The bottom corner modules are the likeliest to be damaged by somebody or
something moving past the array. I'd check for any damage on the edge of
the frame. I had kids run a vehicle into a pole mounted array once. No
one would cop to it, but I found the matching damage on the roll cage of
the electric cart.
Elk, deer, cows, bears, kids, can all shatter a module. I found the
tempered glass is all or nothing, and completely shatters across the
entire face when it does finally break.
R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760
On 4/21/2014 10:21 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote:
Dave,
I have worked with many DP&W pole-top racks, as it is our rack of
choice for battery-based (mostly off grid) and water pumping
applications. While I have seen errors in construction, they have not
tended to cause warpage of the modules. Also, the modules on every one
of their racks with which I have worked hold the individual modules
apart from each other, typically at least 1/4". So I would not suspect
the rack as the cause.
Others have made good suggestions: check the shatter pattern - it
could be a hot spot, it could be a flaw in the tempered glass.
Allan
*Allan Sindelar*
al...@sindelarsolar.com <mailto:al...@sindelarsolar.com>
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc.
*505 780-2738 cell*
**
On 4/21/2014 4:32 PM, Dave Palumbo wrote:
Wrenches,
I have a customer with one SW 230 poly V2.0 frame (top mount) module
that has shattered glass. It is on a DPW TPM10 pole mount. She
noticed it the other day and does not think that it was hit by
anything. I agree that is unlikely based on the site conditions.
Other than by a falling tree, thrown rock, or twisted frame -- is
there another way that glass shatters on a 65 degree tilted pole
mount like this? We installed the system 2 years ago. The module was
on the lower corner of the array.
·Is it likely that this modules frame was being pressured by the
module(s) above it? TPM has two rows of 5 modules in landscape, so
this bottom module has 4 modules mounted above it. Again it is a top
mounted DPW pole array.
·Or, is there another way that glass shatters on this type of module?
I have not visited the site yet, just received the phone call today.
David Palumbo
Independent Power LLC
462 Solar Way Drive
Hyde Park, VT 05655**
(802) 888-7194
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