Our cherry tree has begun to blossom. It’s late by Haines standards; the trees around town get much more sunlight than ours, and bloomed a while ago. Ours pokes along and eventually flowers, but it’s no less appreciated for its tardiness.
Cherry blossoms in the “homestead” yard (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger).
The long, drawn out process of installing the new solar panels included one final touch: the addition of a vent fan.
Lead acid batteries “gas” at high charge levels, emitting vaporized sulfuric acid and flammable hydrogen. This is unhealthy to breathe, and potentially explosive, so battery boxes must be properly vented for safety. Even the fine print of the “safer” nickel-iron batteries we’ll soon receive (see Power Shift: A New/Old Battery Bank) recommends venting them for safety. Continue reading
