These days modules are so cheap, and so much more efficient, that I just
reuse the racks, even if the existing modules are good. Racking, wiring,
excavation all exceed the cost of the mods, so its what ever gets the
customer the power they need for the lowest cost.
OTOH, if the system is still working, I'd just leave them alone, until
there's an actual failure. Funny thing is, those modules could be
losing all kinds of power, but you might not really notice it, if its a
non MPPT controller. I do respect the grey haired folks that can still
live on a 12 v system, the next generations do not have the patience.
I really don't work on 12 v systems much anymore, except to replace them
in total. I've found I can burn up a lot of $$ messing around, and the
customer is still running on a 20+ year old system, that's never going
to get younger again. Grape Solar was not a top brand BTW.
Ray Walters
On 7/16/2023 4:18 PM, Kent via RE-wrenches wrote:
I think these modules are about 12 years old. I didn't have a
voltmeter or ammeter with me this morning when this was discovered so
I wasn't able to check the output.
Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar
On 7/16/2023 3:06 PM, Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via RE-wrenches wrote:
Hi Kent, How is output and how old are the panels?
*Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar "we go where powerlines don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ e-mail offgridso...@sti.net text
209 813 0060*
On 2023-07-16 2:58 pm, Kent via RE-wrenches wrote:
Found some damage to a customer's Grape CS-S-180-DJ PV modules this
morning. Unlike anything I've ever seen; so I'm hoping that someone
on this list can tell me the cause. I've put several photos of the
cells online
<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nQhTqahEx4whmmWyy89tqaEEGvzkvEps?usp=sharing>
so you can inspect them. While it looks like there has been some
localized heating on the traces, there isn't any evidence of damage
on the rear of the PV modules. These are on an off grid system
charging some 12-volt batteries. Thanks.
Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar
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