this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2026
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Home electricity bills are skyrocketing. For data centers, not so much. (yaleclimateconnections.org)
submitted 4 months ago by silence7@slrpnk.net to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 6 points 4 months ago (10 children)

How does the outlet work putting electricty back into it? You sure it's not a special outlet?

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 9 points 4 months ago (4 children)

I was surprised when I read about it too, but it's true, they quite literally just plug them right into the normal plugs.

It works because there's a certain tolerance on the German breakers that allow for power to reverse. The balcony panels take advantage of this. However this also limits the possible output to whatever the tolerance is, otherwise it would overload and shut off or worse.

[–] just_an_average_joe@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

How does that even work? Panel would generate DC current and outlet would need AC. Then even when you have AC, you need to match the frequency, if outlet AC has a peak in its wave and panel has a trough, would this not cause problems? Also, does germany has pure sine wave electricity? Or is it like 3 line and 1 neutral?

Edit: nvm, i guess it has a normal on-grid inverter system built in

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 4 points 4 months ago

It's the same grid as most of Europe. AC 3 phases 50 hz 230/400 V.

Other places can do the same, but it's a legal issue rather than technical. It's difficult to tax.

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