Belize panels [RE-wrenches]

[Chris Daum]

To make a long story shorter, I've been corresponding (rather 
inadvertently) with one of the fellas trying to sell these modules.  And I 
spoke to a Siemens rep, Arthur Rudin, as to why Siemens wouldn't warranty 
them; it appears the modules were mounted incorrectly (or wired with 
improper interconnects, whatever), so that the modules' J boxes have been 
exposed to their corrosive and saline marine environment from the 
beginning--for four years--and that the J boxes would have to be replaced 
to make them workable.  ALSO, that Siemens would only sell J boxes to RG, 
not to anyone else who acquired any of these modules.  So if anybody scores 
them, they'll have to replace the J boxes with their own.

Anybody every torn a J box off a tedlar-backed module without damaging the 
module?  Seems rather unlikely....

This whole project seems to have been run by pizzlewits from beginning to 
end.  Several HUNDRED of the modules were broken in transport from Belize 
to Orlando--and I sure some of those would've been good ones!  What a 
fiasco.

Let the buyer beware.

Chris Daum
Oasis Montana Inc.
406-777-4321 or 4309
406-777-2632  fax
http://www.oasismontana.com


On Sunday, January 14, 2001 8:04 PM, Doug Pratt [SMTP:dpratt at pacific.net] 
wrote:
> Hi Kurt,
>
>   Oh yes, I DO know about these panels!  Siemens inspected them and said 
"not
> our problem, no warranty, and we aren't going to fix them", or words to 
that
> effect.  My best guess is that the j-boxes were broken when the hurricane 
pulled
> everything apart, but Siemens isn't telling why they aren't going to 
honor the
> warranty.  Siemens WILL sell the new j-boxes for about $12, but they will 
NOT
> under any conditions warranty the modules, repaired or not.  So the 
modules
> could be repaired, and they're probably a good buy for do-it-yourselfer 
types,
> but with no warranty they're worth a LOT less.  I think RG offered them 
about
> $1/watt for this batch, so small wonder they're fishing with you again. 
 Watch
> yer ass!
>
> -Doug Pratt
>
>
> kurtj12 at aol.com wrote:
>
> > doug and any wrenches that might find this humerous,
> > scroll down and check out this message that the folks in belize sent to 
me.
> > there is no way in hell that i'd buy these things, but its obvoius that 
real
> > goods decided against buying them. i'm curious to know whether it is 
true
> > that siemens has inpected these and whether they are really backing 
them. i
> > doubt it. doug do you know anything about this?
> > kurt johnson
> > the solar guys
> >
> > - - - - - - -
> > To send a message:
> >  RE-wrenches at topica.com
> >
> > The archive of previous messages:
> >  http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
> >
> > To unsubscribe send a message to:
> >  RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com
> >
> > To check out the other RE-Wrench participants:
> >  www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html
> >
> > Hosted by Home Power magazine:
> >  www.homepower.com
> >
> > For info contact list moderator by email:
> >  michael.welch at homepower.com
> >
> > ____________________________________________________________
> > T O P I C A  -- Learn More. Surf Less.
> > Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
> > http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
> >
> > 
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Subject: Solar panels
> > Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 11:02:25 -0500
> > From: National Health Products <nhpro at mindspring.com>
> > To: kurtj12 at aol.com
> >
> > Hello Kurt: We still have 514 solar panels that have corroded J boxes. 
The
> > J boxes can be replaced by purchasing them for about $12.00 from 
Siemens.
> > We had these panels inspected by a Siemens official yesterday and he 
said
> > they are still very excellent and have at least a 25 year life span
> > remaining, except for the damaged J boxes. Are you interested in such
> > panels? We can sell them for a minimal price of $150 a panel. That's 
about
> > $25.00 to $30.00 less than what you said you would pay for the 
operational
> > panels.You can still make money on these panels. Siemens said that the
> > removal and replacement should not be too difficult for a person who is
> > familiar with solar panels. They said that they would work with 
whomever
> > buys them to get them back to operational status. They cannot continue 
a
> > warranty on them. Give me a call if you are interested. Thank you. 
Clark
> > McClelland
> > 800-537-7671
>
> - - - - - - -
> To send a message:
>  RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> The archive of previous messages:
>  http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
>
> To unsubscribe send a message to:
>  RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com
>
> To check out the other RE-Wrench participants:
>  www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine:
>  www.homepower.com
>
> For info contact list moderator by email:
>  michael.welch at homepower.com
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> T O P I C A  -- Learn More. Surf Less.
> Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
> http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01
>   

- - - - - - -
To send a message:
 RE-wrenches at topica.com

The archive of previous messages: 
 http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

To unsubscribe send a message to: 
 RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

To check out the other RE-Wrench participants:
 www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine: 
 www.homepower.com

For info contact list moderator by email:
 michael.welch at homepower.com

____________________________________________________________
T O P I C A  -- Learn More. Surf Less. 
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01