[RE-wrenches] A happy DPW installer

Thu Oct 8 10:06:39 PDT 2015

I started an email yesterday but was pulled away...........  Kirpal couldn't have nailed my response to the grumblings about DPW much better.  Its not like we haven't any problems with their racks, but in the big picture and knowing from personal experience the challenges of running a manufacturing biz, I will continue to install DPW racks.  Significant problems are very rare and have been promptly dealt with, small problems are just that, small.

        BTW, they do have a variety of wire management products on  Pgs 23, 24 of the Power Rail catalogue/pricing pdf...not TPM related so much but something.  Many of our TPM installs already are leaving more room from the lower edge to the ground for shedding snow so the issue of 4 year olds (or anybody for that matter) tugging on wires has become less of an issue as those wires are at an inaccessible height.

        I too wish to say thanks to DPM.

Bill
Feather River Solar Electric

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kirpal Khalsa 
  To: RE-wrenches 
  Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2015 7:38 AM
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] DPW Rack Problems

  Wrenches.....We have used the DPW products, primarily their top of pole racks for years....we have well over a hundred of the racks installed....We love their simplicity, and ease of assembly....We have never once had a problem with an installed rack....never had a failure of any kind....We appreciate the fact that they supply extra hardware with each shipment.....Inevitably we drop parts and a few extras are always appreciated.....
  For us it is the details...We get comfortable installing something we have done many many times....we are able to predict our pace and therefore we can give our customers accurate bids which leave us not over bidding or under bidding....Changes are  sometimes necessary and a result of innovation or improvements....Its the communication which sometimes lags....knowledge is power....When we know we are going to be dealing with some change it is easier for us to predict and anticipate changes to our habits....and therefore planning as well....predictability is our friend!!!
  Our recent experiences have left us a bit disgruntled....while the quality of the installed DPW racks has not changed or degraded we have been left with carrying the extra burden of some of the changes....I am glad to ehar the new paint is going to be new again...Hopefully it will not have the same issues with regards to the packaging sticking to the wet(ish) paint and leaving us with a headache of trying to figure out how to clean off imprints of paper, styrafoam and shrink wrap off of the strong back....

  DPW has been a great partner over the years....Growing pains affect us all....Sometimes they are more noticable than others....
  Communication is key!!!  I will likely continue to use their top of pole racks, as I haven't found any better options....
  I value the effect this list has on maintaining the pressure on manufacturers to be responsive to us installers who are on the front lines of making their products fit into the market place....We all have our areas of expertise....and each step is important.....I for one am not interested in becoming a racking manufacturer!!!
  Cheers....

  Sunny Regards,
  Kirpal Khalsa
  NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
  Oregon Solarworks LLC
  www.oregonsolarworks.com
  541-218-0201 m
  541-299-0402 o

  On Thu, Oct 8, 2015 at 7:03 AM, Howie Michaelson <howie at suncatchervt.com> wrote:

    William,
    I have followed your posts over the years and appreciate the efforts you have made in developing and then your willingness to share them with the list. Thank you.

    If DP&W had wire management products available, it never reached my radar, although admittedly I never asked them either. We would definitely consider passing more for that added value.

    I too appreciate the robustness of their TPM product, especially compared to the old Unirac TPM that we started out with and watched get blown apart more than once. However, I think we would benefit from a more competitive market, which would hopefully help drive better product to installers and thereby customers.

    Howie Michaelson
    NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™

    Catamount Solar
    Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service
    VT Solar Electric Incentive Partner
    http://www.CatamountSolar.com
    802-272-0004

    On Oct 8, 2015 3:13 AM, "William Miller" <william at millersolar.com> wrote:

      Howie:

      At one time I shared your dream: that if only the manufacturer’s would build wire management and shielding systems, consumers would flock to buy them.  I asked DPW to help me develop some wire shielding hardware and Steve Schumacher was willing to give it a try.  See this link for some pictures of the system Schu helped us develop.  Unfortunately, I was one of the few people that ever asked for this product, and there was no reason for DPW to put any more energy into the idea.

      Over time I came to realize that what is hindering the development of better wire management and wire shielding systems is not the lack of manufacturers building the systems-- it is due to the lack of demand for them in the market.  Wire management and shielding systems will add to the cost of any installation.  If installers can get away without using these systems, why should they bother?  

      They get by without them because building officials are all too often ignorant and lazy.  I have tried and tried to convince the officials in the county in which I live to read the black and white of the current NEC but they refuse.  Most of the inspections of my work by building officials last less than 2 minutes.  When I ask inspectors and plan checkers questions about codes and practices I usually get quizzical stares.

      The engineers at DPW know what the code requires for wire shielding: they can read and I have highlighted the requirements many times.  DPW was willing to experiment, but apparently no one asked to buy these systems so there was no reason to put them in the catalog.

      I have had my problems with the DPW painted parts for years.  It is not a new problem.  Hopefully with the attention they are getting this will be resolved.  I have also waited way too long for even the most minor parts orders.  This needs to improve.  How hard can it be to put a few dozen bolts in a box?  Why should it take almost two weeks?  They need to fix the paint and get parts and assemblies out the door in a reasonable time.

      I must say, however, that DPW has provided a very consistently good range of products over the years and they have been more responsive than 99% of the manufacturers out there.  I am still a fan of DPW.

      Sincerely,

      William Miller

      Lic 773985
      millersolar.com
      805-438-5600

      From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Howie Michaelson
      Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2015 6:15 PM
      To: RE-wrenches
      Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] DPW Rack Problems

      Thanks Michael for the communication conduit. 

      While I appreciate DP&W's effort to address the issues raised, I don't feel their response really speaks to the issues - for us, these are long standing problems, although they appear to possibly be getting worse more recently.

      More importantly, for me this is one of the most valuable aspects of this list - the power of the group to garner a manufacturer's attention in order to address a problem (think warranty replacement issues, or equipment failure rates) or make an improvement. 

      For instance, if a ground mount racking manufacturer developed a functional, code compliant wire management system, I would expect to hear about it first on this list, get highly useful evaluations of the innovation, and then watch the sales of that system take off due to the "viral" nature of information shared on this list. If there are any racking manu reps that still read this list, perhaps they could take the ball and run with it. One can dream...

      Howie

      Howie Michaelson
      NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™

      Catamount Solar
      Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service
      VT Solar Electric Incentive Partner
      http://www.CatamountSolar.com
      802-272-0004

      On Oct 7, 2015 7:51 PM, "Michael Welch" <michael.welch at re-wrenches.org> wrote:

      I have had off-list contact with DPW, and I've been asked to post the following for them. If you have questions about my posting this on their behalf, contact me off list.

      Thanks.

      Thank you for alerting us to the problems you recently encountered with the paint used in our TPMs.  It is our intent to respond to customers' concerns to maintain your trust and support.  We recently had a problem when a supplier discontinued a paint we've used since the inception of our TPM product line.  After testing multiple formulations over the course of several weeks we were able to source a silver paint comparable to the original and now have that paint problem resolved.  As to lead time issues we are working with our distributor partners to move orders more quickly through their internal processes.  We extend our apologies for the inconvenience this paint problem has caused.  Please contact me personally with any questions or concerns.  I may be reached at schumachers at directpower.com or at 505-889-3585.  Steve Schumacher, DPW Solar, National Sales Manager

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