[RE-wrenches] dpw top of pole mount pipe problems

[Phil Undercuffler]

You know how to break cast iron pipe in a clean break flush with the
ground?  Hit it with a hammer.  It snaps clean off, flush with the
ground.  Works with clay pipe too.  Concrete may provide additional
strength in a compressive mode, but has nearly zero strength in tensile
(stretching) mode.  Roy is right - don't touch that pipe.

 

Reminds me of a job I visited years ago - dirt poor folks, with barely
enough cash to keep food on the table.  Somehow they managed to scrape
up enough cash to buy 300 watts of PV and a rack, but then mounted it on
6" PVC water pipe because steel was too expensive.  You could watch the
modules sway in the breeze, but my skin crawled thinking how long that
PVC would last under the New Mexican sun.  No matter how I pleaded, they
didn't want to put in the work to change it out because it "hadn't had
any problems yet."

 

Either change out the pipe and bill him for the expense (don't forget to
first get him to sign a change order confirming the details), or cash
out and walk away.

 

 

Phil Undercuffler

Director, Battery-based and Off-grid

Distribution Sales Group

Conergy 

Our World Is Full of Energy

1730 Camino Carlos Rey Suite 103

Santa Fe, NM  87507

p.undercuffler at conergy.us <mailto:p.undercuffler at conergy.us> 

Direct | 505.216.3841

Toll Free | 888.396.6611 x4841

Fax | 505.473.3830

www.conergy.us <http://www.conergy.us/> 

________________________________

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of North
Texas Renewable Energy Inc
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 10:02 AM
To: ryan at solar4maine.com; RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] dpw top of pole mount pipe problems

 

Filling the pipe with concrete would strengthen it quite a bit but will
also cause condensation on the outside during a lot of the year. 

Did I mention that pouring concrete from a half full 5 gallon pail while
on a ladder is a real pain. 

Jim Duncan
North Texas Renewable Energy Inc
817.917.0527
ntrei at earthlink.net
www.ntrei.com 

________________________________

	----- Original Message ----- 

	From: ryan at solar4maine.com 

	To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org 

	Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 10:40 AM

	Subject: [RE-wrenches] dpw top of pole mount pipe problems

	 

	Wrenches i have a customer that wanted to install a dpw top of
pole mount for 18 sharp 180 watt panels. he installed his own pipe and
even after several reminders by me and a signed contract stating
shcedule 80 8 inch steel pipe he installed a 8 inch cast iron water
main.

	 

	My dilemma is this he claims to wave my liability in this
install but he has been a very high maintnence customer and seems to
forget everything we talk about or he signs. so would you go ahead with
the install or is the cast iron going to shear off and the rack fall
over?

	 

	financially i have met my obligations with the customer i can
wave the labor cost and tell him to find someone else at this point if
need be i dont want to be liable for spilling 18 panels on the ground
and my insurance wouldnt cover it as we went against dpw's
recomendations

	
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