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Ray,<br>
<br>
Thanks for the clarification on the photo. Years ago Solar World
stopped making modules with the metal strip on the frame for back
mounting; folks complained and they brought back the provision for
back mounting. But as you say the frames are very thin these days
and the module area is huge - especially compared to the 75 watt
modules I started with.<br>
<br>
Kent Osterberg<br>
Blue Mountain Solar
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/10/2024 1:14 AM, Ray Walters via
RE-wrenches wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:dbdcba89-b8a8-4db4-9a3a-7a5e8fa873f5@solarray.com">
<p>That's just distortion in the image, from when I zoomed and
cropped it. Its module frame direct to the 2" angle aluminum
support rail. Nothing in between. High winds ripped two other
modules completely off the rack leaving all the hardware still
attached with a bit of module frame still under the washers . </p>
<p>This is on a mountain top in Wyoming. Believe me, when I tell
you that bottom mounting is no longer a safe method with today's
big modules, at least not in high wind situations (> 90
mph). I measured the thickness of the module frame, and its
about 1/2 the thickness of an old Siemens SP75 that I compared
it to. These were Solar World modules, but I've noticed most
modules today have significantly less robust frames than the old
days. </p>
<p>More surface area to catch the wind + thinner metal = failure
at high enough wind speed. <br>
</p>
<p>BTW, the rack is a DPW high wind model, both the rack and the
4" pole didn't budge at all, just the modules themselves. I've
had a second system, same configuration have similar damage in a
wind storm just last year. Its just on the top modules, not all
of them. I have quite a few MT Solar racks with the top down
mounting, and no losses. I've been suspicious of top down
module racking; and I was quite satisfied with actual bolts and
hardware to hold modules in place. But its just not true
anymore. I added 3/4" angle stainless steel to reinforce the
attachments on the top modules.<br>
<br>
<img src="cid:part1.vHTik34I.KSBCmh0B@coveoregon.com" moz-do-not-send="false" class=""><br>
</p>
<p>Ray Walters<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/9/2024 12:44 PM, Kent via
RE-wrenches wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:4992d284-5183-482c-883d-2b8361e9533d@coveoregon.com">
<p>Ray,</p>
<p>It appears that there is something between the module frame
and rail that may have introduced the frame crack. Perhaps as
it was tightened, and not due to the wind. What is the light
material that looks like it is sandwiched between the module
and rail?<br>
</p>
<p>Kent Osterberg<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/8/2024 4:23 PM, Ray Walters
via RE-wrenches wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:1eb24d5d-f547-4bee-8645-db2634e7aad6@solarray.com">
<p>Here's another mount at the edge of failure, from the same
system. Hardware is tight. Like many, I had lots of love
for good ol' fashion bottom mounting vs top mount, until
this happened about 5 years ago. <br>
</p>
<p>This is how we learn.<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/8/2024 5:15 PM, Ray Walters
via RE-wrenches wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:0bedc798-cb9a-4dc0-8afa-2a8f5b715681@solarray.com">
<p>I've had several modules pull off of bottom mount racking
in high winds, but never top mount racking. Newer modules
have much thinner frames, but are much more surface area
than the old days. </p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Ray Walters<br>
Remote Solar<br>
</p>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/8/2024 3:50 PM, Kent via
RE-wrenches wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:eeae98da-67b5-42b3-b5fc-042d12785607@coveoregon.com"> and for
the life of me I don't understand the logic of of a top
mount clamp on a TPM.<br>
<br>
Kent Osterberg<br>
Blue Mountain Solar<br>
</blockquote>
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