Originally posted by Shamus
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The home lighting route is the way to go, yet let me tell you of some of the roadblocks I have run into and maybe you will know or figure a way around to make the approach practical.
I have the capability - that should be no secret. Now about a year ago I was prepared to convert the lighting in my home to my technology and was going to use solar as a backup (supplemental charge) system. What first because obvious was that a retrofit required a new set of wiring that currently does not have a standard set of codes available. Now this would not only have dropped the value of the residence for resale (if not stopping such sale), but would have voided any insurance. Insurers will drop you or any claim like a hot potato for any non-certified or recognized technology.
Okay I said, lets make the backup plug into the main and just use the main and skip the solar, hell for a few years would be way ahead in the game due to the higher efficiency. Here again the ugly, the device has not been UL et.al., approved and certified. (Oh yes believe it or not that includes environmental and DHS of all people, not to mention the FCC). Okay I said its just for me get lost. Well so goes the insurance again. If you have a claim, be sure they do not know about the technology.
The Energy COPS! You know about them right? If not just drop your utility consumption 50% for a few months and they will be happy to introduce themselves to you.
What I settled on was a 'Little Beam' approach. Compact self contained lighting units for everything but ceiling lights. The structure allows for the interchange of batteries every few weeks without problem. The battery charging is via grid UL approved chargers and this has reduced my payback by about 28%, but no new technology hooked to the grid here. BUT! low and behold, no insurance. They would not cover a claim even remotely related to the devices.
This is food for the pursuit.....
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