[RE-wrenches] Salt & Aluminum vs Galvy

[Jim MacDonald]

Hello wrenches
Does anyone have any photos or links to photos showing unanodized (not anodized) aluminum racking systems in the field for a few years?

I have heard that such hardware may pit a bit and look ugly, but wondering how much corrosion would actually take place, and if structural integrity would be compromised.
Unanodized Al failing much faster in an environment <50 mi from the coast?

Any info here appreciated.
cheers

Jim MacDonald
Design + Engineering Dept.
Solar Energy Systems, LLC
Brooklyn, NY 11222
www.solarEsystems.com<http://www.solaresystems.com/>



From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Clearwater
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 5:13 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Salt & Aluminum vs Galvy

Thanks Daryl and Ray - I appreciate the info!

Other's concurr?

jc

penobscotsolar at midmaine.com<mailto:penobscotsolar at midmaine.com> wrote:

Thanks for reminding me Ray....Jeff, we use ss transition boxes instead of

pvc. You can find 6x6x4 or 4x4x4 boxes for a reasonable price considering

their superiority when it comes to longevity. Obviously use at least 3R

rated boxes at a minimum.



Daryl DeJoy

NABCEP Certified PV installer

Penobscot Solar Design









Galvanized does not do very well in Hawaii near the water. I haven't

seen much powder coated Al, but anodized AL with SS hardware seems to

work about as good as anything I've seen. We see SS J boxes, fiberglass

boxes seem to break down in the UV after several years, but painting

with the right paint helps a lot. The last job I worked on there, we had

2 guys paint all exposed J-boxes and PVC conduit with a heavy duty oil

based (messy cleanup) paint. I'll let you know in 5 years how it all

looks.

Also, be sure and get all your conduit clamps and unistrut in stainless.

More expensive, harder to find, and harder to cut, but you'll see the

difference in a couple of years for sure. Just a single washer that's

not SS will stand out like a sore thumb later.



Ray Walters



On 9/27/2011 11:40 AM, Jeff Clearwater wrote:

Hi Esteemed Wrenchies,



So for the project I'm working on in the Bahamas for ground mount

racking - have folks found Aluminum or Galvy to stand up against salt

spray better?



And if Al - powder coated or anodized?



And  with mixing them - (like a typical Steel Pipe rack with Al Rails)

- are the junctions going to be a problem with lots of salt?



Any solution to AL framed modules not turning black and ugly?  Do

black anodized module frames help?



Thanks!



Jeff





--

Jeff Clearwater

Village Power Design



Renewable Energy Consultant

32 Years in all Aspects of Renewables

www.villagepower.com<http://www.villagepower.com>

skype: jclearwater

413-559-9763

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