Tesla's new rechargeable batteries for home

[MadBurgerMaker]

EDIT: after some fact checking, solar panels would cost less than 1000$ for a 60w kitt.  I have no idea how that translate into real world appliances, i.e. what I can power.  Also, I have not taken into account any installation costs, nor the life expectancy of the panels.

A lightbulb or two? Some other stuff.  Nothing crazy though.   http://www.sunnyray.org/60-watt-solar-panel.htm

[celedhring]

60 watt is nothing, but that looks awfully expensive compared to most solar panels I have seen (I haven't seen that many). What does the kit include, exactly? 

[Grinning_Colossus]

Biological warfare defense is standard on all kits.

[grumbler]

This combined with some energy efficiency work can make your house basically an electrical island. It is going to be my project next house I buy 

This is DC power, though.  Don't you need a separate DC power distribution system?  Sounds very expensive for not much benefit.

[Valmy]

This combined with some energy efficiency work can make your house basically an electrical island. It is going to be my project next house I buy 

This is DC power, though.  Don't you need a separate DC power distribution system?  Sounds very expensive for not much benefit.

Nah you just need an inverter. No big deal.

[Monoriu]

Doesn't look meaningful to people living in apartments. 

[grumbler]

Nah you just need an inverter. No big deal.

Looking it up, inverters seem to be much more efficient than when I was dealing with them.  Objection withdrawn.

[Barrister]

Still a tad pricey.  Interesting concept, but I don't see myself getting something like that until a decade or more.

It will not take that long. Things are moving along pretty quickly now. But note: solar resources might not be just great in Quebec. Large banks of these batteries might be great for supporting wind resources though. I know Texas is working on that.

the problem with Quebec is that the only thing we have en masse, and even that is changing, is snow.  And water.

Most locations in "mainstream" Quebec aren't suitable for wind parks, there is not enough strong winds (and not often enough, mostly) along the St-Lawrence valley, except when your reach the Gaspé peninsula to sustain that.  Basically, we can put such wind farms in eastern quebec, south&north of the river and higher up north.  In places where there isn't much people.

I could see it replacing diesel generators for isolated communites though.  It's an interesting technology.

The other thing Quebec has is lots and lots of hydro-electric.  IIRC you have some of the cheapest power in Canada, and all greenhouse gas free.

[Richard Hakluyt]

I'd be concerned about battery "memory" and lifespan.

[Admiral Yi]

Has Tesla made any money yet?

[Zanza]

Has Tesla made any money yet?

They do have a sizeable margin on each car they sell when you just look at operating costs. They don't make anywhere near enough to finance their R&D and expansion from their sales though. They will need to raise capital later in the year.

[Zanza]

I'd be concerned about battery "memory" and lifespan.

Battery memory effect does not exist in Lithium batteries.

[Richard Hakluyt]

I'd be concerned about battery "memory" and lifespan.

Battery memory effect does not exist in Lithium batteries.

I thought the effect was small but non-negligible 

[Zanza]

Batteries still lose capacity over time, but it's not due to the memory effect that was observed with nickel-cadmium batteries.

If you want to keep your lithium based batteries good, you should never fully decharge (and less importantly charge) them but always keep them between say 20% and 80% capacity.

[Monoriu]

Batteries still lose capacity over time, but it's not due to the memory effect that was observed with nickel-cadmium batteries.

If you want to keep your lithium based batteries good, you should never fully decharge (and less importantly charge) them but always keep them between say 20% and 80% capacity.

I can keep them from going to below 20%.  Usually.  There is no way I can keep them below 80%.  I am not going to watch batteries being recharged and disconnect them at 80%.  I simply won't do that.