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Most of that old equipment has reasonable resell value to the off grid market. You are donating it in a way: many of the folks shopping for used PV are living below the poverty level.<div>We resell this stuff often at close to our cost just to se it go to a good home. We usually don't install this stuff though, unless it is current technology and in excellent condition.</div><div>This is an interesting topic, we also just started figuring the salvage value of our grid tie systems at $3/ watt (which is at least what used modules sells for) It makes the system payback much better, and is very realistic. We figure the rest of the equipment at zero for now.</div><div>PV modules are more like gold. I think their value will hold up very well over the next decades.</div><div><br></div><div>Ray Walters</div><div><br><div><div>On Aug 6, 2008, at 9:22 PM, Joel Davidson wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Wrenches,</font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Following on comments about switching to grid-tie (or any other changes), what do you do with modules, mounts, inverters, etc. that no longer serve your clients' needs? Do you or your clients contribute the unneeded or unwanted equipment to a charitable or non-profit organization that qualifies the donation for a tax deduction? What are your favorite charities and non-profit orgs (what churches, schools, etc.)?</font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Joel Davidson</font></div> <blockquote style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><b>From:</b> <a title="allan@positiveenergysolar.com" href="mailto:allan@positiveenergysolar.com">Allan Sindelar</a> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE Wrenches</a> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, August 06, 2008 7:55 AM</div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] Inverter for Switch to GT</div> <div><br></div><!-- Converted from text/rtf format --><p><font face="Arial">Wrenches,</font> <br><font face="Arial">Occasionally, but more frequently recently, we get requests to turn off-grid systems into grid-tie systems. Usually this involves sale of a property to a new owner, and either grid is brought in to facilitate an easier sale or the new owner brings it in. Once grid is in, the off-grid-based system is of limited utility, as the equipment won't sell back. Most of these new owners want a maintenance-free batteryless system.</font></p><p><font face="Arial">Unfortunately, most off-grid arrays don't easily convert, as the string sizing doesn't match. Here's my question: I have two of these requests right now. Both are systems we installed in the late 90s. One has ten BP 275s, one has twelve. These are standard 12V 75W modules common to that time. I need advice on inverters that will work with these strings.</font></p><p><font face="Arial">The Sunny Boy 700, which is the only small inverter model SMA still offers, will handle one string of up to nine of these in our temperature range. Larger models require higher string voltage. Fronius also requires higher voltage.</font></p><p><font face="Arial">You know, it's a real problem to have to explain to new green-oriented homeowners that there's nothing I can do with their ten-year-old PV system to make it spin their new meter backward. It doesn't do much for the mainstream perception of PV for these folks.</font></p><p><font face="Arial">What will work with these existing arrays, please?</font> </p><p><font face="g">Allan Sindelar</font> <br></p></blockquote><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">_______________________________________________</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">List sponsored by Home Power magazine</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">List rules & etiquette:</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm">http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Check out participant bios:</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">www.members.re-wrenches.org</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div> </blockquote></div><br><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div>R. 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