[RE-wrenches] Equipment shortages, long lead times?

[Jeff Lahl]

Thanks, Lee.   As 98% of our systems are off-grid, we really hope there is a continued interest in the industry in learning about and working with these systems.  Besides having our own project management staff now, we also often hire very experienced solar techs to be project installation managers on a contract basis- so we need a pool of people out there who really understand battery charging.  And it's not just simple lighting systems any more - our average system is over 3kwp and we're doing more and more 5-10kwp systems, 3-phase hybrids, Sunny Islands, etc. And you're so right about the future - there's still over a billion and a half people who won't have electricity any time in the next decade or more unless it's PV.
 
Jeff Lahl  |  Project Director
Solar Electric Light Fund  |  www.self.org
p 808-874-5706
f  808-874-5706      
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From: Lee Bristol <leebristol at standardsolar.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Mon, November 23, 2009 11:40:15 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Equipment shortages, long lead times?


I agree with Bob-O that we need to keep the off-grid system design in NABCEP.  I recently installed a small off-grid system at a school in Haiti and had it reconfirmed that off-grid systems in the third world are so very important.  Small systems like those installed by SELF, Solar Electric Light Fund, are the future not the past.  http://www.self.org/

Lee
 
Lee Bristol
NABCEP Certified Solar Designer/Installer
Chief Technology Officer
 
Standard Solar Inc.
202 Perry Parkway, #7
(301) 944-5105 Direct
(240) 479-1510 Cell
(301) 944-1202 Fax
leebristol at standardsolar.com


Gaithersburg, MD 20877
On Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 2:57 PM, <penobscotsolar at midmaine.com> wrote:

Here, here Bob-O.
>  We, too, have seen no decrease in our off grid market as well. It is
>rapidly becoming a specialized field here in Maine.(not talking about
>you, Tump) Even our largest competitor is now sending off grid business
>to us as they have had too many problems training competent installers
>who understand the minutea(?) of battery physiology, proper gen
>charging, etc. and just want to do the wam bam straight grid tie
>systems. I appreciate NABCEP's (and your) insistence on continuing to
>require off grid knowledge in order to be certified. Anything less
>would be like certifying a mechanic who only knows about standard
>transmissions in transmission repair. Your logic in continuing to
>insist on battery based knowledge is important to our field. Thanks.
>
>Daryl
>
>
>
>
>> Hiya Ray,
>> In my experience, off-grid is always as steady as it ever was except for
>> the Y2K burp. Those of us who know how to design and install for that
>> market will always have some work, even in a crappy economy. At NABCEP, we
>> take a lot of heat from all the new on-grid only installers who don't see
>> or understand the value in learning about battery-based systems. They
>> would like us to drop that part of the task analysis entirely from the
>> Certification. I, for one, am resisting that insisting that's part of the
>> overall trade. I'm concerned that if we certify installers without testing
>> for battery knowledge, they will go and install a battery based system
>> sooner or later anyway and NABCEP will look like fools if they muck it up.
>> Bob-O
>>
>>
>> On Nov 23, 2009, at 10:15 AM, R Ray Walters wrote:
>>
>>
>> Funny, because although Off grid has remained relatively slow compared to
>> the crazy GT market, its also been very steady.
>>
>> Ray
>>
>> On Nov 23, 2009, at 9:07 AM, Windsun at wind-sun.com wrote:
>>
>>> Nearly everything so far that we have been seeing shortages in is in
>>> off-grid equipment. We have not seen a huge increase or decrease in
>>> off-grid, but apparently some of the mfg's decided there would be a big
>>> drop. With the exception of a couple of particular models of inverters,
>>> we have seen no real shortages in grid tie.
>>>
>>> ..................................................................................................
>>> Northern Arizona Wind & Sun - Electricity From The Sun Since 1979
>>> Solar Discussion Forum: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/
>>> ..................................................................................................
>
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-- 
Lee Bristol
NABCEP Certified Solar Designer/Installer

Chief Technology Officer
Standard Solar, Inc.
202 Perry Parkway, #7
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(301) 944-5105
(240) 479-1510 (c)
www.standardsolar.com
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