Sharp v Sanyo v Shell modules [RE-wrenches]

[Bill Brooks]

Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Take our Nationwide Ice Cream Survey today! Receive a FREE* $100 
Restaurant Gift Card of your choice or $100 worth of Ben & 
Jerry’s® or Häagen-Dazs® ice cream for participating!
http://click.topica.com/caad3P6bz8Qcsbz9JC9a/Ice Cream Research Survey
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Barbara,

Where are you getting your "efficiency" numbers? Are you speaking of the
CEC/STC ratio? Although Sanyo does a good job of rating their modules
(likely do to the heavy hand-slapping they received several years ago by the
Japanese government), I don't see how anyone in this market could know what
the actual shipped performance is. We have tested all these products in the
CEC PIER program (pierminigrid.showdata.org)and the annual yield (kWh/kWstc)
at the same site is so nearly identical, that it is unfair to say the Sanyo,
Shell, or Sharp are significantly different from one another.

What we need at the moment is manufacturers to consistently rate their
modules and provide product within a more predictable tolerance range.
Currently manufacturers are required to provide product within 3% for the
German market. This mean that, in general, the U.S. market receives the
leftovers in the -3% to -10% range. This is reality given the fact that none
of the U.S programs require product closer than 10%. Manufacturers may claim
a 5% tolerance, but look carefully at their actual warranty. No one in the
U.S. market is on the hook until the product is more than 10% low. These
issues are independent of manufacturer. This is not to say that
manufacturers are purposely trying to mislead the U.S. market. They are
simply held to a higher standard in Germany.

Bill.


-----Original Message-----
From: Barbra Kerr [mailto:bkerr at energy-exchange.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 7:46 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: Sharp v Sanyo v Shell modules [RE-wrenches]
David -

I am a devoted Sanyo Supplier for my area, which range from beach to high
desert to Mountains.  Between clouds and high heat this is definitely the
best performer.

Sanyo's HIT product is superior (in my opinion) to all others with the
exception of 1st Solar's Thin film product (commercial uses only). 

We have systems in cloudy beach areas that have exceeded our output
estimates by 30%.  Yes we are waiting for the "break-in" period to be
overcome (common for thin film).  Other systems in the desert (temps over
100 degrees F) that are performing 10-15% over estimated output.

Their power tolerances are unmatched in the industry, and I have never had a
missed delivery date or late shipment of modules! Never had a module fail in
the last 2 years.  And, we are made aware of price increases BEFORE they
happen.  The only downside is the location of the ground screw, on the
inside edge of the frame, perpendicular to the backsheet.  A sloppy
installer could easily nic the backsheet.

Regarding Sharp (88%) and Shell (90%) - I personally prefer not to use these
modules (even though they have been historically cheaper than the Bp, Sanyo)
as their history of flooding the market with inexpensive, less efficient
modules, and then being dry (not having modules) when you need them does not
promote consistent, stable business.  I choose not to run my business that
way.  I understand there has been significant price increases (double
digits) in both these products, and without adequate notice to the dealers.
Sharp's product is at 88% efficiency, and Shell @ 90%.  Sanyo is 94%.


Barbra K. Kerr
President
Kerr Enterprises, Inc
PO Box 1992
Twain Harte, Ca 95383
1-800-886-2258
209-586-9607 Fax
858-337-5097 Cell

Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Is your computer freezing up or slowing down?
Repair corrupt files and harmful errors - protect your PC
Take a 2-minute PC health check-up at no charge!
http://click.topica.com/caad3p7bz8Qcsbz9JC9f/PC PowerScan
-------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------