Saturday, February 15, 2025

EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra 7200-Watts Portable Power Station

 




Hey hello YouTubers if you're like me and you've thought about buying a backup battery system for your home or a backup generator uh that's what I ended up doing and that's what I'm going to talk about how and why I bought it what I bought so first thing is justifying this kind of expense why do we need to buy a backup generator well we've had several Power outages over the years it's it's always a little bit of an inconvenience not that big a deal but you know you kind of wish you could flip the lightson well when Helene hit and we were out not for a few hours but a few days actually about 10 days I thought enough is enough I need to get a backup system so what to buy well I considered gasoline well actually I didn't that was the first thing I eliminated because I don't want to have like a I just don't want to have gasoline hanging around the house a lawn mower kind of sound going on when I'm running it I thought about natural gas cuz we do have natural gas here and there would be a UnlimitedSupply so there's an advantage to that but I really just wanted a battery and so I looked into batteries what could I buy I heard about the Tesla power power wall I think they called it but I started investigating and I found this Echo flow battery that I have pictured here and it was a 3600 Watt and that sounded pretty good and it was 3,000 bucks give or take that sounded like okay but as I continued to investigate I found another one for 4,900 let's say 5,000 bucks so for the $5,000 you get 7200 Watts which is whichis double the amount of wattage for an extra $2,217 this is the Delta Pro Ultra it's a new system it's a step up it's expandable I felt like this would be the right item to buy all right so our Echo flow Delta Pro Ultra has been delivered I ordered this from Lowe's literally only two days ago it was just delivered by FedEx and now I got to deliver it from here into the house and that's going to be quite a trick I've got the hand truck I've got my back braces on let's go for it so I got it on the hand truck you know withthe handle in the hand truck to go as a four-wheeler and I'll see how that works versus just Wheeling it in on two all right so I got it on the hand truck I got it on the four wheels and so this is how it looks I'm just going to show it cuz I'm going to take it down the hallway got to have plenty of space and get it into the back room where I'm going to disassemble it or assemble it all right so I got it in here this is the inverter so this goes on top so I'm first going to take this box off thetrolley then I'm going going to going to go back and get the battery bring that in and I'll probably unwrap that first okay we've got this thing assembled which is no small feet for a little guy with big hands anyway uh I was able to brace it up against the wall I was able to lift and push it into place it kind of locks in place which is great and as far as I'm concerned that coaster with the wheels is very sturdy and seems to do a great job now the deal is you need to have this lined up correctly to have yourbattery ports on the same side this this little lock bracket here this plug basically assembly goes from one plug to the other that's what feeds uh the one un to the next unit without that it's not going to turn on so make sure that's lined up and then you're good to go I plugged it in now my Chevy Chase moment so now my Chevy Chase moment I got it plugged into my regular wall unit it is plugged in now how do we get it to go well one of these is an on button well look at there here it comes we're up to30% already fantastic I'm getting a call from Chip I think I will take a break and let this thing charge itself up a little bit hallelujah praise the lord we made it we did it all by our little selves all right we'll see you later okay I've been learning as I go and basically I just want to power it in I just want to plug it in power it up you see I'm up to 46% already it's been about maybe an hour or less been on the phone with a friend and uh so then you want to you know use it to charge up your devices of course so what I learnedhere is you have to push AC and then that will put out your AC power I don't know what this is about but anyway now that my AC power's on I can plug in all of my just like your home I can plug in various devices or you know appliances into my plug-in strip and then I have the USB outlet which happens to be DC so I push that on and now hopefully my phone will light up there you go so in other words I learn as I go like I said and you're having a struggle with me but this is fantastic uh it's very heavy the hardest part ofputting this in if you're a do yourselfer is the weight of it I'm one little guy and I got it in by myself I got it plugged in I got it you know leveled up and now I got my dog I wish I could level him up but the point is that it's doable but I would recommend you know two guys doing it Zeke please okay you're the St show um anyway it works voila it works and obviously this is just a start but eventually if I did have a power outage I'd want to plug in my refrigerator and my coffee maker and various things of that nature but itworks it's a good deal and we'll talk to you later well I took a little nap so I don't know exactly when it hit 100% wow look at that 99 but anyway we're fully charged everything that was plugged in here it's fully charged so I'm loving it and I'll be doing more YouTubes about it as I learn more and look up more things and we'll talk to you okay so a few things I learned along the way if you're a do-it-yourselfer and you just want to get a home backup system uh that's what I decided to do uh the things you haveto think about well where am I going to put it it's a plug-and play you can put it where you want and then you can just turn it on and start using it it is heavy so keep that in mind but I just put it near a wall outlet in a room you know where there was space and now if the power goes out tonight for example I will have to run power cords from my refrigerator or whatever I do need if I can't carry it over to it I'd have to run an extension cord from the device or from the appliance to the device uh you put the Caster wheels onfirst you build the little platform then you get the unit on that platform once you do that all the he heavy lifting is over so that's a good deal the inverter this is two big Parts one is the inverter where you plug in and plug out and all the computer uh issues are built into that system or built into that box that weighs about 75 pounds the battery itself is the bottom part and that's expandable up to five batteries so if if my needs increase or once I like this and I'm using it if I want tobuy another battery or two or three batteries I can certainly do that so that's something I had in mind when I bought it but this thing comes with its own power cord so you can plug it right into your wall and start charging it then you can start using it to charge your phone and your iPad or what have you I'm going to bring my Wi-Fi uh T-Mobile device downstairs I want to check that because in case there is a power outage that's one of the things I want is Wi-Fi all right so essentially uh the ultra to me was theway to to go I'm glad I got it if you guys are thinking about it you know check it out do your own research make your own decisions but so far so good and we'll see you next time so I do have a couple of thoughts in closing I bought this essentially to weather the storm so to speak to last me a few hours possibly in the future a few days you don't know but the main thing there is it is expandable so if I needed to increase the duration I could buy new batteries and just add them to the stack and Iwould be good to go for an extended period of time the other aspect is I can charge this using solar panels so I might do that in the future if I were to map it into the house system I would call an electrician it's not that big a deal but it's something that an electrician would have to do so I'll some find somebody certified to do that and uh beyond that uh I'm just glad I got it I feel better now and uh look forward to the next storm that's the irony now I'm kind of hoping the power goes out just to test it out all rightwell thanks again take care of yourself enjoy yourself and uh may your future be sunny and bright so long

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra 7200-Watts Portable Power Station EFDPUPCS-BP at Lowes.com


https://www.lowes.com/pd/EcoFlow-Delta-Pro-Ultra-7200-Watt-Portable-Power-Station/5015183867


You did a great straight forward job in this video. I just ordered this EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra from Lowe's.

EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra 7200-Watts Portable Power Station Lowes.com

We just went through hurricane Helene, spending every day plugging in all my iPhones and IPad and I swore I'd get a backup battery before doing that again. What I'm hoping for with this unit is that I can charge it up on regular household current and or 240 and keep it as a backup if the power goes out for a few hours and possibly a few days by using it only for essentials; refrigerator, TMobile WiFi, iPhones, iPad 

Can I plug these devices directly into this unit? Can I, later at some point, connect this unit directly to my electric panel using a transition device for that purpose?

I would greatly appreciate any feedback you can give me. Thanks again! Pete 


Pete

Thursday, February 6, 2025

 Here are 20 waterfalls within 25 miles of Hendersonville, NC, along with their Google Maps links:

In DuPont State Recreational Forest:

  1. Triple Falls: Google Maps - Trio of waterfalls cascading 120 ft. in forested state park, a setting in "Last of the Mohicans."
  2. High Falls: Google Maps - 150-ft.-tall waterfall on the Little River with scenic deciduous forest & a nearby covered bridge.
  3. Hooker Falls: Google Maps - A short, wide, waterfall in DuPont State Forest that is a popular destination for swimming.
  4. Bridal Veil Falls: Google Maps - Short hiking trail to a wide cascade over a plane of granite, used as a backdrop for several films.
  5. Grassy Creek Falls: Google Maps - A lesser-known but beautiful 60-foot waterfall in DuPont State Forest.

In Pisgah National Forest:

  1. Looking Glass Falls: Google Maps - Photo-ready waterfall (named for a smooth rock that freezes) with a plunge pool & quick road access.
  2. Moore Cove Falls: Google Maps - A 50-foot waterfall where you can actually stand under the falls! It's an easy 1.4-mile hike.
  3. Slick Rock Falls: Google Maps - A less-visited 35-foot waterfall that cascades off a cliff face. The road to the waterfall is a bit rough, but it's worth it for the solitude.
  4. Sliding Rock: Google Maps - A natural waterslide where you can slide down a 60-foot rock face into a pool of water. There is a small fee to enter.

Other Waterfalls:

  1. Wintergreen Falls: Google Maps - A 20-foot waterfall in DuPont State Forest, a slightly lesser-known option.
  2. Wildcat Falls: Google Maps - Located near the Blue Ridge Parkway, this is a smaller waterfall but easily accessible.
  3. Skinny Dip Falls: Google Maps - Another waterfall near the Blue Ridge Parkway, known for its swimming hole.
  4. Catawba Falls: Google Maps - A larger waterfall with multiple cascades, located a bit further away but still within 25 miles.
  5. Courthouse Falls: Google Maps - A beautiful waterfall with a large pool at the bottom, perfect for swimming.
  6. Little Bradley Falls: Google Maps - A smaller waterfall that's a good option for a short hike.
  7. Toms Creek Falls: Google Maps - A series of small waterfalls that are easily accessible.
  8. Elk River Falls: Google Maps - A large waterfall with a popular swimming hole.
  9. Crabtree Falls: Google Maps - A beautiful waterfall with a picnic area, a great option for a day trip.
  10. Glen Falls: Google Maps - A series of waterfalls that cascade down a mountainside.
  11. High Falls (Cullowhee): Google Maps - Not to be confused with High Falls in DuPont, this is another impressive waterfall located near Cullowhee.

Tips for visiting waterfalls:

  • Wear comfortable shoes, as some hikes can be strenuous.
  • Bring water and snacks, especially for longer hikes.
  • Check the weather forecast before you go.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and stay on marked trails.
  • Pack out any trash you bring in.
  • Be respectful of the natural environment.

I hope this list helps you find some beautiful waterfalls to explore near Hendersonville!

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

South Carolina state tax return = NO

 As a North Carolina resident receiving a South Carolina employee pension, you do not need to file a South Carolina state tax return[3][9]. South Carolina does not tax the retirement income of nonresident individuals[9]. Your pension income will be taxable in your state of residence, which is North Carolina.


In North Carolina, your pension income will be subject to the state's flat income tax rate of 4.75%[3]. However, North Carolina offers some tax benefits for retirees:


1. Social Security benefits are not taxable in North Carolina[3].

2. North Carolina has a "Bailey exemption" for certain government pensions, but this applies only if you had five or more years of creditable service as of August 12, 1989[1].


It's important to note that while you don't need to file a South Carolina tax return, you will need to report this pension income on your North Carolina state tax return. North Carolina taxes most retirement income, including out-of-state pensions, at its flat rate[3].


Citations:

[1] https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/601218/8-things-you-must-know-about-retiring-to-the-carolinas

[2] https://pamharringtonexclusives.com/blog/south-carolina-retirement-taxes/

[3] https://www.actsretirement.org/resources-advice/finance-saving-money/tax-benefits-for-retirees/north-carolina/

[4] https://support.taxslayer.com/hc/en-us/articles/360028657632-Is-my-retirement-income-taxable-to-South-Carolina

[5] https://www.actsretirement.org/resources-advice/finance-saving-money/tax-benefits-for-retirees/south-carolina/

[6] https://wildewood-downs.com/blog/tax-deductions-for-senior-citizens-in-south-carolina/

[7] https://smartasset.com/retirement/south-carolina-retirement-taxes

[8] https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/602202/taxes-in-retirement-how-all-50-states-tax-retirees

[9] https://dor.sc.gov/tax/individual-income/faq


---

Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share