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Evergreen</title></head><body>
<div>Hi All,</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>We've installed over 200 KW of Evergreens here in western MA.
I would not at all characterize the frames as "pretty flimsy"
and a visit to the Evergreen factory - as well as the engineering data
on the psf ratings for various mounting configurations show that they
are a 65 psf module. The frames might at first glance
appear a little flimsier than others as they now use a stamped fit
corner rather than screws like some other modules and like the
original Evergreens - but in my mind that might well mean an
improvement in strength like they claim it is.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>There are many MWs of Evergreens all over New England and New
York state holding up fine in 3-4' of snow. A look at the
installation manual shows the psf ratings under various install
configurations (something few module manufacturers
provide).</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>We did find early Evergreens to be out of square by an average of
1/8" but the latest series we have not seen that at
all.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>On a political and business level, Evergreen is well supported in
the Northeast due to both the MA rebate program giving incentive to MA
businesses - both in the rebate adders and in loan support. Now
that they are having some financial difficulties and grown a good bit,
it makes sense they are looking to take advantage of non-U.S.
manufacturing but they are still a U.S. employer with plants here in
MA and OR.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>We also like supporting them because they use 1/3 the silicon of
other polycrystal modules for very nearly the same performance due the
string ribbon manufacturing process. They are on the lower to
medium end of the large pack of modules we characterize as "low
to medium efficiency" on an area basis. But they are only a
few percentage points below most on that front. (10.5-11 watts/ft2
(PTC-DC))</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>The high voltage we find great in terms of flexibility of string
size. The long strings (14-22) do mean more susceptibility to
shading effects so we tend to shy away from them on small systems
(less than 3.6 KW) with shady sites but they are great for no shade
sites or larger systems.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Don't judge a "native son" for going abroad. Like
others have pointed out - they are still largely a U.S. company and an
independent - not owned by an oil company - and Alan King and
team at Evergreen have been strong allies in promoting the U.S. solar
market and great to work with.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Hope that helps!</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Best,</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Jeff C.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Comic Sans MS"
color="#800000">We have used the Evergreens in a couple of jobs.
Still, the frames are pretty flimsy. Might work for CA, but
in the wind & snow zones of Montana, methinks there are better
options.</font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Comic Sans MS"
color="#800000">Chris Daum</font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Comic Sans MS"
color="#800000">Oasis Montana Inc.</font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>
<hr></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Tahoma"
size="-1"><b>From:</b> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org]<b> On Behalf Of</b>
Bob-O Schultze<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 04, 2009 9:20 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b>Subject:</b> SPAM-LOW: Re: [RE-wrenches] Fw: Evergreen</font><br>
<font face="Tahoma" size="-1"></font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>William,</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Hadn't heard that, but yes-it
is.</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Bob-O</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>On Nov 4, 2009, at 6:08 PM, William
Miller wrote:</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Bob-O:<br>
<br>
At the SEPA convention we learned that Evergreen is moving their
production to Mexico. Is this better than being made in
China?<br>
<br>
William<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
At 12:10 AM 11/4/2009, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Max,<br>
<br>
Been using them for several years now.<br>
No failures, good output, AMERICAN made.<br>
Minimal packaging and prepaid shipping of the recyclable
corner <br>
protectors.<br>
Because they are American made, they are a little higher per watt
than <br>
nearly all of the Chinese stuff out there. You just can't get
around <br>
that, but who do you want to support and where do you live?<br>
<br>
Bob-O<br>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br>
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<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<x-sigsep><pre>--
</pre></x-sigsep>
<div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div>Jeff Clearwater<br>
Senior Design Engineer<br>
NABCEP (tm) Certified Solar PV Installer<br>
http://www.nabcep.org/<br>
Village Power Design/NorthEast Solar Design<br>
Turnkey Solar Design & Installation for the Commercial Sector<br>
http://www.villagepower.com<br>
gosolar@villagepower.com<br>
<br>
Voice: 413-259-3776<br>
Fax: 413-825-0703<br>
65 Schoolhouse Rd<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
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