[RE-wrenches] PV Module Favorite (was Whats with Kyocera)

Wed May 19 14:50:56 PDT 2010

The Schuco 180 sounds like a good match for the discontinued Solarworld 175. ANybody tried that?

R. Walters
ray at solarray.com
Solar Engineer

On May 19, 2010, at 3:25 PM, Dave Palumbo wrote:

> Joel,
>  
> Schuco – Good German quality, wide range of modules, good energy output tolerance, good availability, good pricing. Company appears to be solid, which is important to me. I’m presently designing several systems around the Schuco MPE 180 MS05 “Black Line” modules, -0%/+5% tolerance, 36Vmp which I like, and this module can be handled by one installer (31.8” 62.2” 33 lbs), 5 yr full product warranty and 25 year power warranty. We also use the Schuco MPE 225’s.
>  
> Systems needing greater power density get the Sanyo 215N’s same physical size as above and are rated at 35 more Watts. Sanyo’s cost me a $1.00 per Watt more. Sanyo’s have a 20 year warranty which is behind the times for a top quality module.
>  
> Dave
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Joel Davidson
> Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 11:09 AM
> To: RE-wrenches
> 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
>  
> 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.
>  
> 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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