Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunpower Performance Warranty Claim

2022-11-22 Thread Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches 
This is why I have an article on my website to explain to prospective
clients why module warranties are mostly useless.

The cost to evaluate most potential problems is prohibitive.  Now if you
have a major manufacturer failure and every module is obviously bad, that
could be grounds for a warranty claim, but for a single module or two, or a
minor deficiency in production - it just will never be worth it. And later
in the life of a system, even a major issue might not be worth
investigating. I can count the successful module warranty claims I have
done in my career on a single hand.

Modules warranties are mostly marketing nonsense, unfortunately, IMO.

Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956


On Tue, Nov 22, 2022 at 1:50 PM Scot Arey via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> I agree that the time to process warranty the module to a manufacturer’s
> desires is cost-prohibitive. Of all the component’s we use, this warranty
> almost seems the least valuable for this very reason. We stopped one case
> for this very reason as I didn’t want to do a PhD dissertation for a single
> module.
>
>
>
> Was surprised by one manufacturer who advised us to read that bypass
> diodes were not an warranty defect even though the module was making half
> power.
>
>
>
> Good luck, look forward to hearing how your case goes.
>
>
>
> Scot Arey
>
> Solar CenTex
>
>
>
> *From:* RE-wrenches  *On
> Behalf Of *Daniel Young via RE-wrenches
> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 22, 2022 12:34 PM
> *To:* RE-wrenches 
> *Cc:* Daniel Young 
> *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Sunpower Performance Warranty Claim
>
>
>
> Hello Wrenches,
>
>
>
> Any experience successfully submitting a performance warranty claim with
> SunPower on their solar modules? Right now, in order to Provide what they
> are asking for, we will likely spend more time/money testing to their
> satisfaction than it would cost for us to likely buy new modules and just
> replace the array.
>
>
>
> Anybody have a similar experience? Or suggestions on how to deal with
> Sunpower?
>
>
>
> Don’t want to bog this down with all the details but suffice to say we I-V
> traced the array at the string level as a sanity check (7-10 % lower than
> anticipated performance), and a random selection of individual modules as
> well and we are seeing roughly 8% lower performance than expected given the
> array age and listed performance warranty. (STC corrected I-V trace is 8%
> lower than it should be for an 8 year old solar module from SunPower)
>
>
>
> With Regards,
>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
> Danny Young
>
> NABCEP PV Installation Professional #031508-90
>
> Engineering Team Lead
> Solar Energy Solutions
>
> Lexington | Louisville | Bloomington | Cincinnati | Evansville |
> Indianapolis
>
> 513-448-5176 (mobile)
>
> 877-312-7456 (Main Office)
>
> da...@sesre.com
>
>
> _
>
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunpower Performance Warranty Claim

2022-11-22 Thread Sam Haraldson via RE-wrenches 
*> Was surprised by one manufacturer who advised us to read that bypass
diodes were not an warranty defect *
*> even though the module was making half power.*

Forgive me if I'm daft but someone please tell me WHAT IS a module defect
if a failed diode ISN'T?!?

Unacceptable.
Sam Haraldson 
Installation & Service Manager



| o. (406) 551-6135






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Re: [RE-wrenches] Sunpower Performance Warranty Claim

2022-11-22 Thread Scot Arey via RE-wrenches 
I agree that the time to process warranty the module to a manufacturer's
desires is cost-prohibitive. Of all the component's we use, this warranty
almost seems the least valuable for this very reason. We stopped one case
for this very reason as I didn't want to do a PhD dissertation for a single
module.

 

Was surprised by one manufacturer who advised us to read that bypass diodes
were not an warranty defect even though the module was making half power.

 

Good luck, look forward to hearing how your case goes.

 

Scot Arey

Solar CenTex

 

From: RE-wrenches  On Behalf Of
Daniel Young via RE-wrenches
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 12:34 PM
To: RE-wrenches 
Cc: Daniel Young 
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Sunpower Performance Warranty Claim

 

Hello Wrenches,

 

Any experience successfully submitting a performance warranty claim with
SunPower on their solar modules? Right now, in order to Provide what they
are asking for, we will likely spend more time/money testing to their
satisfaction than it would cost for us to likely buy new modules and just
replace the array.

 

Anybody have a similar experience? Or suggestions on how to deal with
Sunpower?

 

Don't want to bog this down with all the details but suffice to say we I-V
traced the array at the string level as a sanity check (7-10 % lower than
anticipated performance), and a random selection of individual modules as
well and we are seeing roughly 8% lower performance than expected given the
array age and listed performance warranty. (STC corrected I-V trace is 8%
lower than it should be for an 8 year old solar module from SunPower)

 

With Regards,

 

--

 

Danny Young

NABCEP PV Installation Professional #031508-90

Engineering Team Lead
Solar Energy Solutions

Lexington | Louisville | Bloomington | Cincinnati | Evansville |
Indianapolis

513-448-5176 (mobile)

877-312-7456 (Main Office)

  da...@sesre.com

 

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[RE-wrenches] Sunpower Performance Warranty Claim

2022-11-22 Thread Daniel Young via RE-wrenches 
Hello Wrenches,

Any experience successfully submitting a performance warranty claim with 
SunPower on their solar modules? Right now, in order to Provide what they are 
asking for, we will likely spend more time/money testing to their satisfaction 
than it would cost for us to likely buy new modules and just replace the array.

Anybody have a similar experience? Or suggestions on how to deal with Sunpower?

Don't want to bog this down with all the details but suffice to say we I-V 
traced the array at the string level as a sanity check (7-10 % lower than 
anticipated performance), and a random selection of individual modules as well 
and we are seeing roughly 8% lower performance than expected given the array 
age and listed performance warranty. (STC corrected I-V trace is 8% lower than 
it should be for an 8 year old solar module from SunPower)

With Regards,

--

Danny Young
NABCEP PV Installation Professional #031508-90
Engineering Team Lead
Solar Energy Solutions
Lexington | Louisville | Bloomington | Cincinnati | Evansville | Indianapolis
513-448-5176 (mobile)
877-312-7456 (Main Office)
da...@sesre.com

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[RE-wrenches] SunFix (SolarWorld's old rail system) clamps or potable lubricant/penetrant needed

2022-11-22 Thread Stuart Kriendler via RE-wrenches 
Good day Wrenches,

Does anyone have any old SunFix hardware, specifically top clamps, or know
of any installers/vendors who used to use/sell them?

SunFix was a European product sold in the USA as a bundle with SolarWorld
modules, they become corroded and get compromised when removing them for
roof maintenance.

Alternatively has anyone used a potable water grade penetrant/lubricant to
use on them to free them up?

Feel free to reply here or contact me off-list, many thanks.
stu...@besolar.bm
441 599 2105

Sunniest & healthiest regards,
Stuart
-- 
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48 St. Johns Road, Pembroke, HM 07, Bermuda

C: 1.441.599.2105 <(441)%20599-2105>|O:
1.441.279.5907 <(441)%20279-5907>|www.BEsolar.bm


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