[RE-wrenches] Separated frames on BP modules

Mon Jun 15 16:04:38 PDT 2009

Hey Peter,
When you said it was "news to you" I thought you meant there are other  
modules that you know of that can be mounted on the short end.

I thought of another situation where this caused a somewhat related  
problem.  A few years ago I did my first Kaneka install. I had Unirac  
spec a ground mount for 7.2kW. They designed the system wrong which  
put the top down clamps on the top and bottom of the module frames  
which are not structural. I thought I could just rotate the modules so  
the sides would be on the rails but you can't do that. If any tiny  
amount of mud, dust, debris accumulates on the side edge of a Kaneka  
module, you will have a complete shut down. Also, there is a water  
channel that must be at the bottom.

Sorry to hijack the thread but I thought of this since we were talking  
about mounting issues.

Larry

On Jun 15, 2009, at 3:34 PM, Peter Parrish wrote:

> Sorry, I can’t answer that one, Larry. All I know for sure is the BP  
> Solar situation. - Peter
>
>
>
> <image001.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 Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar
> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 3:05 PM
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Separated frames on BP modules
>
> 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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