The Solar Team Finishes in Lapilo

This post if from Tom Garber with the solar team.

With the help of several workers here in Lapilo, the New Tribes Headquarters in the Highlands of PNG, we were able to finish the 10KW solar grid tie system in less than one week.

Thanks to Bill Wright for doing the design work and for Michael Fisher for leading the installation process.
 The price of electricity is about $.65 per watt so this installation will save the medical clinic approximately $600 - $800 per month.  

 We had planned a one hour interruption on the medical clinic this morning to make the final connections but were delayed when we realized that there wasn't any earth ground in the panel so the panel needed to be removed, wires taken up through the attic and down through the walls finally ending on a newly installed copper ground rod. 
Grounding seems to be absent in most of the projects we do.  It's a real safety concern that can't be overlooked.

Another mission about 15miles from us heard we were here and stopped this afternoon to discuss the possibility of I-TEC doing a survey. It is for the Goroka Baptist Bible College (ABWE).  We have worked on several projects with ABWE over the years and look forward to seeing how we can meet there electrical needs as they plan for a major expansion.

Our day ended with a blast from the past as a drop in party was planned for Linda and Karen to re-unite with many friends.  Of course the deserts were awesome as well.








We have a meeting set up with the Tech department at the SIL center about 2 hours drive south of Laplo on Friday afternoon.  From what I understand, this is one of the largest, if not the largest  mission station in the world.  It's always good to network with other missions when ever possible to see if and how we can help each other. 

We will continue to post each day until we actually get home so continue to watch and pray.

Tom