[RE-wrenches] Golf balls and PV (was Need NT185U1 Sharp module)

[Joel Davidson]

Wrenches,

UL1703 requires solar modules withstand a 5 ft-lb (6.78 J) impact from a 
2-in (51-mm) steel ball weighing 1.18 lb (535 g) falling through a distance 
of 51 in (1.295 m). Many years ago someone (perhaps at Arco Solar in the 
early 1980s?) said that this force was equal to a golf ball or a 1-in steel 
ball traveling at terminal velocity or 54 miles per hour. Since then, I have 
seen modules broken by thrown stones, stones dropped by crows (go figure?), 
falling ice, hail, bullets, branches, school locker combination locks, 
reported meteorites, etc. I have also seen modules withstand hurricanes, 
stones, hail, ice, branches, etc.

Max's broken module has me questioning just how strong are tempered glass 
modules. Granted, a driven golf ball has a greater impact than a lobbed 
ball, but is it unusual for a golf ball to break a solar module or is it a 
pretty sure thing? The reason I ask is because more resorts and people with 
homes near golf courses are interested in PV.

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Joel Davidson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Max Balchowsky" <max at seesolar.com>
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 5:38 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Need NT185U1 Sharp module


> Need to replace a module damaged by a golf ball strike, NT185U1. Anyone 
> know where I can find one, I know sharp has a NT175 U1 mono in the same 
> frame size, but I'd like to find a 185 somewhere..........
>
> Thanks,
>
> Max Balchowsky
> SEE Systems
> 1436 Irvine Ave
> Newport Beach, Ca.92660
> 760-403-6810
>
>
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Options & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive: 
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Options & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive: 
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>