[RE-wrenches] Separated frames on BP modules

Mon Jun 15 15:04:59 PDT 2009

Hi Peter,

Other than Sanyo, what PV panels use the short end for structural  
support? I ran in to this issue years ago when a customer drilled  
holes in the end of a Kyocera module to mount it. No warranty!

Larry Crutcher
Starlight Solar
(928) 941-1660
Renewable Energy Products, Service and Installation

On Jun 15, 2009, at 1:57 PM, Peter Parrish wrote:

> Well Nick, the cat’s out the bag on this one. And I would encourage  
> you and Andrew to give this issue wide distribution. As long as you  
> both stick to the facts and keep your phasors on stun.
>
> As integrators we need to know the technical details of warranties.  
> It would be exceedingly painful if our company had to eat the cost  
> of a 17 kW install!
>
> Here is one more factoid that I would like to throw into the mix.  
> Vance Lindsay of BP Solar, a very solid individual with lots of  
> experience on the installation side, has brought to our attention  
> the fact that BP Solar module cannot be attached via their SHORT  
> DIMENSION. This was news to us, and Vance said that such an  
> attachment scheme would void the BP Solar Warranty.
>
> Let’s keep the information flowing.
>
> Best regards,
>
> - Peter
>
> <image002.gif>Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President
> California Solar Engineering, Inc.
> 820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
> CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
> peter.parrish at calsolareng.com
> Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885
>
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org 
> ] On Behalf Of Nick Lucchese
> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 10:11 AM
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Separated frames on BP modules
>
> Oops, this was supposed just go to Andrew.
>
> Nick
>
>
> On Jun 15, 2009, at 9:56 AM, Nick Lucchese wrote:
>
>
> Sorry to hear about the BP problems Andrew. For what it's worth you  
> can tell BP that your story just solidified another wrench's reason  
> to never sell any of their modules ever again.
>
> Hope you get the customer service you deserve,
>
>
>
> Nick A Lucchese
> NABCEP Certified PV Installer
> Planet Home
> General Contractor # 808851
> Sierra Solar Systems
> 563C Idaho Maryland Road
> Grass Valley, CA 95945
> tech info and foreign orders: (530) 273-6754
> order line: (800) 51-SOLAR (US only) FAX: (530) 273-1760
> nickl at sierrasolar.com
> http://www.sierrasolar.com
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 15, 2009, at 9:22 AM, Andrew Truitt wrote:
>
>
>
> Greetings wrenches! We recently did a small commercial system (17  
> kW) using BP-SX 3175 modules and the Unirac RapidRac ballasted  
> mounting system. The flat roof is ballasted with 2" of gravel that  
> we smoothed as much as possible but undulations are visible in the  
> array, though the changes are never more than 5 degrees from module  
> to module. After about 3 months the cusotmer noticed a problem  
> developing with 1/3 of the modules: the interior of the module  
> (backsheet, cells and glazing) were separating from the aluminum  
> frame! Remnants of the black, rubbery adhesive are clearly visible  
> on the inside of the frame and on the edge of the backsheet/cell/ 
> glazing sandwich. It seems clear to us and that the adhesive simply  
> failed and should be covered under the 5 year workmanship warranty,  
> but BP does not agree. BP is saying that the modules are supposed to  
> be mounted with a solid member spaning the width of the module and  
> since the RapidRac supports the module on what amounts to 4  
> individual stanchions, the workmanship warraty is null and void. The  
> mounting instructions, however, say nothing about requiring a solid  
> member spaning the module.
>
> Has anyone else had this issue with BP or any other types of  
> modules? Does anyone buy that it could be the fault of the RapidRac?  
> We unbolted a few of the bad modules to see if the frame was  
> exerting any torque but the neither the module not the frame moved -  
> we set the module back on the frame and the mounting holes lined up  
> perfectly as before.
>
>
> Thoughts or suggestions?
>
>
> Gotta' love these long sunny days!
>
>
> Andrew Truitt
> Standard Solar Inc.
>
>
> -- 
> "Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer  
> fusion to fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous  
> fusion reactor safely banked a few million miles from us. It  
> delivers more than we could ever use in just about 8 minutes. And  
> it's wireless!"
>
> ~William McDonough
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