[RE-wrenches] Racks. Jeff Randalls info

Wed Jan 11 05:03:23 PST 2017

 Jeff Randall

 RC FAB Corporation

 2615 Princeton Dr NE

 Albuquerque, NM 87107

 505-503-6459

 Cell: 505-288-5552


> He changed the name to RC Fab about a year ago, but when I last talked
> with him they were changing the name again. Check RC Fab in Albuquerque,
> NM
>
>
>
>> I can't find the link to Jeff randles new rack company?
>>
>> Can someone help me out
>>
>> Thx
>> Jay
>> Peltz power.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jan 10, 2017, at 8:31 PM, Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi William;
>>>
>>> Your link had a glitch,  I think this should be it?
>>> http://www.millersolar.com/MillerSolar/case_studies/Wind_damage/_wind_damage.html
>>>
>>> We have DP&W's high wind option which bumped the pole size from 4" to
>>> 6"
>>> along with heavier hardware throughout.  I haven't been to the site
>>> yet,
>>> but the techs were reporting just the module failed and the rack is
>>> still good.  I'm going up next week and I'll try to figure this out.
>>> This site also has a funnel effect as you mentioned.  Higher ridges to
>>> the North and South, and this smaller peak between with our rack almost
>>> right at the top.
>>> Roof mounts actually do seem to be much better; the wind doesn't get
>>> behind it, and if the array is set back from the edge,  the side edge
>>> of
>>> the array isn't getting pummeled.
>>> Our failure occurred with an angled wind, not perpendicular.   Your
>>> rack
>>> failures look also to have had uneven loading: the way it twisted that
>>> top rail off. I almost wonder if these racks aren't hitting some
>>> resonance that's causing the rack to twist and torque back and forth
>>> repeatedly.  You can grab the corner of the array and "pluck" it, then
>>> watch it bounce back and forth: that's the simple way to determine its
>>> harmonic resonance.
>>>
>>> R.Ray Walters
>>> CTO, Solarray, Inc
>>> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
>>> Licensed Master Electrician
>>> Solar Design Engineer
>>> 303 505-8760
>>>
>>>> On 1/10/2017 6:26 PM, William Miller wrote:
>>>> Ray:
>>>>
>>>> I can't say I have a solution to your problem, but I can share some
>>>> photos
>>>> of two similar failures in case you can glean any information from
>>>> them.
>>>> See:
>>>> http://www.millersolar.com/MillerSolar/case_studies/Wind_damage/_wind_dama
>>>> ge.html
>>>>
>>>> The first failure is a Zomeworks.  On the same exact spot we tried a
>>>> DPW
>>>> TOP.  Neither could withstand a funnel effect provided by the
>>>> topography.
>>>>
>>>> At the same location we installed a roof mount as well that has never
>>>> failed (to my knowledge, we don't service that customer anymore).
>>>>
>>>> I think if you have terrain that is tilted in the correct direction a
>>>> mount that hugs the ground is best.  That is a lay opinion, however.
>>>>
>>>> William
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Lic 773985
>>>> millersolar.com
>>>> 805-438-5600
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org]
>>>> On
>>>> Behalf Of Ray Walters
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2017 2:31 PM
>>>> To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>>>> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solar World Wind Damage
>>>>
>>>> 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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