[RE-wrenches] Old Modules for GIT system?

Tue Jun 4 17:42:55 PDT 2013

Ray makes a great point. Just the labor that it would take to test the modules will greatly reduce their real value to the owner.

If you do leave that array as-is, you should at least take a look to make sure the wiring is OK. Bad wiring on a steep hillside could be a severe fire hazard, with the array acting as a chimney.

Brian Teitelbaum
AEE Solar

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Ray Walters
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 5:30 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Old Modules for GIT system?

Depending on the original work, I'd look at sealed batteries and leave it alone.  I've done a bunch of rewires, and you're really wasting the customer's money to rewire 80 watt modules. ( module J boxes are so 1990s....) Meanwhile those 80 watt modules have decent resell value for small 12 v systems, as does the Trace inverter.
I found that Outbacks take about 480 w-hr/ day so that's  a fair bit of the array just to offset that.
Small sealed battery bank, and let him play with a few backup circuits in off grid mode might be OK. or offer him a new GT system with a nice trade in allowance for the old gear.
I did a rewire recently like this, and we reused the generator 3 way circuit selector.  That lets them pick which circuits are on or off the grid.  I'm sure others here will have some good ideas I haven't thought of too.

R.Ray Walters

CTO, Solarray, Inc

Nabcep Certified PV Installer,

Licensed Master Electrician

Solar Design Engineer

303 505-8760
On 6/4/2013 3:53 PM, Steven Lawrence wrote:
Dana,

Maybe wire 3 in series to a single Enphase?  It'll depend on what the voltages are.

Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2013 14:01:42 -0600
From: "Dana" <dana at solarwork.com<mailto:dana at solarwork.com>>
To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Old Modules for GIT system?
Message-ID: <05f401ce615e$55773960$0065ac20$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I have a client eat has a 24 - Solarex  SX 80 PV module system that was off
grid, Trace inverter, APT Power panel and an very aged L-16 battery bank.

The utility came in and he wants to go grid tie. It is or was only 960 watt
originally. I realize that an array rewire is in order and it may only be a
1 KW system but he is interested in getting the equipment upgraded.

Has anyone done a grid tie with such a small array and with modules this
old?

Any thoughts on installing sealed batteries and leaving it alone?

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