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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>From 7 to 13K
ft in Colorado;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Snow does not
really slid till 50 deg. This may not apply to ET SHW collators.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Snow loves to
build up at the bottom of a panel if it cannot slide and dump. Case in point -
I had 4x10 SHW FP collectors that were 16” off the ground and I came by
as no-one was living in the house and snow was 4-5’ ramped up the
collector.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Ice can as
does build up if it slide down behind the panels, SHW & PV. Depending on
the storm cycle and climate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Ground and
pole, tracker mounts are best in snow country. Access is important.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I mount as
close to the ridge line as possible to keep snow and ice from sliding behind.
Stay High!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Charge
controllers need to have room for the following – <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>High Voltage and
amperage from Cold. At -25</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>°</span><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>F those panels are cranking. At 10,000
Ft. El. add 10%<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>High amperage
from high elevation. I figure 3%/1000’ elevation over 5000 FT El. .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>High amperage
from snow reflection. At 5,000 Ft. EL and above I add15% room for over amperage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I have
installations at 13KFT and I have seen and measured up to 45% additional output
over rated panel spec due to the 3 items above. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hope this
helps.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Dana
Orzel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Great
Solar Works, Inc<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>www.solarwork.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>E
- dana@solarwork.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>V
- 970.626.5253<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>F
- 970.626.4140<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>C
- 970.209.4076<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>“I'd put
my money on solar energy… I hope we don't have to wait 'til oil and coal
run out before we tackle that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>—Thomas
Edison, in conversation with Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, March 1931</span><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>August
Goers<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, August 14, 2009 2:00 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] Dealing with snow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>Hi Wrenches,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>I'm working on a PV installation best practices training
agenda and I'm trying to gather some info on dealing with snow. I don't have
experience with snow because I've always worked in the California coastal area.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>Here are some questions which I'm hoping some of
you might be able to answer:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>Roof mount applications:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>1. Do you typically mount arrays flush to the roof?
If so, I'm assuming that roof pitches are generally designed to handle the
various snow load and snow-shed scenarios depending on how much snow the area
sees?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>2. Does the height off the roof matter? In other
words, is it better to mount low to the roof or higher above the roof. Does
snow wedge under the array?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>3. Are there products out there designed to help
shed snow?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>4. Any other tips or opinions? Any stories?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>Are there any tips for dealing with pole and ground
mounts other than tilting the panels really steep?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>Thanks in advance. I'm hoping to hear from
experienced Wrenches and to put together a general set of guidelines for
dealing with snow and ice in cold climates.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>Best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>August<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p>
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