[RE-wrenches] Shell SQ165-PC - SolarWorld SQ165-PC

[Bruce Erickson]

Hi Pekka,

We installed a system in 2005 with 16 Shell 165's (only because it was the supply-constraint days and we had to accept a substitute for Sharps). A year ago the owner called with a concern about a module that she described as "fogged over", which turned out to actually have completely shattered glass. The cause of the breakage was clearly a hot spot on a foil trace below the center of the breakage pattern. Solarworld replaced the module with a Solarworld 165, as well as two others, when we found hot spots on the other ones. In the course of the warranty procedure, they admitted they were aware of this issue with the module model. We asked that they replace the entire array if this was the case, and they refused. Since then we've been inspecting the array quarterly, and invoicing Solarworld for our time, which they have of course ignored. So far no other hot spots have appeared.
We had a similar (but much more dramatic!) situation with Sharp 123's that developed overheated and even burning foil traces that caused a grass fire below this pole mount array. CalFire response with helicopters and the works. Not my favorite day in the business. Fortunately there was almost no "collateral damage". Sharp sent 3 personnel, replaced all the modules, paid for our time, the minor repairs required, and even for a consultant we hired to verify the fire was not caused by our installation practices. Several modules were packaged and reportedly sent to Japan for inspection, though we have never heard any results of an investigation. Compared to this level of support, I wasn't impressed by SolarWorld's response.
I've been keeping my ears open but have heard almost nothing about other incidents of modules causing fires, or threatening to. Am I just lucky, or have others had similar incidents?

Bruce Erickson
Mendocino Solar Service
PO Box 1252
Mendocino, CA 95460
707-937-1701



On Nov 24, 2011, at 11:41 AM, Pekka Laine wrote:

> Hello everyone,
> 
> We have been asked to fix a groundmounted array that has three broken Shell SQ165-PC modules.  Based on my research, the modules became SolarWorld 165 SQ165-PC.  I would greatly appreciate if anyone has a lead where to locate three of these.
> 
> Happy Thanksgiving!
> 
> Pekka Laine
> 
> President
> Photon Solar Power Inc.
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