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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>Marv,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>Not to split hairs, but silicone
not silicon. Silicone based brake fluid is used because it is
non-hygroscopic. Hydroscopic is the ability to absorb moisture from the
atmosphere. Silicone bathtub caulk is not hydroscopic and the acetic acid in the
caulk will not hurt the solar laminate glass, tedlar, or ethylene
vinyl acetate (eva).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>Brightly,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>Joel Davidson</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=mdargatz@enphaseenergy.com
href="mailto:mdargatz@enphaseenergy.com">Marv Dargatz</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, June 24, 2009 2:34
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] module frame
separation</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=Verdana>Be careful with the silicon. Most of
it is hygroscopic, and contains acetic acid.<BR><BR>Automobile windshields are
often secured with Butyl rubber caulk. It is impervious to
moisture. Might this be a good choice? I also wonder if a
polyurethane (like sikaflex) would be appropriate.<BR></FONT><PRE class=moz-signature cols="72">See Ya!
Marv
Enphase Energy
707 763-4784 x7016</PRE><BR><BR>Joel Davidson wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid:FB6BD078E7A84E2AB14002C064E7ADCD@JOEL
type="cite">William, <BR><BR>The main concerns are physical damage to the
unsupported laminate and moisture penetration at the exposed edge of the
laminate. If the frame can be pushed back in place without breaking the
laminate, you can fasten a flat bar across the back of the module to keep
the frame in place. EVA is hydroscopic and moisture will wick into the
laminate from the exposed edge. Run a bead of silicone caulk along the edge
of the laminate before securing the frame back in place. <BR><BR>Joel
Davidson <BR><BR>----- Original Message ----- From: "William Korthof" <A
class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E
href="mailto:wkorthof@eesolar.com"><wkorthof@eesolar.com></A> <BR>To:
<A class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org"><re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org></A>
<BR>Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:39 PM <BR>Subject: [RE-wrenches] module
frame separation <BR><BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">Recently we've had a few modules (~5 year old)
exhibit frame separation from the glass... <BR>in one case, it's
minor separation of the long edge of frame on one or both sides of a few
modules... the frames seem okay and reasonably secure when attached
on the roof, but were loose during handling. <BR>In another case, the
customer is located in snow-impacted mountains. Apparently, a sheet of icy
snow pulled the bottom (short) edge of the frame apart from the glass and
side frame pieces. No damage to the glass, but the lower edges of 6+
frames are now dangling by a thread. <BR><BR>I don't think the module
warranties cover this problem---the power output remains within spec
and there is no evident damage to the glass. But if we don't provide
some sort of repair, the modules will break. <BR><BR>Any suggestions
for this kind of repair? <BR>What kind of glue would we use to reattach
the glass to the aluminum frames? <BR><BR>Thanks, <BR>William Korthof
<BR>Energy Efficiency Solar
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