[RE-wrenches] S5 Clamps

[Tom DeBates]

good day Joel,
  I agree with Bill on the point that the standing seam system is not engineered to resist the wind loading with fewer points of attachment. It is only the clips holding the pans to the decking. 
  Two years ago we installed a 4.8 kW system using S-5's "directly". Since the modules were Sanyos (landscape) and the pans were 18" o.c. (if I remember correctly), the layout worked out nicely with the mounting points for each module at the same point. Obviously, this will not always be the case. 
  Disadvantages? 
- less points to tie-off cables since there are no rails (especially with the Sanyos and this has lead to a call-back)
- less air space between modules and roof. In our case I think we ended up with ~ 2 1/2" from pan to bottom of module frame, but it was a white roof. Also, wouldn't there be better (more laminar) flow over the metal than asphalt shingles?
- may be somewhat more difficult to square-up array
  Advantages?
- less materials
- low profile looks good and may allow less snow/ice under modules.

   Labor?
- probably slightly less without rails

good luck,
Tom

Tom DeBates
Habi-Tek
524 Summit St.
Geneva,IL. 60134
    630-262-8193
fax 630-262-1343


--- On Mon, 9/15/08, Joel Davidson <joel.davidson at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> From: Joel Davidson <joel.davidson at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: [RE-wrenches] S5 Clamps
> To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
> Date: Monday, September 15, 2008, 11:29 AM
> Wrenches,
> I used S5 clamps with UniRac rails and L-feet. I see that
> S5 clamps can also be used directly for fastening solar
> modules to standing-seam roofs. The obvious advantage is
> lower cost, but are there any disadvantages? If you used S5
> clamps without rails, did you have to get a licensed
> engineer's wind-loading structural analysis? Thank you
> very much for your advice.
> Joel Davidson
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
> 
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
> 
> Options & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
> 
> List-Archive:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
> 
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
> 
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org