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<DIV>I started an email yesterday but was pulled away........... Kirpal
couldn't have nailed my response to the grumblings about DPW much better.
Its not like we haven't any problems with their racks, but in the big picture
and knowing from personal experience the challenges of running a manufacturing
biz, I will continue to install DPW racks. Significant problems are very
rare and have been promptly dealt with, small problems are just that,
small.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> BTW, they do have a variety of wire
management products on Pgs 23, 24 of the Power Rail catalogue/pricing
pdf...not TPM related so much but something. Many of our TPM installs
already are leaving more room from the lower edge to the ground for shedding
snow so the issue of 4 year olds (or anybody for that matter) tugging on wires
has become less of an issue as those wires are at an inaccessible height.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> I too wish to say thanks to
DPM.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bill</DIV>
<DIV>Feather River Solar Electric</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=solarworks@gmail.com href="mailto:solarworks@gmail.com">Kirpal
Khalsa</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> Thursday, October 08, 2015 7:38
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] DPW Rack
Problems</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>Wrenches.....We have used the DPW products, primarily their top
of pole racks for years....we have well over a hundred of the racks
installed....We love their simplicity, and ease of assembly....We have never
once had a problem with an installed rack....never had a failure of any
kind....We appreciate the fact that they supply extra hardware with each
shipment.....Inevitably we drop parts and a few extras are always
appreciated.....
<DIV>For us it is the details...We get comfortable installing something we
have done many many times....we are able to predict our pace and therefore we
can give our customers accurate bids which leave us not over bidding or under
bidding....Changes are sometimes necessary and a result of innovation or
improvements....Its the communication which sometimes lags....knowledge is
power....When we know we are going to be dealing with some change it is easier
for us to predict and anticipate changes to our habits....and therefore
planning as well....predictability is our friend!!!</DIV>
<DIV>Our recent experiences have left us a bit disgruntled....while the
quality of the installed DPW racks has not changed or degraded we have been
left with carrying the extra burden of some of the changes....I am glad to
ehar the new paint is going to be new again...Hopefully it will not have the
same issues with regards to the packaging sticking to the wet(ish) paint and
leaving us with a headache of trying to figure out how to clean off imprints
of paper, styrafoam and shrink wrap off of the strong back....</DIV>
<DIV><BR>
<DIV>
<DIV>DPW has been a great partner over the years....Growing pains affect us
all....Sometimes they are more noticable than others....</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Communication is key!!! I will likely continue to use their top of
pole racks, as I haven't found any better options....</DIV>
<DIV>I value the effect this list has on maintaining the pressure on
manufacturers to be responsive to us installers who are on the front lines of
making their products fit into the market place....We all have our areas of
expertise....and each step is important.....I for one am not interested in
becoming a racking manufacturer!!!</DIV>
<DIV>Cheers....</DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=gmail_extra><BR clear=all>
<DIV>
<DIV class=gmail_signature>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>Sunny Regards,<BR>Kirpal Khalsa<BR>NABCEP Certified PV
Installation Professional<BR>Oregon Solarworks LLC<BR><A
href="http://www.oregonsolarworks.com"
target=_blank>www.oregonsolarworks.com</A><BR>541-218-0201 m<BR>541-299-0402
o</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>On Thu, Oct 8, 2015 at 7:03 AM, Howie Michaelson <SPAN
dir=ltr><<A href="mailto:howie@suncatchervt.com"
target=_blank>howie@suncatchervt.com</A>></SPAN> wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<P dir=ltr>William,<BR>I have followed your posts over the years and
appreciate the efforts you have made in developing and then your willingness
to share them with the list. Thank you.</P>
<P dir=ltr>If DP&W had wire management products available, it never
reached my radar, although admittedly I never asked them either. We would
definitely consider passing more for that added value.</P>
<P dir=ltr>I too appreciate the robustness of their TPM product, especially
compared to the old Unirac TPM that we started out with and watched get
blown apart more than once. However, I think we would benefit from a more
competitive market, which would hopefully help drive better product to
installers and thereby customers.<BR></P>
<P dir=ltr>Howie Michaelson<BR>NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™</P>
<P dir=ltr>Catamount Solar<BR>Renewable Energy Systems Sales and
Service<BR>VT Solar Electric Incentive Partner<BR><A
href="http://www.CatamountSolar.com"
target=_blank>http://www.CatamountSolar.com</A><BR><A
href="tel:802-272-0004" target=_blank
value="+18022720004">802-272-0004</A></P>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>On Oct 8, 2015 3:13 AM, "William Miller" <<A
href="mailto:william@millersolar.com"
target=_blank>william@millersolar.com</A>> wrote:<BR type="attribution">
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<DIV lang=EN-US vlink="purple" link="blue">
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Howie:</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">At one time I
shared your dream: that if only the manufacturer’s would build wire
management and shielding systems, consumers would flock to buy them.
I asked DPW to help me develop some wire shielding hardware and Steve
Schumacher was willing to give it a try. See this <A
href="http://www.millersolar.com/MillerSolar/practices/PV_wiring/Wire_shielding/_Wire%20Shielding_history.html"
target=_blank>link</A> for some pictures of the system Schu helped us
develop. Unfortunately, I was one of the few people that ever asked
for this product, and there was no reason for DPW to put any more energy
into the idea.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Over time I came
to realize that what is hindering the development of better wire
management and wire shielding systems is not the lack of manufacturers
building the systems-- it is due to the lack of demand for them in the
market. Wire management and shielding systems will add to the cost
of any installation. If installers can get away without using these
systems, why should they bother? </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">They get by
without them because building officials are all too often ignorant and
lazy. I have tried and tried to convince the officials in the county
in which I live to read the black and white of the current NEC but they
refuse. Most of the inspections of my work by building officials
last less than 2 minutes. When I ask inspectors and plan checkers
questions about codes and practices I usually get quizzical
stares.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The engineers at
DPW know what the code requires for wire shielding: they can read and I
have highlighted the requirements many times. DPW was willing to
experiment, but apparently no one asked to buy these systems so there was
no reason to put them in the catalog.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">I have had my
problems with the DPW painted parts for years. It is not a new
problem. Hopefully with the attention they are getting this will be
resolved. I have also waited way too long for even the most minor
parts orders. This needs to improve. How hard can it be to put
a few dozen bolts in a box? Why should it take almost two
weeks? They need to fix the paint and get parts and assemblies out
the door in a reasonable time.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">I must say,
however, that DPW has provided a very consistently good range of products
over the years and they have been more responsive than 99% of the
manufacturers out there. I am still a fan of DPW.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Sincerely,</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">William
Miller</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><IMG
height=28 alt="Gradient Cap_mini"
src="cid:B2FBAF4B7B9846F89DA81967FEA584C6@D8XG8YH1" width=64
border=0><BR>Lic 773985<BR><A href="http://www.millersolar.com/"
target=_blank><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">millersolar.com</SPAN></A><BR><A
href="tel:805-438-5600" target=_blank
value="+18054385600">805-438-5600</A></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'"> RE-wrenches
[mailto:<A href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org"
target=_blank>re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</A>] <B>On Behalf
Of </B>Howie Michaelson<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, October 07, 2015 6:15
PM<BR><B>To:</B> RE-wrenches<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] DPW Rack
Problems</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> </P>
<P>Thanks Michael for the communication conduit. </P>
<P>While I appreciate DP&W's effort to address the issues raised, I
don't feel their response really speaks to the issues - for us, these are
long standing problems, although they appear to possibly be getting worse
more recently.<BR><BR>More importantly, for me this is one of the most
valuable aspects of this list - the power of the group to garner a
manufacturer's attention in order to address a problem (think warranty
replacement issues, or equipment failure rates) or make an improvement.
</P>
<P>For instance, if a ground mount racking manufacturer developed a
functional, code compliant wire management system, I would expect to hear
about it first on this list, get highly useful evaluations of the
innovation, and then watch the sales of that system take off due to the
"viral" nature of information shared on this list. If there are any
racking manu reps that still read this list, perhaps they could take the
ball and run with it. One can dream...</P>
<P>Howie</P>
<P>Howie Michaelson<BR>NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™</P>
<P>Catamount Solar<BR>Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service<BR>VT
Solar Electric Incentive Partner<BR><A
href="http://www.CatamountSolar.com"
target=_blank>http://www.CatamountSolar.com</A><BR><A
href="tel:802-272-0004" target=_blank
value="+18022720004">802-272-0004</A></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>On Oct 7, 2015 7:51 PM, "Michael Welch" <<A
href="mailto:michael.welch@re-wrenches.org"
target=_blank>michael.welch@re-wrenches.org</A>> wrote:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt">I have had off-list contact
with DPW, and I've been asked to post the following for them. If you have
questions about my posting this on their behalf, contact me off
list.<BR><BR>Thanks.<BR><BR>Thank you for alerting us to the problems you
recently encountered with the paint used in our TPMs. It is our
intent to respond to customers' concerns to maintain your trust and
support. We recently had a problem when a supplier discontinued a
paint we've used since the inception of our TPM product line. After
testing multiple formulations over the course of several weeks we were
able to source a silver paint comparable to the original and now have that
paint problem resolved. As to lead time issues we are working with
our distributor partners to move orders more quickly through their
internal processes. We extend our apologies for the inconvenience
this paint problem has caused. Please contact me personally with any
questions or concerns. I may be reached at <A
href="mailto:schumachers@directpower.com"
target=_blank>schumachers@directpower.com</A> or at <A
href="tel:505-889-3585" target=_blank>505-889-3585</A>. Steve
Schumacher, DPW Solar, National Sales
Manager<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>List
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