Module grounding revisited ad nauseum [RE-wrenches]

[matthew tritt]

Steve,

Like thin aluminum, the structural strength of composites depends a lot on its section (cross sectional form) and method of joining various pieces. Also like aluminum, the life of the part depends entirely on it's weather proofing qualities. By including the appropriate amount of UV stabilizers and inhibitors in the resin portion of the composite, extremely long life in all climates is achieved without the need for a protective coating.

Also, if you consider the tremendous amount of energy needed to create aluminum in the first place (one of the complaints of the people who claim that photovoltaics can never off-set the energy consumed in their fabrication) composites make infinite sense. Concerning direct hits by lightning (or even near ones) how many of you can remember 
any incident at all where lightning hit a TV antenna? As I remember, Ben Franklin was in a rain storm, standing in a wet field, grounded, when he got lightning to zap the string.

Matt

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Willey, Backwoods Solar" <steve at backwoodssolar.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 7:59 AM
Subject: Re: Module grounding revisited [RE-wrenches]


> Composite frames were tried for a time on some ARCO or was it Siemens? And
> at least those trials did not hold out, were a bit flimsy and cracked in
> shipping so were discontinued.  Not to say good ones could not be made, but
> the materials had better be selected very carefully from something that is
> known to survive 30 years outside.
> Steve Willey       steve at backwoodssolar.com
> www.backwoodssolar.com
> 
> From: "Max Balchowsky" <max at seesolar.com>
> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 10:09 PM
> Subject: Re: Module grounding revisited [RE-wrenches]
> 
> 
> > I'd love to see composite frames. I think the down side would be the ones
> we
> > would install here in the desert.
> 
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