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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Paul</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I bid a 21' x 16' PV array on a
1.5:12 standing seam roof using the S-5 PV kits. <A
href="http://www.s-5.com/clamps/index_686.cfm">http://www.s-5.com/clamps/index_686.cfm</A> The
seams were 1-1/2" high with a half inch folded lip on top. It seemed like a good
idea to mount the modules using the 4-point method you suggest.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>After clamping a sample S5 to a random rib, I
realized the seam, and the attached S5 were not sitting level. After trying
several more ribs I realized that all the ribs were leaning slightly. It's not a
problem for shedding water but it meant the plane of the module mounting surface
was way uneven. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I ordered Unirac Lite rails and end clamps, and ate
that cost. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Once the 16' N-S rails were attached and torqued,
three of us grabbed the one piece rail near the ends and in the middle and
after several heave-ho's managed to bend the ribs to align pretty
close to flat across the rail tops. We checked with a carpenters level
across each pair of rails to be sure. The were close enough that
tightening the module clamps didn't have to pull the rails into a proper
alignment. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>We then went back and re-torqued all the clamping screws
and retightened the hex bolts on the assumption that they probably loosened
while being man handled.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Using the S5's alone would have been a
huge chore trying to straighten the steel ribs, was the lesson learned. It
was also easier to adjust and level the height of the rails using the L-foot
slots as opposed to the jam nuts on each individual S5. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The MetlSpan ribs seem to be the same style and are
mechanically crimped during installation. I suspect they will have the
same issues.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Jim Duncan<BR>North Texas Renewable Energy
Inc<BR>817.917.0527<BR><A
href="mailto:ntrei@earthlink.net">ntrei@earthlink.net</A><BR><A
href="http://www.ntrei.com">www.ntrei.com</A> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </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=Lyons@ZapotecEnergy.com href="mailto:Lyons@ZapotecEnergy.com">Paul
Lyons</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@lists.re-wrenches.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 26, 2009 5:32
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [RE-wrenches] S-5 clamps on the
standing seam roof</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal>Hello RE-Wrenches <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>We are working on the design details for S-5 clamps on a
standing seam roof with the PV modules mounted directly on the clamps at four
points (i.e. no horizontal rails). The roof is made by Metl Span of
Lewisville, Texas. The building is in New England and the roof has a
slope of 0.5:12 <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Have any of you had experience with these clamps and/or
this particular roof manufacturer? <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Paul Lyons, P.E.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Zapotec Energy Inc.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>675 Massachusetts Ave<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Cambridge, MA 02139-3309<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Tel: 617-547-5900 ext.201<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Fax: 617-547-5901<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Mobile: 617-285-0634<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Email: <A
href="mailto:Lyons@ZapotecEnergy.com">Lyons@ZapotecEnergy.com</A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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