So much for market demand [RE-wrenches]

[Ray Walters]

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I'm with you too, just we are not the market forces we think we are.  
Other countries are setting the pace on these issues, and we're lucky  
they even let us have any modules at all. I'm just trying my best to  
stick with one module model and not have to switch every 6 months.  
Buying modules is like the black market, you make a deal, and the  
next day they tell you they're out of stock. I hate it, so much so  
I'm considering getting out of the sales side all together and just  
do consulting or teaching.
The loose wiring not only has the safety issues you've brought up,  
but it just looks plain unprofessional. I look at my older work with  
jboxes and its just plain better.

Ray at solarray.com
On Jan 15, 2008, at 12:43 PM, William Miller wrote:

>
> Jeff:
>
> I have been wondering for some time: "Where is the indignation?"   
> It is refreshing to hear some.  Anyone else?
>
> I was beginning to feel like Don Quixote.  I do believe some of our  
> industry gurus such as those behind code review share some of your  
> and my concern here and that is why we are seeing the new  
> language.  I just think we need to keep the pressure up on all  
> fronts (code, market, industry discussion groups, etc) and in the  
> meantime, make what we have as safe as we can.
>
> As for making exposed wiring safe, we aim to cover it as much as we  
> can.   Here is our company policy:
>
> 1. Ground mounts:  Commercial ground mounts need to be in a fenced  
> area.  Residential ground mounts will receive our Volt Guard wire  
> covers which will cover wire and connectors.  There is a link to a  
> photo of our first prototype (you may have seen this link  
> recently).  The next generation will be a little bit wider:
> http://mpandc.com/practices/Procedures/PV_wiring/PV_wiring.html
>
> 2. Roof mount PV:  Commercial installations: We will require the  
> customers maintain restricted access.  For residential  
> installations, we are developing a connector box with panel mount  
> connectors.  This box will be installed near enough to the modules  
> to allow the factory module leads to reach.  We will not be  
> installing multiple splices in our PV leads.  We will use the Wiley  
> clips and stainless steel cable ties to ensure cable are kept up  
> under the modules completely and permanently.
>
> And a last thought:  Reliability suffers with the new quick connect  
> trend.  When we had J-boxes, all of our PV leads were without one  
> splice.  Ever.  With quick connects, there is a splice between each  
> module.  There is a splice on the negative lead where it meets the  
> field supplied USE lead.  There is a splice where the field  
> supplied USE cable meets the building wire in a J-box.  Same two  
> spices are in the positive lead.  This proliferation of splices  
> lead to failures.  These spices are often times hidden under  
> modules.  It generally takes two persons to pull modules hunting  
> for a bad splice.  I feel splices should be readily accessible to  
> technicians but not to children.  We have that part backwards.
>
> Thanks for your commitment to safety.
>
> William Miller
>
>
>
> At 10:35 AM 1/15/2008, you wrote:
>
>> We have been begging for modules with J-boxes to use on ground- 
>> mounted arrays to reduce shock risk to clients kids and the  
>> public, but module manufacturers refuse to make anything except  
>> pig-tails. I know many of you have been asking for the same thing  
>> ever since they were dis-continued, as each manufacturer started  
>> to used their own version of a quick-dis-connect. We have gone  
>> from using simple cut-to-length rolled-up conduit, to separate  
>> boxes of all kinds of special connectors, expensive crimpers, and  
>> custom-made cables that do not match from one module manufacturer  
>> to another.
>>
>> I always thought when there was a big market demand for a product,  
>> the market would respond with the product needed - so much for  
>> market forces in this industry where manufacturers make whatever  
>> they want and you have to take what you can get.  I am guessing  
>> everyone is marketing now to Europe and their needs and we are  
>> left with "make-do" hardware trying to meet constantly changing  
>> codes that are far more demending than any other non-solar power  
>> systems.
>>
>> With modules now only available with wiring connectors that are  
>> dangerous where accessible, and with code officials demanding  
>> wiring procedures that we cannot meet with current products, and  
>> when only very costly "make-do" wiring arrangements must be used  
>> to provide some level of wiring access safety, I see a perfect  
>> storm on the horizon and its called the 2008 NEC codebook.
>>
>> Jeff Yago
>
>
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R. Walters
Solarray.com
NABCEP # 04170442	




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