[RE-wrenches] Hailstorm damage

Fri Oct 9 11:17:45 PDT 2015

It’s not our install, but I know of a 1MW+ job using First solar modules in Toledo that has several golf ball related module failures a year (sometimes more than a few/month). There is a nearby driving range where the people there supposedly bet whether they can hit the array or not….

Also we have a job in Indiana where a local neighbor drives golf balls directly into the 3MW array from an adjacent property (not sure which neighbor, the Sheriff has been notified). So far in the 3 months the system has been in, roughly 7 modules have been damaged. It appears to only happen when the ball hits near the edge of the glass, as those are the only places that damage is visible on broken modules.

So I’d have to say that golf balls are capable of damaging modules, but it would likely take a good hit, near the edge of the glass to break them. They still produce after the hit, but will eventually cause a ground fault when they get wet and conduct to the frame. That’s how we found a few modules with bullet impacts in Cincinnati J

With Regards,

Daniel Young, 

NABCEP Certified PV Installation ProfessionalTM: Cert #031508-90

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Mark Westbrock
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2015 11:35 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Hailstorm damage

Jason,

We have several systems in close proximity to golf courses and have seen one case of damage.  The damaged module is in an array mounted at a 10 degree tilt.  One damaged module (that we know of) in six years for this particular system.  The home is about 50 meters from the edge of a driving range and about 200 meters from the tees for the driving range.  I was surprised by the damage because of the low tilt of the array and the distance from the tees.

I know it would be more helpful if I could tell you how many golf balls have hit the array and NOT damaged a module, but I have no idea.

Cheers,

Mark

[reposted with smaller photos]

----

Mark Westbrock

Branch Manager & Employee-Owner

NM EE98J Journeyman Electrician
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional

NABCEP Certified PV Technical Sales

Positive Energy, Inc.

510 S. Main St.

Las Cruces, NM 88001
office: 575-524-2030
cell: 575-640-2432

mw at positiveenergysolar.com <mailto:westbrock at positiveenergysolar.com> 

www.positiveenergysolar.com

On Fri, Oct 9, 2015 at 6:09 AM, Jason Szumlanski <jason at floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote:

Not to hijack the thread, but the timing is perfect for another related question I had. A client approached me about putting solar panels on a golf course maintenance building. The pitch is 2 in 12 and the location is supposedly not in the typical direction/are where golf balls are likely to be hit (most likely because I don't have a membership there). The question will naturally come up about golf ball strikes. We have several systems along fairways on residences and have not had any reported issues. Does anyone else have systems in the cross-hairs of errant golf balls? If so, any feedback on resistance to strikes?

Jason Szumlanski

Florida Solar Design Group

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