[RE-wrenches] PV Module Favorite
frenergy
frenergy at psln.com
Wed May 19 13:06:37 PDT 2010
Joel,
For me, I'd say rather than necessarily power, it would be power density....though it's certainly more convenient to install 10, 205's, vs 17, 120's. Yes, we're all somewhat chained to price, cuz if we're not, the guy down the road will likely get the job. On the other hand, one of the features I am always touting about my systems is USA made PVs (this is getting harder to do with the China-Mart element in town). Where I am, US-made panels still are a significant element in securing a project.
And, not very far down the list of "important" is if I have a problem with a PV and make a phone call for help, is it there? SERVICE. I feel more confident about buying US made PVs for that reason alone. How many emails, postcards, flashy brosures have we all rec'd from the latest foriegn start-up...it scares me to think of buying from them. In 10,20,30 years, I want service from my choice of PV company because I want solar to survive. Another one of the reasons I can charge my customers a bit more for US made panels is because I am not shy about service, communication, any kind of help before, during, after the project...I feed their dog on the way to my truck if they ask. They remember me when I'm gone and word-of-mouth preceeds me.
Speech over (for now), for my favorite it's Evergreen 205's (fa3), currently. They are usually reasonably available.
Bill
Feather River Solar Electric
4291 Nelson St.
Taylorsville, CA 95983
530-284-7849/6544 fax
----- Original Message -----
From: Joel Davidson
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 8:08 AM
Subject: [RE-wrenches] PV Module Favorite (was Whats with Kyocera)
Wrenches,
I'd like to turn this discussion 180 degrees. I'm not manufacturing PV modules (at the moment), but I'd like to know what is your favorite PV module brand and model? What features and benefits are important? What do you like about the manufacturer itself (not its warehouse distributors)? Are price, power, and availability over 90 percent of the equation? What else really matters? Thanks in advance for your comments.
Joel Davidson
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Loesch
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 4:10 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Whats with Kyocera
Ray,
In addition to _your_ Rouges Big Three of
Kyrocera
BP
Photowatt
let me add _my_ recently discovered Rouges Big Three of
Q-Cells
Sharp
Abound Solar
which are being sold direct from the manufacturer to the end user.
Seems like many manufacturers have lapses of conscience, some continuously others intermittently.
Thank you,
Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
I would hope that other _distributors_ like AEE and manufacturers, like Evergreen, continue to pass on their leads as long as the established distribution channels remain in place.
----- Original Message -----
From: R Ray Walters
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 6:47 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Whats with Kyocera
Interesting, because we quit working with all three Manufacturers mentioned for the following reasons:
Kyocera had that 1999 bad batch that is still giving them a bad name in the back woods here. So glad I never sold those.
BP bought Solarex, and starting making crappy polycrystalline stuff, (and had their own bad batches) we got tired of making excuses for under performance.
FInally, Photowatt in Albuquerque was selling to end users very small quantities at our wholesale price. We didn't need the competition from a supplier. Again they had some bad batches too.
These three companies have a long track record of bad service, bad products, and poor performance.
With so many top quality modules available: Sunpower, SolarWorld, Sanyo..... Why would any of you mess around selling
for a company that doesn't take care of you?
Just my opinion: you're only going to install so many systems this lifetime, so don't put your name and reputation out on 2nd rate stuff.
R. Walters
ray at solarray.com
Solar Engineer
On May 18, 2010, at 2:56 PM, Joel Davidson wrote:
In 2002, Kyocera cut off American distributors shortly after hosting their distributor visit to Japan. Kyocera started shipping everything they could to Germany where they were getting over $1/W more than in the US. BP Solar also cut off American distributors. Remember BP distributor Mark Weidhaas in Temecula? Photowatt also cut off American distributors. Remember Bernard Stuart in Albuquerque? I'm sure wrenches can think of other foreign manufacturers that left us high and dry.
PV manufacturing is nowhere near maxed out. PV industry manufacturing capacity utilization is now around 60%.
See slide 2 http://www.luthcommunications.com/uploads/Paula_Mints_presentation.pdf
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From: Keith Cronin <electrichi01 at yahoo.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Tue, May 18, 2010 10:59:04 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Whats with Kyocera
I've heard alot of manu's are struggling or will be struggling to meet demand this year- SunPower, Canadian and now it seems Kyocera.
Who is next?
Seems like 2006 all over again.
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From: Steven Lawrence <SLawrence at smartenergygroup.net>
To: "re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Tue, May 18, 2010 7:51:51 AM
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Whats with Kyocera
It's the same thing here. They aren't taking any large orders from us.
Steven Lawrence
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer(tm)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 18:22:27 -0700
From: i2p <i2p at aol.com>
To: "List for complaining about anything RE."
<re-bitching at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Cc: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Whats with Kyocera?
Message-ID: <A1E17F2D.C667.4A0B.80D8.4725C33305E2 at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Without any word, they have stopped taking orders.! Not only could they not fulfill an immediate need, they refused to even take a pretty nice order for future delivery.????
Who is still getting Kyocera? Whats the deal.? Are they dumping the small accounts??
If you are still doing business with Kyocera, what size orders are you placing.? Not looking for biz intelligence here, just respond as small , medium or large.
Thanks for comments and information. Just trying to figure out where to go from here. Like I'm looking for a supplier who treats smaller shops with some respect. My comments do not reflect on my salesperson at Kyocera who is very upset by being forced to refuse orders.
Don Loweburg
Offline Solar
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