4 ms·
Well, I'm not sure what happens to it if your house catches fire - but if your house burns down I don't see how the battery could have made it worse. So I imag
by sxates 8y ago
Well, I'm not sure what happens to it if your house catches fire - but if your house burns down I don't see how the battery could have made it worse.
So I imagine scenario 1 is your house doesn't catch fire, in which case it's fine, and you have power even if the grid is down, or scenario 2 where your house does catch fire, and maybe the battery contributes to that, but it would burn down either way.
But keep in mind that the 'red flag days' I'm describing where PG&E would cut power are not days where fires are actually burning in the area - just days where fires are more likely to start. They're shutting down their power lines so that if the wind knocks one down it won't start a fire. This is a response to last years devastating fires in Sonoma county, which were believed to have started by downed power lines in high wind and dry conditions.
- dsymonds 8y agoOne big reason for shutdown rules with home PV systems is to keep firefighters safe. If your house is on fire, the firefighters really don't want to be contending with high voltage electricity as well.
- gsich 8y agoProblem is that, as long the sun shines, a voltage will be generated. Depending on how they are linked together this makes it more or less dangerous.
- TheAdamist 8y agoI've been noticing ground level external emergency shutoff switches for roof based solar around my city, so i imagine its something thats been making its way into fire/electrical/building codes recently. They're unsecured as far as i have noticed, so i imagine the troublemakers will be pulling them sooner or later.
- dredmorbius 8y agoStored energy is stored energy. Batteries may burn, explode, spark (ignition source), electrocute, and/or be a source of noxious fumes or chemicals.
- sdrothrock 8y ago> But keep in mind that the 'red flag days' I'm describing where PG&E would cut power are not days where fires are actually burning in the area - just days where fires are more likely to start. Ahh, that makes more sense. I was thinking about situations where there would be fires burning in the immediate vicinity, so perhaps dangers from overheating (explosion?) or firefighters/emergency responders having to clear areas quickly, etc.
- msh 8y agoIf downed power lines are that big of a risk I would think that the correct solution would be to bury them instead of shutting down power.