[RE-wrenches] Solar World shattered module

[August Goers]

About 5 years ago we had a SunPower module shatter for no apparent reason a
couple of weeks after we completed the installation. No one knows the exact
cause, but SunPower did end up RMAing the module and sent an engineer out
to check out our array (which was flush mount rooftop). We noticed that the
frames on the modules were out of square and my educated guess was that
there was some strain on the module frame caused by our installers as they
“tweaked” the modules to make the array square. We also noticed the module
glass on some of the adjacent modules was slightly cupped (concave). I
don’t know if that was a manufacturing issue or what the cause of the
cupping was. We haven’t had any problems since.



I suppose extreme hot/cold variations such as pouring warm water on a cold
module or spraying a hot module with cold water could cause it to shatter
but don’t have any direct experience with that.



Best,



August







*From:* re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:
re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Dave Palumbo
*Sent:* Monday, April 21, 2014 3:32 PM
*To:* 'RE-wrenches'
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar World shattered module



Wrenches,



I have a customer with one SW 230 poly V2.0 frame (top mount) module that
has shattered glass. It is on a DPW TPM10 pole mount. She noticed it the
other day and does not think that it was hit by anything. I agree that is
unlikely based on the site conditions.



Other than by a falling tree, thrown rock, or twisted frame – is there
another way that glass shatters on a 65 degree tilted pole mount like this?
 We installed the system 2 years ago. The module was on the lower corner of
the array.

·         Is it likely that this modules frame was being pressured by the
module(s) above it? TPM has two rows of 5 modules in landscape, so this
bottom module has 4 modules mounted above it. Again it is a top mounted DPW
pole array.

·         Or, is there another way that glass shatters on this type of
module?

I have not visited the site yet, just received the phone call today.



David Palumbo

Independent Power LLC

462 Solar Way Drive

Hyde Park, VT 05655

(802) 888-7194
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