[RE-wrenches] PV shingles again

Tue Mar 31 11:11:46 PDT 2009

We are using the Open Energy / Applied Solar Inc. roof tile, but I guess it is not a shingle technically speaking. The product is better suited to new construction (90% of our business) than retro-fits when it comes to cost. One thing that you have to remember when selling a tile product is that you are offsetting some of the cost associated with the roof, i.e. roofing material and installation. With the tile product from OE / ASI (which is actually manufactured and warranted by Suntech) it does not go on the roof, it is the roof, class A rating and everything.

To all getting ready to send me an e-mail about marketing, I am not trying to sell the product, but did help design it when I worked for them, so I have first hand experience.

Someone made a comment about running conduit from one tile to the next. We do not view this requirement the same, and do not install any type of conduit above the roof. The requirement for metal conduit states that metal conduit has to be used from the point of building "penetration" to the first disconnect.

The one advantage that I really enjoy, is that with the tile, it makes system sizing much easier as far as string Voltage is concerned. Each tile is a 6.07 Voc, so you can just add or subtract as many tiles as needed to get to the sweet spot of the inverter.

My 2 cents.

(to all, my apologies if that funky attachment comes with my e-mail that I was informed of previously, it has something to do with my remote access, and is not harmful)

Best Regards,
Brian C. White
Sr. Design Engineer - PV System

Eagle Roofing Products
120 North Auburn Street - Suite 212
Grass Valley, CA  95945
Phone: 530-273-2948
Cell: 530-575-5550
e-mail: brianw at eagleroofing.com <mailto:brianw at eagleroofing.com> 

________________________________

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org on behalf of Joel Davidson
Sent: Tue 3/31/2009 10:14 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV shingles again

1996-97 we had the North American exclusive for Uni-Solar BIPV. In addition to doing a few standing-seam roofing projects before "peel-and-stick", we solar Uni-Solar shingles to only 2 installing contractors. They were enthusiastic to do the shingles, but they never placed a second order. Drilling holes for each shingle and installing Panduit in the attic on your back was a drag. The customers liked solar and the shingles but did not like the added cost. We tried to sell Atlantis shingles to some prospects, but they did not like the added cost. I'm sure we would all like to hear some solar shingle success stories but none seem forthcoming.

Joel Davidson

--- On Tue, 3/31/09, Jeff Irish <jeff at hvce.com> wrote:

	From: Jeff Irish <jeff at hvce.com>
	Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV shingles again
	To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
	Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 7:45 AM

	Ditto... we've quoted Atlantis Sunslates at least a dozen times but the
	extreme price premium and need to do the entire roof in an odd-sized
	Swiss-made roof tile always kills the project.  I've also been told many
	of the PV shingles being used in the warmer southern states are not
	applicable to freeze/thaw climates.  Would love to see a reasonably
	priced product in a normal form factor for the north though, as I'm sure
	there's a market.

	Jeff Irish
	Hudson Valley Clean Energy

	-----Original Message-----
	From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
	[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of
	Wind-sun.com
	Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 8:50 AM
	To: RE-wrenches
	Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV shingles again

	Not so fabulous...

	A pain to install, expensive.

	We have never gotten past the quoting stage on them. Once sticker shock
	hits 
	they either back out or go with conventional panels.

	........................................................................
	..........................
	Northern Arizona Wind & Sun - Electricity From The Sun Since 1979
	Solar Discussion Forum: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/
	........................................................................
	..........................

	----- Original Message ----- 
	From: "Howie Michaelson" <howie at suncatchervt.com>
	To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
	Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 5:06 AM
	Subject: [RE-wrenches] PV shingles again

	Hi All,

	I take it that since their were no bites on my earlier query about the
	use
	of PV shingles, that either no one uses them or you want to keep this
	fabulous technology a secret...

	Thanks,
	Howie
	-- 
	Howie Michaelson
	NABCEP Certified Solar PV InstallerT

	Sun Catcher, LLC
	Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service
	VT Solar & Wind Incentive Program Partner
	http://www.SunCatcherVT.com
	(cell)  80...
	(home)  802-439-6096 

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