Has anyone else noted a downward spiral in the construction
quality of new modules?
For the past few years I've thought the BP line had the best
construction and features in the market. The j-boxes were solid, the
terminals allowed wiring flexibility with assured grip (I'm blanking from my
memory those terrible early euro push-in terminals), they came with two
weathertite strain reliefs (although they chose the location of the
first). The covers stayed with the module on a hinge, unless you wished to
remove them with a finger poke. The covers snapped shut and stayed shut on
their own, allowing you to make up the wiring and screw the covers closed on
punchlist day. The rails of the frame had a ridge that kept the bolt head
from spinning.
Well, I just picked up my first of the new,
post-Solarex-buyout 85s. Gone are everything I liked, replaced with "uh,
gosh, where'd that pile of module covers go to?" I'm buying strain reliefs
(at the only local supplier that stocks them) by the case, and his computer only
orders them onesy-twosey. The terminal strip is that wiggle strip that
Solarex has used for years that comes loose on half the modules I see in the
field on repairs. Seems that the dog-ear clips that hold the strip in
place can suffer from plastic fatigue, and the glob of silly-cone that they put
under it sticks to everything but the plastic terminal strip. The nice
bolt-retaining ridge is gone, in favor of a plain thin
flange.
If you get AstroPower's 120 watt flagship, in order to
get the cover on you use two hands to roll an O ring tentatively into
a thin groove, quickly smash it up against the j-box, grab the little loose
screws with your third hand, reach down to your toolbelt and grab your driver
with the fourth hand......and you get that same thin flange
on the frame to boot.
If you use Photowatt's 48 watt modules, their only connection
point was a 1/4" male pushon terminal. We only buy quality crimp terminals
here in our shop, but I've seen more than one of these installed with cheap
WalMart/AutoZone terminals that have come unrolled and loose. What kind of
small system future "success" stories are we breeding here?
Now, don't get me wrong. I know we've come lightyears
since the days of the Arco 16-2000s and their exposed studs that always break
off, or the old Siemens panels with 1 1/2" J-boxes on both ends. But it
does seem as if the module manufacturers are now replacing quality with cheeze
in a race to a price point.
So what do I want? A good, high-quality j-box made to
withstand the weather, that doesn't crack when the KOs are popped out of
it. A cover that stays with the module, unless you wish to remove
it. Terminal strips that easily accept 8awg wire, with a positive grip
that holds through thermal cycling. A positive, secure seal without lost
screws and o-rings. A frame that doesn't deflect when the bolts are
tightened. A panel that makes its rated output not only in the first year,
but ten years after (those 20 yr warrantees aren't worth much without a way to
easily test output--measuring open circuit voltage and short circuit current
won't do). How about a grounding point in the j-box as
well as on the frame! Series fuses in the j-box! Higher series fuse
ratings to allow parallel connections? What's your
wish list?
Does anyone have a recommendation of a panel that is easy to
install, maintains its output and holds up over time?
Phil
Positive Energy
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