Snowed In

Very heavy overcast and a little snow yesterday. We got a luverly bunch of snow overnight, so of course I lost electricity. It doesn't look like there's going to be any sun today. I just got in from sweeping off the solar panels, and now the meter is showing about a 24.5 volt charge which should keep the system up unless I do something stupid like use a lot of electricity.

See, there's amp draw and then there's amp draw. The laptop, modem, dish (I honestly don't know if it pulls any current or how it would work if it didn't) and wifi box pull a total of maybe three amps. That's sustainable with very modest input, and so is a single lamp. But if I use the coffee-maker, say, or (god help me) the toaster - well! Now we're talking 25 or 30 amps. The bread maker? No way: That has to run for an hour and a half, even if I only end up with dough. Three hours for actual bread. I don't even own a crock pot, though I used to love them.

Sunny days are good. But you take what you can get. :-)