Missing Junction boxes on modules[RE-wrenches]

[Warren Lauzon]

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And just to add insult to injury, now we have THREE types of 
cables/connectors to deal with - the Solarline1, the Solarline2, and now 
Tyco (and some modules, like SolarWorld, come with all 3 - imagine your joy 
when you get a stack in with mixed cables...). And for all the hype, the 
cost of the MC type cables is adding anywhere from $25 to $40 per module 
install costs, and it is not reducing much - if any - the install time, 
since we now have to spend a lot of time securing the cables.

I don't see this as progress, and not sure who's bright idea this was. Not 
that MC type cables are bad in themselves, it is the lack of flexibility now 
with the way modules are configured.

Just to keep the range of cables, connectors, adaptors, and all the rest to 
fit everything together is running our install parts inventory we need to 
keep up to new highs.

..................................................................................................
Northern Arizona Wind & Sun - Electricity From The Sun
..................................................................................................
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William Miller" <wrmiller at charter.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 8:56 PM
Subject: Re: Missing Junction boxes on modules[RE-wrenches]


>
> Yes, Jeff, we are having this problem.  We knew it was coming, however, 
> and you must have missed me bitching about it on this forum.  Hopefully 
> this means I have not been overbearing on the subject.
>
> Shell and then Solarworld had been offering the large frame modules with 
> the pigtails, but they were removable.  We removed hundreds of them and 
> threw them in a big old rusty battery box out back.  We substituted NMLT 
> conduit for a much more reliable installation.  Using NMLT conduit is not 
> expensive or time consuming:  connectors are about a buck each (less than 
> a the cost of an MC "gen 2" connector) and we developed a technique for 
> installing NMLT connectors with a cordless drill.  Time to install one 
> connector:  3 seconds.
>
> Just last week we received our first order of Solarworld SW175s with the 
> loose wires that can not be removed or conduit installed .  They are for a 
> ground mount, so we are particularly concerned about having loose wires 
> underneath the modules (the ties won't last).  The clients have 
> grandchildren who will regard the ground mount racks as a jungle gym.  We 
> are working on a system of wire tray that will encapsulate the leads in a 
> manner that will be "untouchable."  We hope to apply for a patent in the 
> near future so we will have a product available for the industry before 
> someone gets killed.    So what if the ends are touch safe, rub one 
> against an aluminum rail or rack frame or tile or comp shingles a few 
> dozens times and you'll see copper.
>
> It is my impression that most of the installers out there don't give a 
> crap if kids are swinging from 600 V wires, they just want to get the job 
> done faster for more profit.  This problem is symptomatic of an industry 
> wide trend.  The industry is changing, and not for the better.  There are 
> more large corporate style vendors and installers out there who can afford 
> to underbid us locals.  I call it the Walmart-ization of the industry. 
> The turnover in their crews is constant.  The work is shoddy and the sales 
> practices are unethical.  We went to a competitor's sales seminar and the 
> lies and half truths told were disgusting.  Did you know the California 
> rebates are ending next week?  (They're not.).  The local chapter of the 
> Sierra Club stood up and endorsed them!!!  This is way out of line for an 
> environmental group to favor one vendor over another (likely because the 
> local president got her installation done by them, maybe at a discount).
>
> Another thing:  to tool up for the inferior wiring system (MC) will cost 
> us $2,000 and the delivery date is more than a month out.  So once we 
> figure out how to protect our ground mount wires, we get to wait for 30 to 
> 60 days before we can hook them up.
>
> Anyway, back to the unprotected wiring:  I know many are comfortable with 
> the status quo and may not want to read this, but I'd hoped that enough of 
> us share this concern that we could put maybe put together a petition and 
> maybe an educational web site and maybe speak out at a few meetings. 
> Anyone else out there worried about safety???
>
> William Miller
>


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