[RE-wrenches] S5 Clamps

[Joel Davidson]

Kirpal, Thank you for your detailed answer.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kirpal Khalsa 
  To: RE-wrenches 
  Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 10:50 AM
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] S5 Clamps


  Hi Mike and Joel.......some disadvantages are that the dimensions of the panels are rarely proportional to the dimensions of the standing seam....this can lead to dissimilar spacing between columns, possibly affecting the aesthetics of the array....some solar modules are rated to have clamps hold them down at any point along their edges and in this scenario this dimensional mismatch doesn't seem to be much of an issue, however if the modules you are using have requirements as to where the clamps must be located this can be an issue....We have found that standing seam roofs where the seams are 12" apart instead of 16 inches or greater also make this less of a problem....another remedy to this is orienting the panels in landscape mode rather than portrait.  Also to minimize the number of S5 clamps required it is good to have your columns be as long as possible from north to south again in landscape mode.  
  We have found that there will never be any issue with the S5 clamp's strength of attachment to the proper standing seams but you do need to make sure that the roofing material is attached more securely than normal to the subsurface of the roof, as you don't want the roof flying off with your array.  we have found that normally the standing seam roofs with no panels are attached at intervals of 16 inches along the seams.....we always try to have this doubled  to be attached every 8 inches......most roofing companies we have worked with have not charged more for this but they could.
  Another disadvantage of not using rails is less airflow under the panels....means reduced performance due to heat issues.  also if you are attaching your modules in series it is hard to get your hands under the panels to make all the connections and clip up the cables so they are not hanging down onto the roof surface.....
  these are some of the things we have dealt with in standing seam roofs with S5 clamps.....we have considered not using rails many times and always we have decided to go for using the rails.....
  S5 does have some fairly good engineering data for structural permits on their web site.....

  Cheers and good luck...
  -- 
  Sunny Regards,
  Kirpal Khalsa
  NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer
  Renewable Energy Systems

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