[RE-wrenches] Solar World Wind Damage

[penobscotsolar at midmaine.com]

Hi Ray,
   I don't have much advice, but I can tell you that we have a couple of
ground mounted arrays at a local college (along the ocean) on the same
DPW high wind rated racks. The college chose to buy Chinese modules
from a competitor instead of my recommendation and one of the modules,
after about three years of being installed, gave way the same way,
literally ripping the washers and hardware through the thin aluminum
frame. I did tell them when I did the installation that they should
check every few years that all hardware was tight, as wind, over time,
vibrates the frame and I feel better when the client watches their
array for weak points. It is possible over time that the hardware
worked free a bit and allowed the wind to do what it did. Not sure, but
I've only seen it this one time in 29 years. We always torque our
hardware to DPW specs.

Daryl


> Greetings All;
>
> I just had the dreaded call from one of my higher profile commercial
> clients: a remote radio repeater station had modules ripped off the
> frame by high winds.
> Two  SW285s were damaged.  The wind was strong enough to rip right
> through the aluminum side rails.  We had used the proper stainless 1/4"
> bolt hardware with washers on the inside, etc.  All the hardware was
> still tight, it just tore the aluminum past the washers.  This is not a
> top down clamp system, but uses bolts through the mounting holes on the
> back of the module.  This was all on a DP&W rack with high wind option.
> In 20 years in business, I've never seen that happen.  Is there a
> contact at Solar World?  I'm not getting through on the tech support
> line I have.
> First, I need to know what the wind rating is on the modules blowing
> from the back side, and
> Second, a suggested fix for the remaining modules.
> One module was completely ripped from the frame and thrown 30 yds (total
> destruction), a 2nd one has cracks in the Aluminum, but has not let go
> yet.  I was thinking of adding some angle aluminum on the inside to beef
> it up.  IMHO, the frames are pretty thin aluminum compared to older
> modules.  I'll share some pics when available.
>
> As always thanks in advance for your comments,
>
> --
> R.Ray Walters
> CTO, Solarray, Inc
> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
> Licensed Master Electrician
> Solar Design Engineer
> 303 505-8760
>
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