this post was submitted on 20 May 2025
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 hours ago

Utah seems to be doing some cool things lately (try are featured in this article). They were at IIW this year talking about their new digital identity setup, too.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Honestly I'm surprised a republican is pushing for solar energy.

Also, I'm not sure how much those in the article cost, but the kind you bolt down to a roof can easily cost you into the thousands, so it takes a while for them to pay for themselves, which isn't something everybody's going to be okay with.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

The article mentions around 800W of solar being typical, so around $250-350 for the panels plus some mounting hardware and a micro inverter. Maybe $1000 total?

If your energy rates are high it could pay for itself in a few years.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago

I just took portable ones and ziptied them to my balcony connected to a solar generator. Works to feed all my electronics and server equipment. It only connects to the grid if its depleted, never feeds power back in.

So you can still do this in the states, so long as you're not feeding into the grid.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago (2 children)

without reading the article I will guess... HOA regulations. How'd I do?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Or the fact that most people with balconies live in rented apartments and apartment managers aren't going to pay to subsidize an electric bill that tenants are entirely responsible for paying.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Yep. My apartment has restrictions in the lease that would prevent me from clamping solar panels as pictured.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not so good - issue is that your "code" for electrical installations doesn't include balcony solar and that your institutions are not able to include it because of reasons that do not make sense to anyone outside the USA

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Let me guess? Electric monopoly?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

No, it's electrical code. Standard outlets can't be used to supply power because it means you have a plug that has exposed wires commonly called suicide wires. While these balconey top solar likely use grid following so it has to detect a grid voltage, the electrical code doesn't consider it AFAIK. This rule is for safety and because it would only power half your house because there's only one leg per 110 outlet.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

"I don't want no woke commie energy"

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I imagine it's because they're bolted down quite well

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Nah definitely the ATC shortage

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