Welcome to Winter (Solstice)

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by bwilson4web, Dec 22, 2025 at 8:24 AM.

  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    December 21 was the shortest day of the year, 9 hr 49 minutes in Huntsville AL. A thin cloud day compared to the day before:
    Dec_21_2025.jpg
    • Today - high thin clouds moved over the house solar roof causing a dip around noon. Solar fusion generated only 19.2 kWh. This from the backside of a high pressure system that had moved to the East. The backside brings warmer temperatures and humidity for clouds.
    • Yesterday - the high pressure was overhead with no wind and no clouds. Solar fusion generated 23.3 kWh for my house and EVs.
    There will be cloudy and wet days when we'll be lucky to generate 2.8 kWh (Dec 18) but that is just one cloudy wet day out of the past week;
    • Dec 15 - 24.2 kWh
    • Dec 16 - 23.3 kWh
    • Dec 17 - 9.4 kWh
    • Dec 18 - 2.8 kWh
    • Dec 19 - 23.9 kWh
    • Dec 20 - 23.3 kWh
    • Dec 21 - 19.2 kWh
    I do have 13 kWh, solar battery but though the electrons are free from the Solar fusion generator, the round trip through the battery is only 86%. So I have learned how to adjust my major loads for peak solar. More about this later.

    Bob Wilson
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Yeah I posted a “Happy Winter Solstice” announcement on our family chat, no one responded. :unsure:

    Northern hemisphere, its onwards and upwards now. Funny how it’s also the first day of official winter. A somewhat arbitrary, but convenient convention, to accommodate the weather lagging the day length.
     
  3. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Our rig only did 46.8kWh for the 21st. That's a little under half what we'd see on a perfect summer solstice.
     
  4. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    8½ hrs o' daylight here yesterday in the north (flathead Valley)
    Being in a valley - mountains to the east & west, it seemed even shorter before the sun actually peaks or dips on each side.