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from the musk-sells-solar-cells-by-the-solar-shore dept.
Trump administration imposes tariffs on imported solar cells and modules at 30% and certain washing machines up to 50%:
This new determination sets tariffs on imported solar cells and modules at 30 percent with a gradual decrease of that tariff over the subsequent four years. In years two, three, and four, the tariff will be imposed at 25 percent, 20 percent, and 15 percent, respectively, of the value of the import. The first 2.5 gigawatts of imported solar cells imported are exempt from the tariff (but it seems that a similar provision was not made for solar modules). Though the executive branch has broad authority to impose whatever tariff it wants after the ITC finds that an industry has been harmed by imports, this tariff decision closely matches the middle-ground recommendation made by two of the four-person ITC's commissioners. Those commissioners recommended a 30-percent tariff on modules and a 30-percent tariff on imported solar cells in excess of 1GW, with declining rates after the first year.
Whirlpool shares rise after Trump tariff on washing machine imports
The new tax is expected to hit Trump's desk on Tuesday. The administration is imposing 20% tariffs on the first 1.2 million machines imported each year, and 50% on those after that. There will also be a 50% tariff on washing machine parts.
Naturally South Korea and China are upset and plan to argue their case at the WTO. From the articles I read this morning there should be a boost to US manufacturing but the gains may all be offset by the losses with people not wanting to pay more for solar. I think regardless of price people will do solar for solar's sake, but there is sure to be some impact on sales and installation jobs.
Guess I should have bought that 30% off washing machine at the Sears going out of business sale.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 24 2018, @07:45PM (3 children)
I'm not so sure that 12 volts is covered by code. Is it? I thought you could pretty much do what you wanted with low voltage wiring.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday January 24 2018, @09:14PM (2 children)
While 12V is safe from electrocution, the chances of fires due to insufficiently thick wires and/or improper connection leading to shorts are higher.
Because 12V will require higher currents - a 10W@12V led bulb replacement will suck almost 1A (vs 0.1A on a 120V main with an incorporated down voltage adapter). The 10W LED itself is mounted on a radiator, it gets quite hot; also keep in mind the LEDs are quite prone to thermal runaways [wikipedia.org].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by fyngyrz on Thursday January 25 2018, @01:18AM
Just to follow up on that a bit, these all-in-one small systems do come with the appropriate cables for panel to controller and controller to battery.
After that, you're on your own. And sure, like any electrical system, you can do it wrong.
Buuuut... again, there's tons of help on the Internet, and cable advice features prominently.
(Score: 2) by fyngyrz on Thursday January 25 2018, @01:23AM
Also... just like the mains... proper fusing and loading is very easy to set up. If you're running a charge controller (and if you don't, you're nuts), they usually have a properly current-limited output you can use, too. Which also provides usage monitoring and the like.