« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: How NOT to do Solar  (Read 3904 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

ghurd

  • Super Hero Member Plus
  • *******
  • Posts: 8059
How NOT to do Solar
« on: November 20, 2006, 07:44:52 PM »
Make the women and children leave the room.  

Some things are not suited for viewing by everyone.

And this is going to get ugly.  I get ill thinking about it.


The following is a Photowatt PWX500.  Or it was.


Quote of the Day.  

He said "I think it just needs a drop of solder to connect the wires".

That gets my vote for Quote of the Year!


List of things NOT to do...


First, NEVER expect the PV to stay on a steep roof if not fastened.


Second, If 25 feet of heavy wire is pulling on the PV, see above, read it twice.


Third, Make sure 14 feet below the PV is soft and not a pile of large broken pieces of what formerly was a concrete driveway.


Lucky this was the only damage...





Fourth, Several years later, when the roof requires new shingles, call someone who knows about solar panels before the DIY roofers arrive. Especially if the roofer is a plumber by trade.  (no offence to plumbers)


Fifth, it is easier to remove and reinstall the wires in the junction box than it is too rip the box off the panel, expecting the dealer will have no trouble replacing the box on the panel in just a few minutes.


Last, If the wires will be cut anyway, it is not necessary to rip and tear anything apart, remove the box from the panel, or the wires from the box.


Unluckily, I don't see how this could be any worse...





The photos do not show how intense the damage actually is.

A piece of the box is visible in the first photo.

A complete terminal is visible near the red sealant in the second photo.

And this panel STILL puts out rated power.


Hot glue can't fix everything.  :-(

G-

« Last Edit: November 20, 2006, 07:44:52 PM by (unknown) »
Logged
www.ghurd.info<<<-----Information on my Controller

zap

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1107
  • There's an app for that
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2006, 01:15:24 PM »
I'm not sure I want to live in a world where hot glue can't fix everything!  : )

« Last Edit: November 20, 2006, 01:15:24 PM by zap »
Logged

Slingshot

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 231
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2006, 01:23:46 PM »
Just to be sure I followed the story - your roofing contractors ripped the junction boxes off the panels and then let the panels drop 14 feet to the ground?
« Last Edit: November 20, 2006, 01:23:46 PM by Slingshot »
Logged

ghurd

  • Super Hero Member Plus
  • *******
  • Posts: 8059
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2006, 01:58:25 PM »
I was being nice.

I am a designer/wholesaler/dealer/sometimes installer. Many 100's of PVs installed without letting a Single One fall off the roof!

Seems like a good business practice.


The current (and 1st) owner of the above PV, a plumber, allowed it slide down and fall off the roof during the initial installation (maybe 6 years ago) right after stating...

"She ain't goin' nowhere".


Then a month ago he decided to re roof the building... himself.  

Then he called me again... for "a drop of solder".


This is kind of a followup for Tom in NH,

But I thought everyone would enjoy it. (Too few postings about failures)

I have mentioned this one before too, so it seemed natural to post a couple photos.


Tom's post...

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2006/11/3/03321/9724


"Stupid is as stupid does"... Forrest Gump

« Last Edit: November 20, 2006, 01:58:25 PM by ghurd »
Logged
www.ghurd.info<<<-----Information on my Controller

Norm

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1841
  • Country: us
  • Ohio's sharpest corner
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2006, 02:27:36 PM »
 

 Me neither Zap....I think Ghurd almost  busted

our bubble...LOL !

  There are different grades of hot glue....

surely if one kind doesn't work....another type

will ??? Not !

             ( :>) Norm
« Last Edit: November 20, 2006, 02:27:36 PM by Norm »
Logged

richhagen

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1597
  • Country: us
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2006, 04:12:03 PM »
I have a few of those panels, infact those were the type of panels on the installation where you told me to "TILT THOSE PANELS"  (they're still flat and completely out of sight to thieves on the ground and able to charge the small batteries there) I felt that the way the boxes were mounted was a bit flimsy, but plenty for unstrained wiring.  I haven't managed to break any yet, although I have a few Arco's I bought used that have the screw studs broken on the back.  If you can get at enough of the leads, you can probably rig a connection by soldering extentions to a screw which you could mount off of that top plastic bracket that stayed with the panel and then encapsulating it to protect the connections from the weather, but I wouldn't warranty the fix for the guy.  I hate seing a product with at least a 25 year life span damaged like that.  I don't like having to replace things I've already bought.  Rich
« Last Edit: November 20, 2006, 04:12:03 PM by richhagen »
Logged
A Joule saved is a Joule made!

Shadow

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 473
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2006, 05:18:40 PM »
I have a holster for my hot glue gun!!
« Last Edit: November 20, 2006, 05:18:40 PM by Shadow »
Logged

jimjjnn

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 511
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2006, 08:10:27 PM »
Hot glue, duct tape and barbed wire is all that is needed for any repair.

Forgot one item. BF hammer.
« Last Edit: November 20, 2006, 08:10:27 PM by jimjjnn »
Logged

ghurd

  • Super Hero Member Plus
  • *******
  • Posts: 8059
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2006, 10:03:57 PM »
The wiggle of the box is a good thing. I like the design after seeing stuff that was never intended to be seen.  The way everything is mounted, nothing gets stressed at a single point, kind of solid while flexable. Or vice versa?  Sort of like the spring on the end of an air hose.

Serious effort was expended getting that box broke free.  Looks like a large screwdriver & BFH were implimented.


I think it'll go reasonably back together with a couple inches of #16 and half a tube of silicone.

Maybe a squirt of Norm's high grade hot glue, just to be sure.

G-

« Last Edit: November 20, 2006, 10:03:57 PM by ghurd »
Logged
www.ghurd.info<<<-----Information on my Controller

Bruce S

  • Administrator
  • Super Hero Member Plus
  • *****
  • Posts: 5375
  • Country: us
  • USA
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #9 on: November 21, 2006, 07:54:05 AM »
G-

  Thanks for the pictures!!

I'm going to make sure and NOT hire a plumber to do the roofing.

Did you charge him extra for BFH usage?


Glad to see the panels were up to the challenge.


Bruce S

« Last Edit: November 21, 2006, 07:54:05 AM by Bruce S »
Logged
A kind word often goes unsaid BUT never goes unheard

badmoonryzn

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 86
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #10 on: November 21, 2006, 12:14:19 PM »
ROOFERS? You let roofers undo something with wires? Mercy! That would be like letting me perform brain surgery. Comere I got a splitin maul we'll fix that there tumer all better. I know I got through school roofin! :-)


Billy Joe Jim Bad the 3rd.

« Last Edit: November 21, 2006, 12:14:19 PM by badmoonryzn »
Logged

cyplesma

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 123
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #11 on: November 21, 2006, 03:55:09 PM »
hehehe


the BF Hammer is optional and really reserved for those stubborn materials / devices

« Last Edit: November 21, 2006, 03:55:09 PM by cyplesma »
Logged

ghurd

  • Super Hero Member Plus
  • *******
  • Posts: 8059
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #12 on: November 21, 2006, 08:58:13 PM »
I didn't do any of the damage.

The photos show it just like it was when he called me.


May need a BFH to get it to fit back together!

G-

« Last Edit: November 21, 2006, 08:58:13 PM by ghurd »
Logged
www.ghurd.info<<<-----Information on my Controller

ghurd

  • Super Hero Member Plus
  • *******
  • Posts: 8059
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #13 on: November 21, 2006, 09:03:58 PM »
The roofer + the plumber + the owner = 1 guy


I am just the guy who is supposed to fix it.


I should be glad he didn't try to reattach it with 5/8" lag bolts...

Through the glass!

G-

« Last Edit: November 21, 2006, 09:03:58 PM by ghurd »
Logged
www.ghurd.info<<<-----Information on my Controller

ghurd

  • Super Hero Member Plus
  • *******
  • Posts: 8059
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #14 on: November 21, 2006, 09:05:49 PM »
I'm gonna start charging extra for hot glue.

G-
« Last Edit: November 21, 2006, 09:05:49 PM by ghurd »
Logged
www.ghurd.info<<<-----Information on my Controller

zap

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1107
  • There's an app for that
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #15 on: November 22, 2006, 08:27:14 AM »
You have to add in your mark up or profit is out the door... so I see no problem in charging extra. Increase your profit margin(if any <grin>) by using colored hot glue, even GLOW-IN-THE-DARK!


Personally I never worry about the grade of hot glue.  If a little doesn't hold it, more will.

If more doesn't hold it then it's time to pound in a few nails!


Obviously I'm not much of a crafts person.

« Last Edit: November 22, 2006, 08:27:14 AM by zap »
Logged

willib

  • SuperHero Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 2414
  • Country: us
Re: How NOT to do Solar
« Reply #16 on: November 22, 2006, 04:24:09 PM »
in that link , they sell a non stick glue pad...

i havnt found anything that hot glue doesnt stick to
« Last Edit: November 22, 2006, 04:24:09 PM by willib »
Logged
Carpe Ventum (Seize the Wind)
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »