[RE-wrenches] "Name that solar module" guessing game!

[Bob-O Schultze]

Mick,
The predecessor to the K-51 was the J-51 which had round Jboxes as you  
describe. They were located about 1/3rd of the way down from the edge  
of the module. Before those were the J48 and before those were the  
J45. That would be circa 1988-1994. Haven't seen any recently, but I  
recall the EVA would brown right in front of the Jbox. Looked like a  
coffee cup stain. Dunno about the yellowing.
Quite a few of us old grey beards sold them for some time back in the  
days when Al Panton ran Kyocera US. Then they had a bright idea, got  
into bed with Photocomm exclusively and quite selling directly to us.  
Japanese marketing 101. Pissed everybody off and worked out so well  
for Kyo that they had to eventually take over PComm to keep it from  
going under.
Bonus points AND a history lesson!
Cheers, Bob-O


On Oct 22, 2009, at 2:59 PM, Mick Abraham wrote:

Set the dials on the Wayback Machine, Wrenches!

The modules which I wish to identify had bright blue polycrystal  
square cells, before the yellowing and discoloration occurred.

They are 50' high on a 12:12 metal roof, and 45 minutes from the  
nearest emergency room. I am not anxious to make that climb but a  
friendly helper was going up anyway, so he took some photos.  
Unfortunately, the labels could not be read or photographed.  
Dimensions of the frames are, sadly, unavailable.

There is one telltale clue, however, which will no doubt yield the  
Correct Answer from one of the Mechanics: The junction boxes are round  
with a bayonet mount cover that rotates to liberate the cover. The  
boxes are big and deep. (I hate to mention that because some of us  
liked things better when we had big and deep junction boxes, and I  
don't want this thread to go off topic.)

My own guess is Kyocera brand, possibly earlier than the venerable  
K-51. Alas, my little gray cells are not what they used to be, so I'm  
polling the group. The yellowing does point away from my own guess  
because I had not seen that on Kyocera brand, nor on other polycrystal  
brands.

All Correct Respondents have my permission to take the rest of the day  
off! Bonus Points if a Correct Respondent can also state approximate  
time of manufacture.

Thanks for helping,

Mick Abraham, Proprietor
www.abrahamsolar.com


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