Hi Jay, here is the website for Solarrackworks, Jeff Randall's new
business.
http://solarrackworks.com/
On 1/10/2017 9:54 PM, Jay wrote:
I can't find the link to Jeff randles new rack company?
Can someone help me out
Thx
Jay
Peltz power.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 10, 2017, at 8:31 PM, Ray Walters <r...@solarray.com> wrote:
Hi William;
Your link had a glitch, I think this should be it?
http://www.millersolar.com/MillerSolar/case_studies/Wind_damage/_wind_damage.html
We have DP&W's high wind option which bumped the pole size from 4" to 6" along
with heavier hardware throughout. I haven't been to the site yet, but the techs were
reporting just the module failed and the rack is still good. I'm going up next week and I'll
try to figure this out. This site also has a funnel effect as you mentioned. Higher ridges
to the North and South, and this smaller peak between with our rack almost right at the top.
Roof mounts actually do seem to be much better; the wind doesn't get behind it,
and if the array is set back from the edge, the side edge of the array isn't
getting pummeled.
Our failure occurred with an angled wind, not perpendicular. Your rack failures look
also to have had uneven loading: the way it twisted that top rail off. I almost wonder if
these racks aren't hitting some resonance that's causing the rack to twist and torque
back and forth repeatedly. You can grab the corner of the array and "pluck"
it, then watch it bounce back and forth: that's the simple way to determine its harmonic
resonance.
R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760
On 1/10/2017 6:26 PM, William Miller wrote:
Ray:
I can't say I have a solution to your problem, but I can share some photos
of two similar failures in case you can glean any information from them.
See:
http://www.millersolar.com/MillerSolar/case_studies/Wind_damage/_wind_dama
ge.html
The first failure is a Zomeworks. On the same exact spot we tried a DPW
TOP. Neither could withstand a funnel effect provided by the topography.
At the same location we installed a roof mount as well that has never
failed (to my knowledge, we don't service that customer anymore).
I think if you have terrain that is tilted in the correct direction a
mount that hugs the ground is best. That is a lay opinion, however.
William
Lic 773985
millersolar.com
805-438-5600
-----Original Message-----
From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On
Behalf Of Ray Walters
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2017 2:31 PM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Solar World Wind Damage
Greetings All;
I just had the dreaded call from one of my higher profile commercial
clients: a remote radio repeater station had modules ripped off the frame
by high winds.
Two SW285s were damaged. The wind was strong enough to rip right through
the aluminum side rails. We had used the proper stainless 1/4"
bolt hardware with washers on the inside, etc. All the hardware was still
tight, it just tore the aluminum past the washers. This is not a top down
clamp system, but uses bolts through the mounting holes on the back of the
module. This was all on a DP&W rack with high wind option.
In 20 years in business, I've never seen that happen. Is there a contact
at Solar World? I'm not getting through on the tech support line I have.
First, I need to know what the wind rating is on the modules blowing from
the back side, and Second, a suggested fix for the remaining modules.
One module was completely ripped from the frame and thrown 30 yds (total
destruction), a 2nd one has cracks in the Aluminum, but has not let go
yet. I was thinking of adding some angle aluminum on the inside to beef
it up. IMHO, the frames are pretty thin aluminum compared to older
modules. I'll share some pics when available.
As always thanks in advance for your comments,
--
R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760
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