[RE-wrenches] 13 YR Old Modules with cracking backsheets

[David Buckner]

Following up on this, the manufacturer has stated that this is a known issue for a run of modules they had back in the summer of 2012.  It's called chalking and the back sheets are degrading faster than what is typical, and unfortunately these modules are out of their 10  year workmanship warranty.  Eventually the glass breaks and the performance drops but you cannot make a performance warranty claim on a damaged module.  So essentially the manufacturer appears to have waited until the 10 year workmanship warranty was up before notifying customers about this issue leaving them with no options.


David Buckner
President
Solar Energy Systems
917-848-0215
718-389-1545
dbuckner at solaresystems.com
www.solaresystems.com
41 Box Street 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11222
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From: David Buckner
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2025 12:14 PM
To: 'RE-wrenches' <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: 13 YR Old Modules with cracking backsheets

Hi All,

We have discovered quite a few modules at a particular site that are showing cracking in the back sheets.  It appears these modules are not underperforming yet, but we assume it's a matter of time before they all water and start causing the glass to shatter.  Some of the modules at this site are at that shattered glass stage.  I'm assuming we should thermal image and keep an eye on potential hotspots, but any other advice would be great to hear.  Full removal isn't out of the question, but this is about 40% of a 1MW rooftop system.

[cid:image001.jpg at 01DB6E87.E9896EA0]

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