[RE-wrenches] getting PV modules up to the roof

[Benn Kilburn]

I'm still using the same mod lift for the past 6-8 years, with very minor
modifications. I used the design that was in HomePower years ago. I
switched out strut for pieces of our module rack/rail to make it lighter.
Keep in mind that specific design only works with a fiberglass ladder with
a particular design top on it.  We have an office in a neighbor city that
built one a bit different that works on top of a typical aluminum ladder.

>From hoist set-up, mods up, to packed up, i'd challenge anyone with one of
the mechanical module lifts to keep up on a two story roof install.  One
guy can have ours set up in under 5min and you can have mods on the roof in
under a minute each, round trip (walking from the van/trailer to the lift
with a module, hoisting it, lowering the lift and back to get another
module).  Its safe, fast and KISS.

No doubt that one of the mechanical ones would be nice for much larger
jobs. And i like that some have articulating sections that can flatten out
to run parallel with some roofs. But i've seen how much room they take up.
You need an empty van or trailer just to move the pieces themselves.

*Benn Kilburn *
CSA Certified Solar Photovoltaic Systems Electrician, SkyFire Energy Inc
6706 – 82 Ave NW | Edmonton, AB | T6B 0E7
P: 780-474-8992 | F: 888-405-5843 | www.skyfireenergy.com
[image: email] <benn at skyfireenergy.com> [image: facebook]
<https://www.facebook.com/SkyFireEnergy> [image: twitter]
<https://twitter.com/SkyFireEnergy> [image: linkedin]
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/283735?trk=tyah&trkInfo=tarId%3A1408655033432%2Ctas%3Askyfire%2Cidx%3A2-2-5>
 [image: google] <https://plus.google.com/+SkyFireEnergy/>

[image: SkyFire Energy Logo_horizontal]

On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 4:26 PM, Dana Brandt <dana at ecotechenergy.com> wrote:

> Hi Wrenches,
>
> I'm curious if anyone has updates to this thread 3 years later. What are
> people using to lift modules to the roof?
>
> I've been looking at ladder hoists online and wondering how well they'd
> work in practice. Any experience or advice?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dana
>
> Dana Brandt
> Ecotech Energy Systems, LLC
> www.ecotechenergy.com
> dana at ecotechenergy.com
> 360.318.7646
>
> On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 10:44 AM, August Goers <august at luminalt.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Wrenches,
>>
>>
>>
>> I imagine that all of us working in rooftop PV have put some good hard
>> thought on the best way to get the modules up to the roof. There are
>> various lifts on the market, you can hoist them with ropes manually, or
>> walk them up a ladder (sling them over your back). I find that the majority
>> of our competition in the Bay Area walks panels up the ladder for
>> residential projects. What is your feeling about OSHA compliance of doing
>> this?
>>
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> August
>>
>> 415.559.1525
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>>
>> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>
>> Options & settings:
>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>> List-Archive:
>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>> List rules & etiquette:
>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>
>> Check out participant bios:
>> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive:
> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out or update participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20160606/55e7330c/attachment-0002.html>