I finally hit the 1MWh (Megawatt Hour) yield on my solar system today.

Victron's VRM Portal allows you (or someone) to take a look at the production of someone's solar system. While I have access to settings, other people can only view your production.

I like this portal, that way I can see what my system is doing when I'm not at home. Up till now, the only way I knew anything was going on, was looking at my battery's BMS app while away from hom.

This is my dashboard:
https://vrm.victronenergy.com/insta.....6620/dashboard

Some of you may have seen  redbear1158's solar setup.

I am slowly setting up a small scale solar system. I built (that I still need to finish putting on the tin strips) a 13S10P battery using BAK 5000mAh 5A continuous, 15A max batteries, bought mostly from https://liionwholesale.com/ - That was $727 just in batteries (because I bought them over 2 years)

I bought the following BMS: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW5Q8HZ4 - 100 Balance 60A Active Balance BMS for $76+tax (I'll likely get a JK BMS if this one doesn't work well)
I bought the following Inverter: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082XTMKKB - A 2500W Reliable Electric Pure Sine Wave Inverter for $274 + tax (Texas)
I bought the following MPPT: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KF94CJ - Victron 150V/45A MPPT for $218 + tax
Also bought the Victron VE.Direct to USB cable: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZ6WTLW for $28 + tax
I would like at least 6-8 of these panels Hyundai 410W Solar Panel 132 Half-Cell Bifacial HiS-S410YH(BK) or similar (if not available by the time I have money to buy them), which will cost around $1230

With the 150V/45A MPPT, the panels would be set up in a 2S4P setup.

So, far I've spent about $1470 to get this far.

My eventual full scale solar panel system I want would have all Victron equipment, at least 8kW of solar, 32kWh of battery (Gobel power DIY kits, probably) and 24kW of inverters.
An addition 12-14, 400-420W panels similar to the panels I would buy for the initial system

For example, the full system I would want, bought from Current Connected would be the following:
10kVA 120/240V Residential Off-Grid Power System - $5073
Victron MPPT RS 450V/100A SmartSolar Charge Controller - $1231 -- These can handle 7.2kW of solar on each MPPT, for a total of 14.4kW
Victron 48V MultiPlus-II 5kVA 120V Inverter - $1711 -- two additional ones, for a total of 20kW of power
kVA is also another way to say wattage.

From Gobel Power (for a total of 32kWh of battery power)
280Ah EVE LiFePO4 prismatic cells - $96 each, for a total of 32
Gobel Power DIY Kit 51.2V 280Ah Battery Case Kit with BMS Circuit Breaker - $500 each, and I would want two (it includes a 200A JK Inverter type BMS, which can communicate with Victron equipment)

This full sized system would cost me around $18,100 (I do have the ability to retire from my current job on Aug 31, 2027, and I could afford this then. I figured I could wait until Dec 31, 2028 to retire, because I'd get more money per month and the lump sum. I plan on doing the 3 years worth of income in a lump sum. 2027, I would get at least $50,200 and end of 2028, it would be $57,100 for the lump sum.

I figured I'd like to mention that I stream on Twitch. I am a variety streamer, playing games like Destiny 2, American Truck Simulator, Cities: Skylines, Beat Saber, and rarely VRChat

Twitch link: https://www.twitch.tv/blackspots76

My streams are anywhere between 2 hours and 5 hours, but I try to stream for at least 4 hours.

I have decided on the EG4 6500-EX48 6.5kW inverter charger.
https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-6-5k.....cPwLcVc0SW-BjN

It requires two to do 120/240V split phase, which is fine. It supports two sets of 4kW of solar, for a total of 8kW per unit. 6.5kW output from the inverter. Two in parallel bumps that to 13kW output and up to 16kW of solar. It is also UL listed (the only one in it's class currently)

It can switch between grid, solar and battery input, or solar, battery and grid. It does not feed back into the grid (I believe there is a setting to allow it, but it's disabled by default).

I chose this one, primarily because it makes it easier to expand. Looking at the 6kW inverter  redbear1158 has (found on Amazon), it can't be daisy chained in parallel (it claims it can handle surges to 18kW for 20 seconds). The 6500-EX48 supports a 200% load for 5 seconds.

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To recap:
Two EG4 6500-EX48 - $1299 each (for 13kW output, up to 16kW of solar) - https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-6-5k.....cPwLcVc0SW-BjN

16 - 460W BlueSun solar panels (7.36kW) - $4000 ($249 each) https://signaturesolar.com/bluesun-.....-panel-silver/ (might add one more for 7.82kW)

15.36kWh of battery (3x - https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-life.....ery-48v-100ah/ - cheaper than building my own set of batteries! $1499 vs me building two sets of 13S10P 48V, 50Ah lithium batteries for approximately $1650)

Approximately $12,000 before ITC credit (if I bought it all at once), not including any wiring, conduit or electrical boxes.

Inspiration partially credited by  redbear1158 for his solar and energy storage project. The other half comes from me unintentionally abusing one of my DeWalt 20V Max 10Ah batteries, without realizing I was abusing it (expensive mistake, a new pack cost me $239 plus tax). I had gotten bored and spun an old shirt like a fan with my DeWalt drill until the battery was drained. Made it quite toasty. I charged the pack once it was cooled enough, then the next day I tried to mow my yard (I have a DeWalt 20V Max mower, which takes two batteries, and included two 10Ah batteries). Only got 15 minutes before that pack was low enough voltage that the mower didn't want to run.

Tried charging it, and it wouldn't charge the pack at all. Decided to disassemble the pack. Once was enough to apparently cause two of the batteries to go full dead open, zero voltage, where the battery charger wouldn't recognize that they were there. The other 8 batteries are still good. These are impossible to find, impossible to match batteries, because they're basically DeWalt exclusive Samsung 21700 50S 5Ah cells. 20A continuous, 45A peak. You can find them on AliExpress, if you are lucky, for $22 each.

I decided I was going to use these batteries, and buy batteries from https://www.18650batterystore.com/ BAK 21700's 5Ah, 15A continuous for $5.50 each (10 or more). It was suggested by someone else that I go to Home Depot or Lowes and ask if I can pilfer their battery recycle bins for batteries, because more often than not, the batteries in those are still good.

The BMS I bought is the Daly 13S 48V 50A BMS: https://www.ebay.com/itm/234507040998
I'll use this DROK 10-100V battery monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085DYZV3S to visually monitor voltage and battery percentage

One of these days, when I have the money, I'll figure out what panels, string inverters (Enphase IQ7 or IQ8), and charge controller to buy.

I'm going to get a few pictures commissioned on Blackspots' parents, as I feel they deserve some attention as well. Mostly pictures of them doing various things in their lives, such as what they do for a living.

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A little information about them:

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Silverstone was born on June 2270 in what was the former state of Arizona in the province of California of the UNTWG, but mainly lived in what was the former state of Ohio in the province of Michigan for most of hir early life. However, in 2297, shi moved back to the Arizona region, where in 2298 shi met Yellowrose.

Yellowrose was born November 2279 in the former state of Texas of the Holy Christian Kingdom of North America and generally hir family would move around to different places, living in what was the old state of the California Republic for a while, but in 2298 shi moved to the old state of Arizona and by chance met Silverstone. Silverstone and Yellowrose have been lifemates since December 2300.

They both moved to Chakona in 2301 to escape the rising anti-fur tensions and the Humans First terrorist attacks on Earth against morphs and Chakats. When they became citizens of Chakona in 2302, they lived in Amistad on the Flinders Continent, later moving to Port Kepler on the Galilie continent approximately 15 years later. They had two cubs, first one born on January 2302, and in September 2304 they had Blackspots, sired by Silverstone.

Silverstone's job involves package delivery for the post office in Port Kepler, and Yellowrose's career involves drafting and engineering for building developers on the Galilie continent.

I have been informed by Mooz (on Telegram/Twitter) that  ghostblackburn (also known by  chakatstarhunter and  chakatghostmane among other aliases) has passed away today after nearly a month of battling COVID-19

They have been one of the kindest and most generous people I've known in this community. I enjoyed being their friend, speaking with them on Skype/Discord/Telegram, and had fun roleplaying with them. Ghost will be missed dearly.

Rest in Peace Ghost Blackburn Sept 14, 2021

One of these days, I *MIGHT* reorganize this gallery into order of timeline, following this timeline. (The * means a future commission idea)

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Sep 21, 2304 -or- 1/24/68 -- Blackspots was born (seen being held in mother's arms in hospital bed)
May 28, 2322 -or- 4/42/83 -- Blackspots the College Years
May 28, 2326 -or- 4/17/87 -- Blackspots graduates from Dewclaw
Dec 25, 2329 -or- 8/22/90* -- Blackspots asks Nightstalker to be hir denmate
Dec 18, 2330 -or- 6/15/91* -- Blackspots graduated from Starfleet Academy
Jun 14, 2331 -or- 5/39/91* -- Blackspots asks Nightstalker to be hir lifemate
Spring 2332 -or- 1/20/92 -- Blackspots and Nightstalker watch house being built
Summer 2332 -or- 3/32/92 -- Blackspots Stands in Front of House
Winter 2332 -or- 4/01/93 -- Nightstalker & Blackspots staying warm
May 22, 2341 -or- 2/19/100 -- Chakat Blackspots by Wolfkidd
May 27, 2341 -or- 7/19/100 -- Chakat Blackspots on the Beach by Sharae
Jun 17, 2341 -or- 2/22/100 -- Chakat Blackspots House at Tallawang
Jun 17, 2341 -or- 2/22/100 -- The Kitchen in Blackspots' House
Aug 28, 2341 -or- 4/30/100 -- Chakat Blackspots Data Analyzation
Sep 05, 2341 -or- 3/31/100 -- Chakat Blackspots Console
Jun 09, 2345 -or- 3/44/103 -- Blackspots & Keda's First Date
Jul 21, 2350 -or- 7/17/108 -- Blackspots Hears the Commotion
Jul 21, 2350 -or- 7/17/108 -- Lt Cmdr Blackspots Reprimands Cadet
Jul 21, 2350 -or- 7/17/108 -- Lt Cmdr Blackspots Sends a Message
Jul 28, 2350 -or- 6/18/108* - Blackspots gets transfer orders to FSS Longfall
Jul 29, 2350 -or- 7/18/108* - Blackpsots going over notes with Hopes Paws at the Cat's Eye Pub
Jul 29, 2350 -or- 7/18/108* - Blackspots and the gang at Blackstripe's strip club
Dec 28, 2350 -or- 2/36/108 -- Blackspots Takes a Selfie aboard the FSS Longfall
Aug 01, 2350 -or- 1/19/108 -- Blackspots Transferring to the FSS Longfall
Aug 02, 2350 -or- 2/19/108* - Official ceremony for welcoming Blackspots on the FSS Longfall
Dec 02, 2350 -or- 2/33/108 -- Silverstone and Yellowrose Portrait
May 15, 2351 -or- 8/03/109 -- Blackspots at the navigation console of the FSS Longfall
Jun 17, 2351 -or- 6/07/109 -- Blackspots Cooking for the Clan
Summer 2353 -or- 4/01/111 -- Blackspots PTV - Ancient Ford F-150 XLT
Spring 2355 -or- 4/19/112 -- Blackspots in the Bedroom
Summer 2355 -or- 5/30/112 -- Blackspots and Wildsand Discuss things
May 05, 2361 -or- 4/36/117 -- Quickstreak at the Track
Jan 13, 2378 -or- 4/13/132 -- Blacknight Making the Rounds
Sep 04, 2383 -or- 8/08/137 -- Whitesocks Collecting Samples
Dec 12, 2386 -or- 5/01/140 -- Aztec On Hir way to Hir Duty Station
Oct 11, 2404 -or- 2/26/155 -- Blackspots Reminisces on Times Past
Dec 18, 2404 -or- 8/33/155* - Blackspots Starfleet Retirement Ceremony
Jun 02, 2405 -or- 8/04/156 -- Blackspots Watching TV
Nov 13, 2409 -or- 8/46/159 -- Streetprowler the Federation Ambassador
Apr 22, 2438 -or- 3/34/184* - Blackspots' Gravesite Headstone

Which of my followers plan on going to Furry Fiesta next year?

Alrighty, I did go, but it was sort of a last minute thing (only less than a month of planning). Left around 5PM, arrived at 7:15PM on Saturday, didn't do much. Hung out with Winsoar ( bluecoyote) and his wife at the hotel lobby after getting pizza from Papa John's, stayed in a room in the hotel where a local fur was in. Left at 10:30AM Sunday, got home at 12:30PM. Got a picture of ZigZag, though (Worn by  laurenrivers).

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/22995988/ Go and check them out. There's a variety to choose from.

Sooo... just to push off the old journal... here's Blackspots' family births by month

Blackspots' family births in order of date
2161-09-28 -or- (-57yrs) - Yellowrose's great grandfather born*...............(Wolftaur).........................................1
2202-10-01 -or- (-22yrs) - Yellowrose's great grandmother born*.............(Chakat)...........................................1
2226-06-11 -or- (-7.5mo) - Yellowrose's grandmother born*.....................(Chakat)...........................................2
2227-02-12 -or- (-2 wks) - Yellowrose's grandfather born*.......................(Chakat - 1/2 Wolftaur)......................2
.........................................Yellowrose's father born*..............................(Chakat)..........................................3
2255-07-27 -or- 4/35/25 -- Chakat Gildedtongue...................Denmate
2261-09-15 -or- 6/03/31 -- Yellowrose's mother born*...............................(Chakat - 1/4 Wolftaur)....................3
2270-06-02 -or- 6/31/38 -- Chakat Silverstone*....................Sire
2279-11-12 -or- 1/42/46 -- Chakat Yellowrose*.....................Mother..........(1/8 Wolftaur)....................................4
2304-09-21 -or- 1/24/68 -- Chakat Blackspots..........................................(1/16 Wolftaur)..................................5
2306-04-01 -or- 7/39/69 -- Chakat Keklily Longfall................Denmate
2308-01-20 -or- 8/18/71 -- Chakat Nightstalker.....................Lifemate
2310-05-30 -or- 4/21/73 -- Chakat Hytop*............................Denmate
2318-08-11 -or- 8/27/80 -- Keda Hoshimaru*........................Denmate
2324-08-31 -or- 7/40/85 -- Chakat Blizzarmane....................Denmate
2338-06-13 -or- 4/40/97 -- Chakat Starrysky........................Companion
2339-xx-xx -or- -/--/98 -- Chakat Wavelength.......................Companion
2339-xx-xx -or- -/--/98 -- Chakat Greenstar..........................Companion
2341-08-07 -or- 1/28/100 - Chakat Whitesocks......................Child
2341-08-22 -or- 6/29/100 - Chakat Quickstreak.....................Child
2344-08-01 -or- 5/08/103 - Chakat Blacknight.......................Child
2348-11-04 -or- 5/42/106 - Chakat Silveratus........................Companion
2355-08-17 -or- 6/37/112 - Chakat Aztec..............................Child
2355-08-17 -or- 6/37/112 - Chakat Streetprowler...................Child
2360-xx-xx -or- -/--/117 - Chakat Ghostmane........................Denmate
2361-xx-xx -or- -/--/118 - Chakat Bloodstripe........................Denmate
2385-11-27 -or- 2/06/139 - Chakat Winterwhite......................Child
2386-01-22 -or- 5/12/139 - Chakat Honeyfur..........................Child
2386-12-31 -or- 6/03/140 - Chakat Rosehaven.......................Child
2387-01-08 -or- 6/04/140 - Chakat Amberspots.....................Child
2387-01-08 -or- 6/04/140 - Chakat Blackblood.......................Child
2391-10-17 -or- 6/11/144 - Chakat Manespots........................Child

(Ghostmane, Bloodstripe, Greenstar and Wavelength's birthdates are not yet known)
* - extrapolated based on RL birthdate

With Yahoo IM basically being completely dead due to their totally illogical redesign, and AIM really not being used either anymore. There's also ICQ, but when was the last time anyone used that? I remember people using that about 10-15 years ago.

The big three now are Skype, Telegram and Discord. Discord and Telegram being the new kids on the block, and Skype which was bought by Microsoft and merged with MSN (I remember using MSN Messenger alot before I started using YIM all the time). Now, as for Skype, its gotten worse for a lot of people (I never have troubles with it), but it has ads, and it requires some "advanced" editing to get rid of the ads. It also seems to be dying, being replaced with Telegram and Discord.

As for Telegram, its not bad, but I find its requirement of someone's phone number to add them as a contact kind of annoying. It is very basic, and doesn't even have the ability to use the /me function. To be honest, there's not a lot Telegram can do.

Now, with Discord. Its quite advanced. Each chat room is a server, and you can have different chat rooms within the server as well as voice channels. Its like a combination of IRC and Teamspeak. You have per server notification settings, and per server nickname settings. Your own nickname can be different in each server that you are in. Apparently Discord added a calling function (basically a private voice chat like Skype) recently. To be honest, I see Discord as the direct replacement for Skype.

I heard on the radio that Tesla pushed an update to all the Tesla cars out there that make the cars fully autonomous at speeds below 45MPH, meaning all you have to do is enter your destination place, and the car will drive itself there. Tesla does want to drive a Tesla all the way across the US in fully autonomous mode as a test. Those of us familiar with the Chakat Universe, here's your first hint of the PTV.

Google may have their own version of a self driving car, but it isn't in as extensive use as the Tesla electric cars, and it is rather buggy compared to Tesla.

To tell you the truth, I dislike change. Change can be scary. But I have to get used to change. There are so many people that I've gotten to know in the last 10 years. Many of them no longer talk to me for whatever reason, some have disappeared (I sometimes feel like doing that), and some have changed fursonas even. So, I ought to try to not let other people's changes affect me, and get used to that.

To be honest, I don't get noticed much because I'm always busy at work because most of the time people hang out with each other is when I'm working during the day, so they never really think about me. So, I should keep trucking on and try to maintain the existing friendships I do have. (lots online, barely any IRL, to be honest.)

Also, I've noticed that there are quite a lot of people who used to fav my pictures here that no longer do.

Updated the family tree a bit, reordering things.

Guess the answer to this, and the movie it's from:

If a reindeer is travelling east at 20mph, and another travelling west at 50mph, how long would it take for them to be 210 miles apart?

This was something I'd never expect to see, a truck driving championship inside the Pittsburgh DLCC (this was in 2014)

While I have no intention of leaving FA, this is where my other accounts are:

http://chakatblackspots.deviantart.com/
https://www.furiffic.com/Chakat_Blackspots
https://chakat-blackspots.sofurry.com/
https://www.weasyl.com/~shirblackspots
https://beta.furrynetwork.com/shir_blackspots/

They aren't updated as much as FA is, but I do need to add the art not on them thats on FA.

Here's a video where the Kurds mock and make fun of ISIS (Da'esh)

Just bumping off the old journal, nothing much to talk about recently.

Going to Anthrocon was pretty smooth, drove from Wichita Falls, TX to a parking spot outside of Dallas Love Field, which the flight from there to Orlando, FL took off at 4:05PM. Then the flight from Orlando, FL took off at 8:40PM. Got to Pittsburgh just before midnight, had  whitedragun7 pick me up from the air port, and got to the hotel just past midnight (around 12:45AM).


I stayed with Chakat Bloodstripe,  starryskychakat, Chakat Whitetail, and Chakat Dreamspirit. Everything went pretty well, except it seemed that room service never bothered to clean our room, and them weird thing where they were trying to authorize Dreamspirit's credit card for every night, and the money shi had in there wasn't on hold, so we got locked out of our room and we had to pay in cash instead for two more nights (I just had to give an extra $30)


People I also got to meet:  Klaussthewolftaur,  Gildedtongue,  Voxian and  catnamedFish,  Reve,  Railrunner, Midsnow,  Fringe,  chakatNightstar,  Goldfur, Boyce Kline,  SethTriggs,  Sailoranna,  chakatswiftrunner and hir mate,  czgoldedition and  t3hjonneh, and  wolf2Tails with a Dallas fur. Interesting thing was, I randomly ran into 2Tails after the end of the con and found out him and the other guy had a flight that was the same time as mine, at 6:40PM. They left on time. I didn't, wound up being delayed until 8:05PM. Then as I landed at Baltimore at 9:05PM, the plane had to wait for an open gate for half an hour, which made me miss my flight to Dallas by 10 minutes. I did get a new flight from Baltimore, but it left at 7:45AM this morning, got to Houston at 9:35AM (local time), then took off for Dallas at 11AM, and got there at noon, and finally got home at 2:45PM. Twelve hours later than I should have been.

I randomly ran into Gildy on the shuttle bus one night. I did record the fursuit parade, but then accidentally deleted it. Also, other people I saw/took pictures of: Susan Yura (as Ming Chun) and Rin the Dragon (See http://www.furaffinity.net/user/rinthedragon/ ), Tobias,  Gillpanda,  desertgunbunny (Talliy),  chakatthriceborn,  chakatwindshear and  artie

My flight to Pittsburgh:
July 9, 4:05PM/7:40PM Dallas to Orlando (left at 4:15PM, arrived at 7:28PM) Southwest Flight 813
July 9, 8:40PM/10:45PM Orlando to Pittsburgh (left at 9:05PM, arrived 10:59PM) Southwest Flight 1081

My Flight home:
July 13, 6:40PM/7:45PM Pittsburgh to Baltimore (left at 8:12PM, arrived at 8:55PM) Southwest Flight 1502
July 13, 8:35PM/10:45PM Baltimore to Dallas (left at 8:53PM, arrived at 10:23PM) Southwest Flight 4285 -- MISSED due to waiting for open gate on flight 1502 until 9:35PM)
July 14: 7:45AM/9:55AM Baltimore to Houston (left at 7:53AM, arrived at 9:35AM) Southwest Flight 707
July 14, 11AM/12PM Houston to Dallas (left at 11:06AM, arrived at 11:46AM) Southwest Flight 20

So, my furry facebook account got disabled, for Facebook's usual "real name" policy. Though I might have an idea in who probably reported me. Guess this means I have to use my regular facebook account from now on.

For those familiar with Doug Winger, he is in the hospital with pneumonia. According to  dustmeat here His condition is extremely poor because he waited until the last minute to go to the hospital. It is also stated that Doug has COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), which I imagine doesn't help matters.

And according to  saara here
Last time I spoke with Schirm, a couple of weeks ago, I asked about Doug's health. I've been in the habit of doing this whenever talking to either Steve or Schirm, so I feel as though I've been watching Doug deteriorate for years. How did it happen? Terrible diet -- microwaved weiners for the most part, and whatever KFC or pizza that Steve and Bob have left. Decades of smoking. Less than no excercise, if it's possible. Add to that a fear of doctors and total indifference to his health. The internet has been his life since he moved to California, and it has sucked the life out of him.

Less melodramatically, he had been having trouble with his teeth and I believe dental abscesses. It may have just been enough to weaken his immune system that an opportunistic virus like pneumonia to take hold.

While I am not a fan of his (hyper cock and such), I do wish him the best and a speedy recovery if possible.