Wrench List Production Survey: another change [RE-wrenches]

Mon Jan 19 17:35:36 PST 2004

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A suggestion for an additional field in the survey: ANNUAL SHADING.  
Thanks to Linda Pinkham at Home Power.

I would suggest using pathfinder data, with 100% indicating no shade, 
and 0% indicating all shade.  If you don't know, enter "don't know".   
This will be a qualititative factor, since the pathfinder data, to be 
quantitative, has to have latitude specific weighting factors - losing 
one hour in winter is different than losing one hour in summer.  To do 
it properly we would actually need percentage for each month.  I've 
actually developed a tool to analyze those numbers to get % of yearly 
production as a function of the % of each month, but unless lots of 
people are collecting that data, it won't do much to try to collect to 
that detail.

Corrected survey request below:

I've created an email address to collect the survey I mentioned, so 
please submit data.

Do not reply to the wrenches list.  Send your completed survey to the 
email listed below.  I'm automating the collection of the data from the 
email so it's helpful if I don't have to edit each email, so please use 
the following form and follow the instructions.  Thanks.  I'll make the 
data available to all, with no identifiers attached.  And of course, I 
won't sell or transfer your email addresses to anyone (although I 
suspect just appearing on this newslist has already made us all appear 
on some junk email lists).

Please email to: survey at appliedsolarenergy.com (replace "at" with @), 
with "Production Survey" in the subject line.
Please leave commas out of numbers.  "2214" instead of "2,214".

<Survey - nothing to enter on this line>
<Latitude>
<Altitude>
<Zip Code>    <System Size - watts>
<CEC Size - watts>    <Module Qty>
<Module>
<Inverter Qty>
<Inverter>
<Batterys Yes or No only>
<String Size (modules per string)>
<Module Azimuth>
<Module Tilt>
<Annual shading correction>
<Predicted Annual Production - kwh>
<Actual Annual Production - kwh>
<Start of Year mm/yy>
<End of Year mm/yy>
<Estimation method>
</Survey - marks the end>

Instructions: Fill in the values in the form above.  If not known, leave 
blank.  Except for the last line (estimation method) answers should 
contain numbers in only one place.  For example, "<String Size>9" is 
ok.  "<String Size>8 or 9" is not.

If you have information about more than one system, duplicate the block 
above and submit in one email if you want.

Explanations of individual entries:

System Size (name plate - # of modules X manufacturers rating)
CEC Size (for california wrenches: # of mods X CEC PTC rating X inverter 
CEC efficiency)
Module Qty
Module Manuf & Model (use California eligible module table for 
consistency and since its available to everyone via the web at 
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/erprebate/eligible_pvmodules.html)
Inverter Manuf & Model
Batterys (Yes or No only)
String Size (# of modules in series)
Module Azimuth - in degrees, South = 180, West = 270, East = 90
Module Tilt - in degrees, horiz = 0, North facing (above the equator) 
would be negative values.
Predicted Annual Production (kwh)
Actual Annual Production (kwh)
Estimation method (this could be a description or a name if you use a 
product such as Maui software or Clean Power Estimator)

Example (thanks Joel)

<Latitude>
<Altitude>
<Zip Code>90230
<System Size - Watts>2240 W DC STC
<CEC Size - Watts>1771 W AC PTC
<Module Qty> 32
<Module>Siemens SP70
<Inverter Qty>1
<Inverter>Trace SW4048
<Batterys Yes or No only>Yes
<String Size (modules per string)>4 modules in series
<Module Azimuth>160 degrees
<Module Tilt>12 degrees
<Predicted Annual Production - kwh>2544 kWh
<Actual Annual Production - kwh>2640 kWh
<Start of Year mm/yy>1/03
<End of Year mm/yy>12/03
<Estimation method>PVWATTS Los Angeles input 1.45 kW AC (STC x 0.65)

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Re: Wrench List Production Survey
Date: 	Mon, 19 Jan 2004 15:57:12 -0800
From: 	Michael Welch <michael.welch at homepower.com>
To: 	Linda Pinkham <linda.pinkham at homepower.com>
CC: 	Antony Tersol <tony at appliedsolarenergy.com>
References: 	<p0602040bbc321dcdab6a@[63.187.200.134]>

HI Linda. Yes, it has been interesting -- and promising. I am cc'ing Antony so he can see your suggestion and reply.

Linda Pinkham wrote at 03:54 PM 01/19/2004:

>Hi Michael,
>
>I've been following this topic with some interest. They have overlooked one factor that could play a big role in their numbers and analysis, and should be considered: annual % shading of array.
>
>this is one of the required calculations by the Energy Trust of Oregon, who based their whole program on learning from the mistakes of the CEC.
>
>Maybe you would like to suggest that one addition to the data they collect.
>
>Thanks
>
>Linda
>
>
>-- 
>------------------
>Linda Pinkham
>Managing Editor, Home Power magazine
>
>Change is Good.
>--Snowball in Orwell's Animal Farm
>mailto:linda.pinkham at homepower.com
>http://www.homepower.com

Michael Welch

------------------------
"Our "neo-conservatives" are neither new nor conservative, but old as Babylon and evil as Hell."
			Edward Abbey

Michael Welch, michael.welch at homepower.com
     Home Power magazine
     www.homepower.com
     To reach me: 707-822-7884
     To reach Home Power: 800-707-6585

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