[RE-wrenches] Solar World Wind Damage

Thu Jan 12 18:39:30 PST 2017

Yep, the old modules were heavier, had a thicker frame, and most 
importantly: much less total surface area.   The old 75 w modules were 
less than 7 sq ft, compared to almost 18 sq ft of a new 60 cell module.  
2-1/2 times the forces on even thinner metal.
Not that I want to go back to the good ol' days, but I think the 
industry got a little too thin on the frame, or at the least, we need a 
beefier hardware solution for bottom mounted arrays on open frames in 
high wind locations.  I'll send a pic of our fix, once we try it.

R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760

On 1/12/2017 6:01 PM, Dana wrote:
>
> Bottom side bolt up. But they were 1995 Solarex remember the weight of 
> those frames!
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dana Orzel - Great Solar Works, Inc - C - *208.721.7003*
>
> NABCEP # 051112-136 : Idaho PV Licence # 028374
>
> E - *dana at solarwork.com* - Web - www.solarwork.biz
>
> "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"
>
> *P*Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
> *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] 
> *On Behalf Of *Ray Walters
> *Sent:* Thursday, January 12, 2017 5:22 PM
> *To:* RE-wrenches
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar World Wind Damage
>
> Chris & Dana;
>
> Our site is a mountain in Wyoming and does have some focusing effects, 
> so maybe 170 mph is possible.  Are your arrays using top down clamps?  
> I think that is apparently stronger, also possibly the 2011 Sanyos 
> look to have beefier frames. However,  I looked at their spec sheet 
> and they're only rated at 60 PSF (less than the SWs).  From my 
> measurements here of Solar World 4.0 frames, I'm seeing a flange 
> thickness of approx 1.3 mm, while an old Siemens SP 75 has 1.8 mm 
> thick metal.
> I'm coming up with a fix for the Solar Worlds: 3/4 x 3/4 Stainless 
> steel Angle fits just inside the lip of the module, and will 
> distribute the forces more evenly.  The question then is, are we just 
> going to lose the glass next?  Anyone have a currently available 
> module that is beefier?  I may recommend we swap the whole array out, 
> if we are indeed exceeding the design of the Solar Worlds.
>
> Thanks,
>
> R.Ray Walters
> CTO, Solarray, Inc
> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
> Licensed Master Electrician
> Solar Design Engineer
> 303 505-8760
>
> On 1/12/2017 2:39 PM, Chris @ The Oasis wrote:
>
>     Wrenches: We have a  ~70KW ground mounted array on the Rocky
>     Mountain front near Choteau, MT.  Springs winds are not
>     unusual with 150 to 175 MPH gusts.  The system was installed in
>     2011 (with Sanyo 215W modules).  No problems yet; we certainly
>     over-engineered the racks, knowing what high winds there are!
>
>     Chris Daum
>     Oasis Montana Inc.
>     406-777-4309
>     406-777-0830 fax
>     www.oasismontana.com <http://www.oasismontana.com>
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>     *From:*RE-wrenches
>     [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of
>     *Ray Walters
>     *Sent:* Thursday, January 12, 2017 2:16 PM
>     *To:* RE-wrenches
>     *Cc:* Sefchick, Steve
>     *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar World Wind Damage
>
>     Hi Bill;
>
>     Solar World customer support did come through yesterday with
>     flying colors.  They got hit by a big storm in the North West. 
>     Right now though, they are saying that we exceeded the 64 PSF
>     rated  loading to the back of the module. I've pointed out that
>     that would correspond to over 170 mph winds, so I'm not quite
>     ready to concede the warranty. Their engineering team is reviewing
>     my information.
>     As always, the Wrench list experience is invaluable.  Are 170 mph
>     winds possible, outside of a tornado or hurricane?
>
>     *Whether or not Solar World stands by their product in this
>     extreme situation, I definitely stand by my installations.* I'm
>     taking a snow cat up to replace and reinforce the modules next
>     week, then hopefully get a little help from my supply chain
>     after.  My repair costs will be many times the cost of one
>     replacement module anyway.
>
>     Yes, the 33 mm vs 31 mm refers to the module thickness.  I don't
>     have a version 2.5 frame to check the flange metal thickness, and
>     it is conspicuously absent from the specs.  I have a good
>     micrometer, and I will compare metal thicknesses of several module
>     brands, because with all the cost cutting, many module manus seems
>     to be using thinner metal lately. As Jay pointed out, we're
>     bolting much bigger modules down with much weaker flanges, and the
>     same hardware we used on a 75 w module, so its not entirely
>     surprising to start seeing high wind failures.
>
>     R.Ray Walters
>
>
>
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