[RE-wrenches] Label Durability

[Dan Fink]

And of course with standard "outdoor" inks from sticker printing outfits
online (like promotional bumper stickers I've done) red and yellow fade
first in the sun--exactly the colors we need the most! Enamel paint markers
last longer in the sun than Sharpies in my experience, but always depends
on the surface.
Dan Fink
Executive Director, Buckville Energy Consulting
NABCEP PV Associate
NABCEP Certified PV System Inspector
IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
~ PV Installation Professional
~ Small Wind Installer
NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers
d <dan.fink at greendustrialtraining.com>anbob88 at gmail.com
970-672-4342




On Tue, Jun 30, 2020 at 4:10 PM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar <
offgridsolar at sti.net> wrote:

> If there was something available like a sharpie with acrylic latex I would
> use it more. Just easier to put it in the JB and know it will last. As far
> as code, I just do what the inspector wants. Luckily I do not see them much[image:
> Wink]
>
>
>
> *Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
> "we go where powerlines don't"
> http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/>
> e-mail  offgridsolar at sti.net <offgridsolar at sti.net>
> text 209 813 0060*
>
> On Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:18:15 -0500, Corey Shalanski <coresolar at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Hi Jesse,
>
> We did in fact use Sharpie on the test wall. I made the mistake of writing
> the "start date" for the test wall in Sharpie, but I think it only lasted
> the first couple years. As others have pointed out, the ink will usually
> fade and become illegible within a few years - depending on the level of
> direct sunlight exposure. I've got plenty of photos from site re-visits
> showing labels with handwritten numbers that are no longer visible. As
> Martin pointed out, it's questionable whether labels can even include
> handwritten text based on NEC 110.21(B)(2)... So, I guess in response to
> your follow-up comment, feel free to show those folks this photo along with
> the message "here is your sharpie" (it's completely vanished).
>
> We experimented with nylon labelmaker tape and found that to generally
> hold up better than Sharpie. We also tried out a handheld engraving tool
> (for plastic/phenolic labels), but that was kind of a non-starter. At one
> point we even invested in a full-fledged engraving machine. I believe it
> came with its own software, and we purchased sheets of blank placard
> material. Unfortunately, we could never get our machine operator to turn
> the corner on making the label creation process efficient & worthwhile--the
> last I looked, the machine was sitting in a dark corner of the lunchroom.
>
> I agree with Brian/Dan that the different components in a PV system have
> different expected lifespans, and we can't reasonably expect all components
> to last as long as the longest-lasting component (PV modules). Labels seem
> to be one of those components that we can anticipate replacing every 5-10
> years.
>
> --
> Corey
>
>
>
>
>
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