[RE-wrenches] Residential tracker that has horizontal axis in east-west orientation?

2019-08-26 Thread Christopher Warfel 
Not too long ago there were postings about residential trackers. I put 
in a plug for Array Tech, but we are having a very hard time with 
getting information on the controller and how to get it to work for our 
case. I have moved the sensor every which way but pointing down... 
Their controller comes from the commercial/utility side of the company 
and is designed to place as many modules on a foot print and eliminate 
shading which isn't an issue if you are putting in one single tracker.  
The horizontal axis is north south, and the modules move east west. The 
array is a  zero tilt which is non optimal for most of the year.  Does 
anyone know of a single axis tracker that is designed for east west 
horizontal axis so the modules can adjust throughout the day and seasons 
with the modules facing south?  Thank you, Chris Warfel


___
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance

List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org

Change listserver email address & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive: 
http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html

List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

Check out or update participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org

Re: [RE-wrenches] Residential tracker that has horizontal axis in east-west orientation?

2019-08-26 Thread Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar 
Chris,

Can you restate this, I do not understand. I use alot of these and have
quite a bit of experience with Wattsun, formerly Array tech, formerly
Wattsun. I am also looking for a single axis that is on a 6 inch pole.
Wattsun only makes the 8 inch that needs a back-hoe for lifting. Too heavy
for most offgrid.

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 Mon, 26 Aug 2019 09:33:01 -0400, Christopher Warfel
 wrote:
> Not too long ago there were postings about residential trackers. I put 
> in a plug for Array Tech, but we are having a very hard time with 
> getting information on the controller and how to get it to work for our 
> case. I have moved the sensor every which way but pointing down... 
> Their controller comes from the commercial/utility side of the company 
> and is designed to place as many modules on a foot print and eliminate 
> shading which isn't an issue if you are putting in one single tracker.  
> The horizontal axis is north south, and the modules move east west. The 
> array is a  zero tilt which is non optimal for most of the year.  Does 
> anyone know of a single axis tracker that is designed for east west 
> horizontal axis so the modules can adjust throughout the day and seasons

> with the modules facing south?  Thank you, Chris Warfel
> 
> ___
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
> 
> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
> 
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
> 
> List-Archive:
>
http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
> 
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
> 
> Check out or update participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org

-- 

___
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance

List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org

Change listserver email address & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive: 
http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html

List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

Check out or update participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org

Re: [RE-wrenches] Amphenol Connectors

2019-08-26 Thread Michael Welch 


Hello Wrenches. I'm posting this on Bryan Norkunas' behalf, and working
on getting him signed up as a manufacturer's representative.
Hi Jay, 
 
The testing which was done was a third party test I think through Interek
I believe, and not through UL.  
The testing of the H4 (not the UTX) and the MC4 compatibility was in fact
tested on 14AWG connectors only.  There might be new testing out
there that I haven't seen, not sure.
After that testing was done, Amphenol redesigned their connectors
slightly, to achieve UL certification for a higher voltage rating. 
When this happened, we started seeing more MC4 to H4 failures.
 
Amphenol has since taken the H4 out of production and we are no longer
able to source these direct.  There is still a lot of stock out
there, but it has to be sourced through their distribution partners.
The H4 connectors have been replaced with their UTX line, available in
both machine terminals and stamped.
 
In regards to Walmart/Tesla – our experience has been the compatibility
issue does not rise from the manufacturer of the panels. The issue rises
with the connector manufacturer. If there is a catastrophic failure in
the connection points the module manufacturers will ultimately bring the
connector manufactures to the table, which in turn will come back to the
contractors builders risk. 
 
Additionally, per "UL 6703 Standard for Connectors for Use in
Photovoltaic Systems" Section 1.5 states the following:
 
This standard covers PV connectors whose dimensions are not defined in
any national or international technical standard. Connectors are
identified and tested with compatible mating part (or parts if multiple
exist) and are to be of the same brand, unless multiple product
manufacturers are submitting under the same evaluation for the purpose of
proving intermatability.
  
Bryan Norkunas
br...@pv-cables.com

Jay wrote at 06:27 PM 8/25/2019:
 
 I've seen some paperwork
on something similar. It was tested with #14 wire, which of course no one
uses which makes it void. 
Also who is now legally responsible if there is an issue?  
I heard of a big US distributor who had a similar report done. 14 gauge
wire. After the fire, and all the lawyers the report/ certificate was
worthless, which put the legal responsibility back on the distributor.

What I don't understand is that connectors are about the cheapest part of
the install. Just use like for like and eliminate most issues and also
any liability. ( see latest Walmart/ Tesla fiasco, grab some popcorn
gonna be good)
I've rarely seen like for like failures but many dissimilar ones.

PV Cables has them all, even the really weird ones. 
Info I've seen from MC says that different OEMS use different coatings
which don't always agree and can cause accelerated corrosion. Actual
sizes of the plastic and metal and tolerances can be off creating issues.

Just not worth it in my view. 
My 2cents
Jay


___
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance

List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org

Change listserver email address & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive: 
http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html

List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

Check out or update participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org

[RE-wrenches] Snow-frame damage

2019-08-26 Thread frenergy 
I've got a customer that is pushing me to lower the bottom edge of a 
multipole rack array to make it less visible from his house (which is .6 
miles away!).  Its 4 PVs in landscape, I currently have it designed with 
the lower edge at 3.5 feet off the ground which is actually questionable 
with the 2-3 feet of snow we get here sometimes. Flat ground, 25 degree 
pitch.


            If anybody has pics (or words of wisdom) of the bottom edge 
of a PV frame being ripped of due to snow not being able to shed 
properly from /this //type of installation (or pole mount would help)/, 
I would appreciate the help.


Bill

Feather River Solar Electric
Bill Battagin, Owner
4291 Nelson St.
Taylorsville, CA 95983
530.284.7849
CA Lic 874049
www.frenergy.net



---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
___
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance

List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org

Change listserver email address & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive: 
http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html

List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

Check out or update participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org

Re: [RE-wrenches] Snow-frame damage

2019-08-26 Thread Michael Morningstar 
Todd Cory and I have seen this many times. Around here, I won’t let the bottom 
edge of an array be less than 7’ off the ground. The one time I relented to a 
customers wishes and placed a 1200w pole top array with the bottom edge 5’ 
above grade, the bottom modules were destroyed in an 06’ snowstorm.
I actually compiled a portfolio and case study of a dozen and a half snow 
damaged arrays from this area to present to Wholesale Solar, who was and still 
continues to sell ground mounts around here. I lost the pictures shortly 
afterwards but I bet Todd still has some.


> On Aug 26, 2019, at 2:41 PM, frenergy  wrote:
> 
> I've got a customer that is pushing me to lower the bottom edge of a 
> multipole rack array to make it less visible from his house (which is .6 
> miles away!).  Its 4 PVs in landscape, I currently have it designed with the 
> lower edge at 3.5 feet off the ground which is actually questionable with the 
> 2-3 feet of snow we get here sometimes. Flat ground, 25 degree pitch.
> If anybody has pics (or words of wisdom) of the bottom edge of a 
> PV frame being ripped of due to snow not being able to shed properly from 
> this type of installation (or pole mount would help), I would appreciate the 
> help.
> 
> Bill
> 
> Feather River Solar Electric
> Bill Battagin, Owner
> 4291 Nelson St.
> Taylorsville, CA 95983
> 530.284.7849
> CA Lic 874049
> www.frenergy.net 
> 
>  
> 
>   Virus-free. www.avast.com 
> 
>  
> ___
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
> 
> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
> 
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
> 
> List-Archive: 
> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
> 
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
> 
> Check out or update participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
> 




Michael Morningstar

Morningstar Electric
PO Box 1494
Mount Shasta, California 96067
530-921-0560
CSLB 949635
 
  

___
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance

List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org

Change listserver email address & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive: 
http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html

List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

Check out or update participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org

Re: [RE-wrenches] Snow-frame damage

2019-08-26 Thread toddcory 
Michael and I have noticed this kind of damage tends to be more common on shallow angled roofs. Less than 6/12 is for sure designed to fail.
 
todd

On Monday, August 26, 2019 2:46pm, "Michael Morningstar"  said:
Todd Cory and I have seen this many times. Around here, I won’t let the bottom edge of an array be less than 7’ off the ground. The one time I relented to a customers wishes and placed a 1200w pole top array with the bottom edge 5’ above grade, the bottom modules were destroyed in an 06’ snowstorm.
I actually compiled a portfolio and case study of a dozen and a half snow damaged arrays from this area to present to Wholesale Solar, who was and still continues to sell ground mounts around here. I lost the pictures shortly afterwards but I bet Todd still has some.



On Aug 26, 2019, at 2:41 PM, frenergy  wrote:


I've got a customer that is pushing me to lower the bottom edge of a multipole rack array to make it less visible from his house (which is .6 miles away!).  Its 4 PVs in landscape, I currently have it designed with the lower edge at 3.5 feet off the ground which is actually questionable with the 2-3 feet of snow we get here sometimes. Flat ground, 25 degree pitch.
            If anybody has pics (or words of wisdom) of the bottom edge of a PV frame being ripped of due to snow not being able to shed properly from this type of installation (or pole mount would help), I would appreciate the help.
Bill
Feather River Solar Electric
Bill Battagin, Owner
4291 Nelson St.
Taylorsville, CA 95983
530.284.7849
CA Lic 874049
www.frenergy.net





Virus-free. www.avast.com



 

___List sponsored by Redwood AllianceList Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.orgChange listserver email address & settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.orgList-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.htmlList rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htmCheck out or update participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org




 
Michael Morningstar
 
      Morningstar Electric
PO Box 1494

Mount Shasta, California 96067
530-921-0560
CSLB 949635
 

   

Sent from Finest Planet WebMail.___
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance

List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org

Change listserver email address & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive: 
http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html

List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

Check out or update participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org