[RE-wrenches] TPM Search

[Ray Walters]

That's just distortion in the image, from when I zoomed and cropped it.  
Its module frame direct to the 2" angle aluminum support rail. Nothing 
in between.  High winds ripped two other modules completely off the rack 
leaving all the hardware still attached with a bit of module frame still 
under the washers .

This is on a mountain top in Wyoming.   Believe me, when I tell you that 
bottom mounting is no longer a safe method with today's big modules, at 
least not in high wind situations (> 90 mph). I measured the thickness 
of the module frame, and its about 1/2 the thickness of an old Siemens 
SP75 that I compared it to.  These were Solar World modules, but I've 
noticed most modules today have significantly less robust frames than 
the old days.

More surface area to catch the wind + thinner metal = failure at high 
enough wind speed.

BTW, the rack is a DPW high wind model, both the rack and the 4" pole 
didn't budge at all, just the modules themselves.  I've had a second 
system, same configuration have similar damage in a wind storm just last 
year.  Its just on the top modules, not all of them.  I have quite a few 
MT Solar racks with the top down mounting, and no losses.   I've been  
suspicious of top down module racking; and I was quite satisfied with 
actual bolts and hardware to hold modules in place.  But its just not 
true anymore.    I added 3/4" angle stainless steel to reinforce the 
attachments on the top modules.


Ray Walters

On 3/9/2024 12:44 PM, Kent via RE-wrenches wrote:
>
> Ray,
>
> It appears that there is something between the module frame and rail 
> that may have introduced the frame crack. Perhaps as it was tightened, 
> and not due to the wind. What is the light material that looks like it 
> is sandwiched between the module and rail?
>
> Kent Osterberg
>
> On 3/8/2024 4:23 PM, Ray Walters via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>
>> Here's another mount at the edge of failure, from the same system. 
>> Hardware is tight.  Like many, I had lots of love for good ol' 
>> fashion bottom mounting vs top mount, until this happened about 5 
>> years ago.
>>
>> This is how we learn.
>>
>>
>> On 3/8/2024 5:15 PM, Ray Walters via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>>
>>> I've had several modules pull off of bottom mount racking in high 
>>> winds, but never top mount racking.  Newer modules have much thinner 
>>> frames, but are much more surface area than the old days.
>>>
>>>
>>> Ray Walters
>>> Remote Solar
>>>
>>>
>>> On 3/8/2024 3:50 PM, Kent via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>>> and for the life of me I don't understand the logic of of a top 
>>>> mount clamp on a TPM.
>>>>
>>>> Kent Osterberg
>>>> Blue Mountain Solar
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>
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