[RE-wrenches] Microfractures

[Andrew Truitt]

Wrenches - Does anyone have experience getting electroluminescence (EL)
test results from module manufacturers?  I just shot some module IV curves
as part of an acceptance test and they all show some irregularities on the
vertical slope that Solmetric says are indicative of microfractures:

[image: image.png]


It seems the optimal course of action here is to perform EL testing on a
random sample of mods in the field and compare with images from the factory
to hone in on the root cause.  However field EL testing is not cheap and
even if we do determine that the damage occured after modules left the
factory, how could it be proven if its the shipper or the EPC at fault?  I
foresee everyone pushing back and invoking the performance warranty as the
backstop if issues pop up in the future (assuming nothing shows up during
performance testing next month), but the last thing we want deal with is a
massive (or worse, piecemeal) warranty claim in 5 years.  Or the array may
mildly underperform year over year, not enough to trigger warranties but
still costing thousands in lost revenue.  The system is a 200kW ground
mount in CO using tier 1 (top 5) Chinese modules.  Anyone dealt with this
type of situation before?



*Regards, *


*Andrew Truitt*

www.dr.ventures
d: 202.486.7507

NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional ID: 032407-66
Colorado Journeyman Electrician License No.: 600132

[image: Logo]



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