report – pennlive.com

Pa. state bird could leave if summer temperatures rise: report – pennlive.com

A recently released report conducted by scientists working for the Audubon Society suggests that Pennsylvania’s state bird is at-risk of leaving the state, due to climate change.

The report, which looks at what would happen if or when the earth’s climate would warm another 1.5 degrees, 2 degrees or 3 degrees in the summer and winter, analyzes the increased heat’s impact on birds. It predicts that the Ruffed Grouse will search for a cooler climate, as the bird is known to thrive in cooler weather, even severe winters.

The Ruffled Grouse in the story looks like he is having a bad day. Or maybe a bad century. Climate change sucks. You would think they might want to do something about it, says the boy with the big jacked up truck who likes burning things.

Harmony Mills

The reds and yellows of the trees framed the landscape as I looked out at Harmony Mills and Cohoes from Peebles Island.

Taken on Saturday October 19, 2019 at Peebles Island State Park.

Inviting

While often crowded during the beautiful weather on Saturday, Peebles Island did offer a chance to enjoy some solitude walking in the park.

Taken on Saturday October 19, 2019 at Peebles Island State Park.

Holding off on a MPPT controller

I’ve decided to hold off on getting an MPPT solar controller for my truck for now – even when the benefits are obvious like on a partly cloudy day like this morning when I shut off the inverter, changing the resistance and actually boosting the output of the panel.

For the most part I have sufficient power with the two accessory batteries and don’t need the benefit compared to the PWM charger I currently have. The system preformed well enough on my October road trip even if I know on many days I’m not necessarily getting the best possible performance out of the solar panel. I say replace it when the PWM charger dies but the truth is without capacitors or non solid state components that’s unlikely to happen any time soon.

Plus if I were to get the larger Renology Rover MPPT charger I’d have to relocate the inverter and several other components which would require lengthening and cutting several wires to make things fit which is quite a bit of work. I do like all the diagnostic features of that charger though. One of the off gridders I follow online is a big fan of the Victron MPPT controllers which are pretty much the size of the PWM controller currently have.

Honestly the system works fairly good. Why put more money into something that works fine now?

Solar panel installed to top off battery when camping multiple days

Cold to Close Out October?

After a fairly mild October, it looks like the weather pattern is changing and it will be cold to close out the month, especially in the upper-midwest, but also here in New Yak State.