<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> I don't mind servicing older, existing systems. It is fun to work with the older components, like APT power panels, SW inverters, and Trimetric monitors. I will frequently bust out the solder gun and repair old modules and components. On most of these systems, I will recommend upgrading some components, and will replace unprotected wiring. If something is a hazard, then I will repair it. I find that grounding systems tend to be the weakest link, and generally need to be replaced or repaired. Overall, I have been lucky to have reasonable customers who want their systems to be safe.<br> Well, there was that one guy who was running his genny with the gas cap off, which started a grass fire just as I was pulling up....<br>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 face="Tahoma" size="2"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> R Ray Walters <ray@solarray.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> Thu, January 13, 2011 2:27:09 PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Working on DIY systems and Junkers<br></font><br><meta http-equiv="x-dns-prefetch-control" content="off">We've taken many of these on over the years: it can have a satisfying outcome, if the customer is really
willing to pay to fix it.<div>We don't even try to work with what's there; everything comes off the wall, and we rebuild the whole system using any decent parts that can be reused.</div><div>Most customers report much more reliable operation after, but you still can't find everything. </div><div>I try to stay out of the premises distribution wiring, and keep the work just to the PV, batteries, inverter, etc.</div><div>This keeps it clear what you're responsible for, and what you're not. If pulling a permit, I write it up to specifically exclude distribution wiring.</div><div><br></div><div>These days, I only take them on, if they are essentially buying a new system (batteries, more PV, inverter, or charge controller upgrade.....)</div><div>I often sell them a whole new power board, and offer a trade-in on their old usable equipment.</div><div>Even reusing old PV is getting harder these days (rewiring an old array of 50 watt modules, often just
isn't worth the time)</div><div>Unless you've done several of these, I'd stay clear of them. There are easier ways to make a living.</div><div>GridTie has fewer call backs, by far.</div><div><br><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 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-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div>R. Walters</div><div><a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:ray@solarray.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:ray@solarray.com">ray@solarray.com</a></div><div>Solar Engineer</div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span>
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<br><div><div>On Jan 13, 2011, at 3:08 PM, jay peltz wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div style="word-wrap: break-word;"><div>Yes to all what Dana says.</div><div><br></div>I've had one good friend who will only work on such projects if hes allowed to do.<div><br></div><div>1. fix any and everything that needs to be, and yes its going to cost.</div><div>otherwise he walks away.</div><div><br></div><div>and </div><div><br></div><div>2. he still has them sign a contract that says hes not responsible for things hes not touched or some such legalese.</div><div>IE wire in walls etc.</div><div><br></div><div>Its a very scary part, as if there is a problem, they will sue you first regardless as you were the last to touch it.</div><div><br></div><div>One almost horror story, I had added some solar to a system. I didn't fix all that could have been.</div><div>To make a long story shorter, the house burned down (a
month after I had worked on it) and it started near the electrical room. Turns out it was arson, but I didn't sleep well for a few days, until I knew that.</div><div><br></div><div>CYA.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div>On Jan 13, 2011, at 1:26 PM, Dana wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><div style="word-wrap: break-word;" lang="EN-US"><div class="WordSection1" style=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;">DONOT assume
anything!</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;">Photograph.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;">Draw schematics.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;">Specific gravity test.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;">Do wire pull tests.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;">Check
tightness on all connections.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;">Verify voltage and polarity.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;">Wire calc every wire.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;">Measure distances.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;">Double check.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;
font-family: sans-serif;">Get paid for this , you did not create this mess.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">Dana Orzel</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">Great Solar Works, Inc</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">E -<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:dana@solarwork.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:dana@solarwork.com"
style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">dana@solarwork.com</a></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">V - 970.626.5253</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">F - 970.626.4140</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">C - 970.209.4076</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">web -<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.solarwork.com/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">www.solarwork.com</a></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: serif;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">
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