solar like crazy, So unless one lives in Alaska/Yukon or farther north, Solar isn't impossible. And yes, Grid connected is the way to go, No batteries to worry about, Just the panels, wiring, mounting and an inverter, The grid is the battery and in the winter solar photovoltaic panels become even more efficient cause of the cold weather and when there's snow around more light gets reflected off of the snow towards the panels.

---

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

He's in Wisconsin - my home state and where I live still. In the Fox Valley as they call it.
Todd

Ya know.....
For the record, it's Eric's home state too.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Sorry to hear the news Mark. I cut down my crunching last Autumn from 14 to 6 rigs as it was costing £225 a month for the electric to run them including an A/C unit. Now I run just 6, no A/C and the bill is £90. Also I'm still getting 75% of the previous RAC. \i'm a lot happier spending less, and haven't got square eyeballs any more from micro-managing the lot.

So, I also had to cut back for financial reasons, but it takes a few weeks to get the credit chasing outta the system!

And I was just apexing........

Sad kitties.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Vic, while Marks rates tell me solar would give him excellent pay back(most solar production is peak, summers are long, it does work through clouds etc)
I doubt spending more at the time he needs to cut back is on his list, nor should it be.

I beleive in solar/wind as some of the best solutions. But that does not help Mark here and now. What does help is Oscar and Carolyn work on, and he definately took part in keeping those running.

Keeping warm and keeping the kitties fed are the priorities.

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Janice

Vic, while Marks rates tell me solar would give him excellent pay back(most solar production is peak, summers are long, it does work through clouds etc)
I doubt spending more at the time he needs to cut back is on his list, nor should it be.

I beleive in solar/wind as some of the best solutions. But that does not help Mark here and now. What does help is Oscar and Carolyn work on, and he definately took part in keeping those running.

Keeping warm and keeping the kitties fed are the priorities.

Yes, sister.......

Those are the priorities.

Kibble and litter.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Some ideas to cut costs for you....

Stop buying whiskey & cigarettes-period. Put the cash used for whiskey/smokes into a jar and keep it in your closet. Use that as your emergency Kitty chow fund. I suspect this fund would grow VERY quickly.

Turn all but one machine off on the weekends.

Ask Lori to move in with you to share costs.

Hope it helps.

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Some ideas to cut costs for you....

Stop buying whiskey & cigarettes-period. Put the cash used for whiskey/smokes into a jar and keep it in your closet. Use that as your emergency Kitty chow fund. I suspect this fund would grow VERY quickly.

Turn all but one machine off on the weekends.

Ask Lori to move in with you to share costs.

Hope it helps.

Cohabitate? Oh My... ;)

Sounds like a good idea, Of course that's if Lori wants to do that, But It can't hurt to ask, If Mark has an extra room for Her.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Most solar installations now days are grid connect, so you can scratch the batteries and associated hardware. This pretty much leaves panels, inverters, and grid switches.

But whether it will pay off for you (it will but in how long is a serious question, and there is no fast and accurate answer, it always "depends") is something you have to justify to yourself.

Yes instalations that cost thousand of dollars and installed by a contractor
not a do it yourself for marks situation

Many people think just cause their not in the southwest that solar is not for them, I mean Wisconsin is in the same latitude as Rome Italy, Germany is farther north than that and they have solar like crazy, So unless one lives in Alaska/Yukon or farther north, Solar isn't impossible. And yes, Grid connected is the way to go, No batteries to worry about, Just the panels, wiring, mounting and an inverter, The grid is the battery and in the winter solar photovoltaic panels become even more efficient cause of the cold weather and when there's snow around more light gets reflected off of the snow towards the panels.

Great simplistic view I really like the part about reflected light
lets all bend the light so it hits our panel

Solar drops off drastically with anything other than full sun
Here in ny where I live for over a month now we're lucky if we've had that more than a few min at a time every few days Hardly useful for generating power

agreed and spending $$$ is in no way saving money

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

Most solar installations now days are grid connect, so you can scratch the batteries and associated hardware. This pretty much leaves panels, inverters, and grid switches.

But whether it will pay off for you (it will but in how long is a serious question, and there is no fast and accurate answer, it always "depends") is something you have to justify to yourself.

Yes installations that cost thousand of dollars and installed by a contractor
not a do it yourself for marks situation

Many people think just cause their not in the southwest that solar is not for them, I mean Wisconsin is in the same latitude as Rome Italy, Germany is farther north than that and they have solar like crazy, So unless one lives in Alaska/Yukon or farther north, Solar isn't impossible. And yes, Grid connected is the way to go, No batteries to worry about, Just the panels, wiring, mounting and an inverter, The grid is the battery and in the winter solar photovoltaic panels become even more efficient cause of the cold weather and when there's snow around more light gets reflected off of the snow towards the panels.

Great simplistic view I really like the part about reflected light
lets all bend the light so it hits our panel

Solar drops off drastically with anything other than full sun
Here in ny where I live for over a month now we're lucky if we've had that more than a few min at a time every few days Hardly useful for generating power

Unless You've had a survey that says otherwise, You get more than You think, 4.5Kwh per day in areas like Wisconsin is an example.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_the_United_States#Availability

There are DIY install kits out there Robert, Not all of them cost lots of money, Meaning more than $10,000.00, Some cost less, Like here for a 1.2Kw kit for $5,378.34 before shipping and yes installation services are available.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Some ideas to cut costs for you....

Stop buying whiskey & cigarettes-period. Put the cash used for whiskey/smokes into a jar and keep it in your closet. Use that as your emergency Kitty chow fund. I suspect this fund would grow VERY quickly.

Turn all but one machine off on the weekends.

Ask Lori to move in with you to share costs.

Hope it helps.

Not so funny......as it turns out.

Lori is having some problems with her boss of 10 years or so too.
Not of her own making....she gives her all to her job. But after 10 years, all of a sudden, her boss thinks she is 'overpaid for what she does'.....
Kinda stinks, as some bank consolidations have put his son out of work. Just a few weeks before that comment was made.
We have been lovers for what, 25 years now?

BTW, whiskey is cheap......cigs are not....
They would be the next thing to go before kitty kibble.

Whiskey...... $60.00/month.
Cigs......... $220.00/month.....and killing me.

---

"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Most solar installations now days are grid connect, so you can scratch the batteries and associated hardware. This pretty much leaves panels, inverters, and grid switches.

But whether it will pay off for you (it will but in how long is a serious question, and there is no fast and accurate answer, it always "depends") is something you have to justify to yourself.

Yes installations that cost thousand of dollars and installed by a contractor
not a do it yourself for marks situation

Many people think just cause their not in the southwest that solar is not for them, I mean Wisconsin is in the same latitude as Rome Italy, Germany is farther north than that and they have solar like crazy, So unless one lives in Alaska/Yukon or farther north, Solar isn't impossible. And yes, Grid connected is the way to go, No batteries to worry about, Just the panels, wiring, mounting and an inverter, The grid is the battery and in the winter solar photovoltaic panels become even more efficient cause of the cold weather and when there's snow around more light gets reflected off of the snow towards the panels.

Great simplistic view I really like the part about reflected light
lets all bend the light so it hits our panel

Solar drops off drastically with anything other than full sun
Here in ny where I live for over a month now we're lucky if we've had that more than a few min at a time every few days Hardly useful for generating power

That light hitting the panel is not wishful thinking Robert, Nearby snow that's in view of the panels would increase the amount of light as Wisconsin Sun says.

Wisconsin Sun wrote:

During Wisconsin’s winter, especially in November and December, there is less sun, an average of only 2.5 hours of sun per day available to power PV systems. However, on clear days with snow cover, there is up to a 60% output increase from light reflected off snow. And the efficiency of crystalline PV cells is improved in the cold. Thus on cold, sunny Wisconsin winter day, crystalline PV systems will have their highest output, higher than similar systems in the deserts of Arizona.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's