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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Hi Nick,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Technically, I sent my message a half an hour before
the timestamp on yours. I've had a few messages take quite some time to actually
show up on the list lately. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Technically speaking, I think Michael has
me on the <EM>"review before publishing"</EM> list at the moment. Was it
something I wrote? ;)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Regarding <EM>"why I believe there was probably a fault,
on the array side of the combiner, before the coupling fire"</EM>: There
were 14 blown fuses in the affected combiner, for starters. I've seen this
racking system and the piss poor way that wires are pulled in it. I've
personally seen fault currents in this racking system. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>I've been lucky
to do lots of post-mortems on failures in PV systems over the years.
Large and small failures. I'm finding it hard to believe that the arcing at
the coupling somehow induced enough current to ignite the string wiring and
modules on the other side of that combiner... Unless the wiring or a module was
already compromised. Even </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>the honorable electrical inspector and esteemed
Mr. Wiles concluded that a "low level fault" in the array was likely (top of
page 6 in the report). I agree with this aspect of the
report.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Regarding <EM>"the fuse protecting that one string should open
and elimate that string from the array": </EM>Yeah. Sort of. But only if
the fault is in the fused conductor. Since this was a Xanthrax project, it was
negatively grounded. Meaning that the positive conductors are fused. If you
short the positive conductor of a string somewhere in that sharp-edged racking,
you will most likely blow a fuse in the string combiner. Which still leaves the
negative conductor of that string connected to the rest of the array. Which
means that the module and the positive conductor are also connected to the
rest of the array. Until something burns completely in two, that is. But what
about a negative to ground fault? No combiner fuse is going to blow there. Not
only is the negative very solidly connected to the rest of the array, the
positive is, too. If you introduce a catastrophic failure, like the flaming
coupling, once the ground-fault fuse opens up, have a nice
day!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>I think that trying to hang the electrician for using an
expansion fitting that wasn't listed for EMT is bullsomethingsmelly, by the way.
Not using enough of them or not leaving room to move in the straps,
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>that's a different story.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>I also think that it's probable that the EMT was never fully
inserted in the coupling and that the coupling was never tightened in the first
place. I think "expansion and contraction" wasn't as much a factor as they make
it out to be. On top of that, the original installation was finished in
March. A year later, in April, the fires broke out. The temperature difference
between March and April is not super-significant in Bakersfield. Let's just say
Fire Day was 20 degrees warmer than Pipe Installation Day for the sake of
discussion. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>The math they did in the report regarding range of expansion
relates to comparing the extreme low temp to the extreme high temp. A total of
3.7" calculated over 113 degree differential. I don't buy that the pipe
contracted 2" when the differential was a positive 20 degrees. Which is what
would have had to happen if the pipe was fully inserted into the coupling
originally. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>This tells me that it was probably never fully inserted and
the coupling was never tightened. Even if it was fully inserted, but the
coupling not tightened, it most likely pulled back when they pulled the wire.
Which could very possibly have compromised the insulation at that time. Over the
course of a year, it would have moved a little, eventually wearing thru the
insulation on one of the conductors and initiating an arc. Which quickly heated
up, involving the other conductors and the full wrath of the entire array.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010></SPAN><SPAN
class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>The bottom line is several important quality control measures
were missed. Accident or negligence? I have my thoughts on the matter. One of
them is that I'm glad nobody got hurt. This time.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>$0.02001</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Solar "Don't Call Me Negligent" Janitor</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093511421-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>PS - FYI to everyone. These are just my observations, based on
the various types and sources of information I have. I wasn't there. I didn't
get to inspect the thing after the cooking was done. Personally, I would like to
have the monitoring data and service records on this site. And a snapshot of the
inverter brain so we have some idea how many ground-faults there had been since
day 1. The whole intent behind my comments is to PREVENT THIS KIND OF THING FROM
HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. That's all. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> Nick Soleil
[mailto:nicksoleilsolar@yahoo.com] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 18, 2010
2:09 PM<BR><B>To:</B> gilligan06@gmail.com; RE-wrenches<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:
[RE-wrenches] Target fire<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Hi
Matt:<BR> I saw you chimed in after I had sent my
posting. It appears that the fire was caused by just the one fault at the
loose 2" EMT connector. If one of the module strings was faulted, then the
fuse protecting that one string should open, and thus eliminating that string
from the array. Why do you think that the module level wiring
contributed?<BR>
<DIV> </DIV>Nick Soleil<BR>Project Manager<BR>Advanced Alternative Energy
Solutions, LLC<BR>PO Box 657<BR>Petaluma, CA 94953<BR>Cell:
707-321-2937<BR>Office: 707-789-9537<BR>Fax: 707-769-9037
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR>
<DIV
style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
size=2 face=Tahoma>
<HR SIZE=1>
<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Matt Lafferty
<gilligan06@gmail.com><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> RE-wrenches
<re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org><BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Mon, October 18, 2010 1:12:34
PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [RE-wrenches]
Target fire<BR></FONT><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Andrew,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>The General/Prime Contractor on the job was SunPower vis a vis
Powerlight. As per standard operating procedures there, the actual
installation was subbed out. I don't recall which subs they used on this job,
but there was more than one. Per their normal routine, one sub installs the
racking, modules, and wiring from the modules to the combiners. This sub can
have any one of several different license classifications. They use an
electrical sub to install the combiners, homeruns, inverters, interconnection.
The electrical sub is responsible for terminations.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>Although I wasn't onsite to inspect the charcoal, I believe
there were multiple shorts, not just the separated coupling in the homerun. I
suspect there was at least one ground-fault in the array prior to whatever
happened at the coupling. If this was the case, then BOTH SUBCONTRACTORS FAILED.
They are both at least partially responsible for what happened
there.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=687230519-18102010></SPAN><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010></SPAN><SPAN class=687230519-18102010><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>I have seen the racking system that was used on
the Bakersfield project. The vintage used there had SEVERE problems with
wire management. Absolute crap! </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Ground faults are
common with that racking system. I have personally witnessed a system
running with 8 amps of current on the ground using the same racking system.
This was NOT on the Bakersfield site. Although I wasn't permitted to
troubleshoot the problem, I was told that they had been chasing the ghost for
several months. Ever since the initial installation. I have it from reliable
sources that this condition is common and a known flaw in the design. At that
time, their philosophy was that a ground fault is acceptable as long as there
isn't enough current to trip the inverter offline. Central inverters commonly
have up to a 10 amp GFP, so you can have one or more strings directly shorted
and keep running. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=687230519-18102010></SPAN><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=687230519-18102010></SPAN><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>The concept that
they kept installing systems with a known flaw like this is beyond
acceptable. SunPower ultimately bears the greatest share of responsibility here.
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>I do not know whether they have corrected the crappy wire management
in that racking system since then or not. I certainly hope they have either
corrected it or stopped using the system altogether. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=687230519-18102010><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010>A comprehensive commissioning process would identify
these problems and prevent the system from being placed into service. A visual
inspection is the beginning of any commissioning process. As I said, I have seen
these systems and they ain't pretty. Any schmuck can easily see numerous wires
pulled across sharp-edges of sheet metal at various points throughout the array.
Fail #1. Megger output jumpers... Fail #2.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010>The concept that any building department has
signed one of these systems off at all is mind-boggling. Another thing I find
interesting... There was no mention of this condition in the fire investigation
report. Only a recommendation to megger the remaining wires. What's up with
that? How is it that so many of these systems have been installed and passed
inspection? How many have caught fire that we haven't heard about? You know...
Just a little fire.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010>I would LOVE to know how much downtime has been logged
because of this dangerous problem. And how much money has been spent
troubleshooting and "fixing" faults caused by this problem. And how many
"technicians" have been shocked during installation or service?
</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010>One thing I can guarantee you... Unless you work inside
the bowels of SunPower or this information comes out in a lawsuit
somewhere, we will never know. Maybe WikiLeaks will have something on this
someday. But I'm not holding my breath.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010>For the record, I'm not a SunPower hater.
</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010>I do hate crappy workmanship. I hate the practice of
covering up crappy workmanship even more. You see, when you cover it up, it's
just gonna keep happening. At least until somebody calls you on
it.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010>$0.02001</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010><BR>Solar Janitor</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=687230519-18102010></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Andrew
Truitt<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 18, 2010 12:04 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
RE-wrenches<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] Target
fire<BR></FONT><BR>Thanks William. That is the first place I looked but I
didn't see it in there. But I love all the resources on your
website!<BR><BR><BR>- Andrew<BR></DIV>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>On Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 12:47 PM, William Miller <SPAN
dir=ltr><<A href="mailto:william@millersolar.com" rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:william@millersolar.com">william@millersolar.com</A>></SPAN>
wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex"
class=gmail_quote>
<DIV><FONT size=3>Andrew:<BR><BR><SPAN>It may be in the report: <A
href="http://mpandc.com/practices/Safety/safety_data.html"
target=_blank>http://mpandc.com/practices/Safety/safety_data.html</A></SPAN><BR><BR>William
<DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=h5><BR><BR>At 11:30 AM 10/18/2010, you wrote:<BR><BR></DIV></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=h5>Does anyone know who installed the infamous Bakersfield Target
job?<BR><BR><BR><BR>Andrew Truitt<BR>NABCEP Certified PV Installer™ (ID#
032407-66)<BR>Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting<BR>(202)
486-7507<BR><SPAN><A
href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-truitt/8/622/713"
target=_blank>http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-truitt/8/622/713</A></SPAN><BR><BR><BR><BR>"Don't
get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion to
fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor
safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could
ever use in just about 8 minutes. And it's wireless!"<BR><BR>~William
McDonough<BR><BR>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG
- <A href="http://www.avg.com/" rel=nofollow target=_blank>www.avg.com</A>
<BR>Version: 8.5.448 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3204 - Release Date: 10/18/10
06:34:00</DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P><U>Please note new e-mail address and domain:<BR><BR></U>William Miller
<BR>Miller Solar<BR>Voice :805-438-5600<BR>email: <A
href="mailto:william@millersolar.com" rel=nofollow target=_blank
ymailto="mailto:william@millersolar.com">william@millersolar.com</A><BR><A
href="http://millersolar.com/" rel=nofollow
target=_blank>http://millersolar.com<BR></A>License No.
C-10-773985<BR></P></FONT></DIV>____________________________________<BR
clear=all><BR><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)">Andrew Truitt</SPAN><BR
style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)">NABCEP Certified
PV Installer<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">™</SPAN> (ID#
032407-66)</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"></SPAN><BR
style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><SPAN
style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)">Truitt</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)">
</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)">Renewable</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)">Energy</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)">
</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)">Consulting</SPAN><BR
style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><SPAN style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)">(202)
486-7507</SPAN><BR><A
href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-truitt/8/622/713" rel=nofollow
target=_blank>http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-<SPAN>truitt</SPAN>/8/622/713</A><BR><BR>"Don't
get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion to
fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor safely
banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could ever use in
just about 8 minutes. And it's wireless!"<BR><BR>~William
McDonough<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>