no safe modules for ground-mounted arrays[RE-wrenches]

[Travis Creswell]

I'm not trying to pick sides but its worth mentioning that improperly
supported flex (liquid-tight) and conduit has torn J-Boxes off many a module
(never happened to me but I've cleaned us some messes).  Then you could have
an even worse mess.  In my experience, which isn't as much as many on this
list, I never did find a bullet proof way to support flex before modules
pretty much exclusively went to MC.  No matter what you do there's some
amount flex that can be easily grabbed and without much effort pop the J-Box
off.  Even what starts off as properly supported in year 1 isn't necessarily
that way in year 5.  A few years of sun, wind, squirrels and curious
children can be pretty hard on things.

To me, you can't simply say "J-boxes are safe and MC is not".

Travis Creswell
Ozark Energy Services


-----Original Message-----
From: Roy Butler, Four Winds RE [mailto:roy at four-winds-energy.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 12:47 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: no safe modules for ground-mounted arrays[RE-wrenches]


Jeff,

Great rant! I couldn't agree more and would gladly be another squeaky 
wheel in the (soon to be) chorus!

I hate to tell you how many boxes of tissues I've been through while 
pining for the good old J-box. Since most of my installs are ground and 
pole mount, I started complaining about the lack of J-boxes several 
years ago.

Most of my suppliers thought I was nuts...telling me "but it's so much 
easier to install MCs. Give it time, you'll grow to love them". I'm 
still waiting on the love.....
Like the rest of you, I've found some "just OK" work arounds but have 
never found that Holy Grail of solutions.

So I agree with Jeff.....we need to pursue this with the manufacturers.
Let's hope we have much better luck with this issue than we did with 
module grounding :-(

Roy Butler
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer®
NYSERDA eligible PV & wind installer 
Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC
8902 Route 46
Arkport, NY 14807
607-324-9747
www.four-winds-energy.com

Although no trees were killed in the sending of this message, 
a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.




Jeff Yago wrote:
> I have been reading this list concerning the stop-gap measures we all have
tried to make ground mount array wiring safer and prevent kids, animals, and
the general public from accessing high voltage DC passing through exposed
and "dangling" small gauge wire having numerous accessible dis-connects. As
I have stated in prior emails, in my opinion there is only one way to do
this safely and that is with J-box module junction boxes and flex-conduit
protected module wiring. 
>
> We need to find a way to force this issue and since code officials only
solution has been more high-cost versions of quick-disconnects, maybe its
time we approach the module manufacturers again. If we could get just ONE
module manufacturer to offer just one model in the larger 160 to 200 watt
range that has a J-box either as standard or as an option, and if ALL of us
would agree to buy or specify this module on all future ground mounted
systems, I think we could drive this issue our way. The problem so far is
just a few of us are begging for this option separately to 50 different
suppliers. We need to "gang up" on a single manufacturer or distributor and
show what the national demand would be for this product. I don't care what
the demand is in Germany for quick-disconnects, its time American
manufacturers step up to the plate and help American installers for a
change. 
>
> We need to get together as a group and start setting the agenda for solar
in the US, since it is now clear this government, US manufacturers, and code
officials are not listening to us. If the industry and code officials
continue to ignor solar installer concerns, there may be nobody left to
design and install safe pv systems in the US. I for one intend on being a
squeaky wheel for a change! If NABCEP cannot, or will not, help us in
national issues that affect us all, perhaps we need a "NABCEP - like"
national organization for installers that will give us one strong voice that
can and will be heard.
>
>
>   


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