[RE-wrenches] Sunny Island remote alerts

2023-10-20 Thread William Miller via RE-wrenches 
Friends:

How can one read error and/or warning code either via Sunny Portal or port
forwarding a Webbbox?

I can see charts galore on the Portal but I can’t find error or warning
logs.

Also, I get alerts via email but they are vague, as in “3xx” or “7xx”.

Apologies if this is a dumb question.

William Miller
Miller Solar.com
805-438-5600
www.millersolar.com
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Cleaning PV mods

2023-10-20 Thread Jay via RE-wrenches 
I tell my clients to wash your panels like you’d wash your car. Similar soaps if needed to remove pollen or harder to remove things and softer bristle brushes help. Doing it during the heat of the day means a larger chance of mineral deposits vs cooler times depending on your water. Myself I don’t think I’ve cleaned any of my panels in many years. Of course you might live in a place that it’s needed because of a larger drop off in performance. As to the shock part I agree it’s a thing. With rain it never starts as much volume you can do with a hose. Even heavy showers build up which allows the panel to cool over a longer period of time vs blasting it with a hose. My 2 cents. JayOn Oct 20, 2023, at 4:32 PM, August Goers via RE-wrenches  wrote:I now live in a more rural part of California and the dust buildup and bird droppings on my modules cuts energy production down by about 5% during the dry months. I imagine that professional cleaning services would still cost more than the recouped energy production, especially since the dirt builds back up in just a couple of weeks. Anyway, I've had good luck spraying down my array with water and then using a long squeegee similar to but larger than the type they have at gas stations. The sponge side is helpful to scrub the buildup off and the squeegee side helps avoid water spots. Typically no cleanser is necessary, although a mild car wash mix can help if there is sooty or oily buildup.It is satisfying to see clean panels, even if it isn't recommended for most homeowners :)August

 On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 3:13 PM Kent via RE-wrenches  wrote:

  
  
Jason,
This is the way thermal shock was explained to me. Thermal shock
  creates micro fractures in the glass. PV modules have tough
  tempered glass so one thermal shock event, or a few dozen events,
  is unlikely to cause a module to fracture; but eventually the
  glass gets to the last straw when the micro fractures connect to
  each other and the whole pane breaks up. You can't do much about
  sun showers but you can certainly avoid spraying the hose on hot
  glass.
Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar 


On 10/20/2023 1:47 PM, Jason Szumlanski
  via RE-wrenches wrote:


  
  
I don't understand the thermal shock nonsense. It routinely
  starts downpouring here when it's blazing hot out (sun
  showers) and the rain is way cooler than ground water in
  summer. It makes no sense. If hose water from the ground is
  going to hurt solar panels, you better not put them where it
  rains! 
  
  
  I replied privately to Dana, but for the
benefit of the group, it takes a heavy soiling to make any
appreciable difference. I have done numerous tests at times
of high pollen and found little to no benefit to cleaning
solar panels. Certainly it would not be worth paying someone
to do it. Other climates may have different results. My
suggestion would be to test first. Module level power
electronics can provide incontrovertible proof.
  
  
  Jason
  
  
  
  
  
On Fri, Oct 20, 2023, 4:21
  PM Dave Tedeyan via RE-wrenches 
  wrote:


  Hi Dana, 


See attached from REC. I would imagine these
  guidelines would apply to all modules.
Cheers,
Dave
  
  
  
On Fri, Oct 20, 2023
  at 3:56 PM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches 
  wrote:


  

  
Hey ally ‘all,
 
Ok bad solar
installer! 7 years & I have never
cleaned my modules & live on a dirt
road. Yeah rain does a good job with the
dust but there is a film mostly on the
edges.
 
What does everyone
do for cleaning?
 
My array is 16’+
tall on a hill side. I have a pressure
washer & was going to pick up a large
sponge type mop & mount it on a painters
extension pole. 
 
Good Biodegradable
cleaning solutions?
 

Re: [RE-wrenches] Cleaning PV mods

2023-10-20 Thread August Goers via RE-wrenches 
I now live in a more rural part of California and the dust buildup and bird
droppings on my modules cuts energy production down by about 5% during the
dry months. I imagine that professional cleaning services would still cost
more than the recouped energy production, especially since the dirt builds
back up in just a couple of weeks.

Anyway, I've had good luck spraying down my array with water and then using
a long squeegee similar to but larger than the type they have at gas
stations. The sponge side is helpful to scrub the buildup off and the
squeegee side helps avoid water spots. Typically no cleanser is necessary,
although a mild car wash mix can help if there is sooty or oily buildup.

It is satisfying to see clean panels, even if it isn't recommended for most
homeowners :)

August





On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 3:13 PM Kent via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Jason,
>
> This is the way thermal shock was explained to me. Thermal shock creates
> micro fractures in the glass. PV modules have tough tempered glass so one
> thermal shock event, or a few dozen events, is unlikely to cause a module
> to fracture; but eventually the glass gets to the last straw when the micro
> fractures connect to each other and the whole pane breaks up. You can't do
> much about sun showers but you can certainly avoid spraying the hose on hot
> glass.
> Kent Osterberg
> Blue Mountain Solar
>
>
> On 10/20/2023 1:47 PM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote:
>
> I don't understand the thermal shock nonsense. It routinely starts
> downpouring here when it's blazing hot out (sun showers) and the rain is
> way cooler than ground water in summer. It makes no sense. If hose water
> from the ground is going to hurt solar panels, you better not put them
> where it rains!
>
> I replied privately to Dana, but for the benefit of the group, it takes a
> heavy soiling to make any appreciable difference. I have done numerous
> tests at times of high pollen and found little to no benefit to cleaning
> solar panels. Certainly it would not be worth paying someone to do it.
> Other climates may have different results. My suggestion would be to test
> first. Module level power electronics can provide incontrovertible proof.
>
> Jason
>
>
>
> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023, 4:21 PM Dave Tedeyan via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi Dana,
>>
>> See attached from REC. I would imagine these guidelines would apply to
>> all modules.
>> Cheers,
>> Dave
>>
>> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 3:56 PM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches <
>> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hey ally ‘all,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Ok bad solar installer! 7 years & I have never cleaned my modules & live
>>> on a dirt road. Yeah rain does a good job with the dust but there is a film
>>> mostly on the edges.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> What does everyone do for cleaning?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> My array is 16’+ tall on a hill side. I have a pressure washer & was
>>> going to pick up a large sponge type mop & mount it on a painters extension
>>> pole.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Good Biodegradable cleaning solutions?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _
>>>
>>> Dana OrzelGREAT SOLAR WORKS!
>>>
>>> C – 208.721.7003  E – d...@solarwork.com
>>>
>>> W - www. greatsolarworks.com www.solarwork.com
>>>
>>> *“Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988!”*
>>>
>>>
>>> ___
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Cleaning PV mods

2023-10-20 Thread Kent via RE-wrenches 

Jason,

This is the way thermal shock was explained to me. Thermal shock creates 
micro fractures in the glass. PV modules have tough tempered glass so 
one thermal shock event, or a few dozen events, is unlikely to cause a 
module to fracture; but eventually the glass gets to the last straw when 
the micro fractures connect to each other and the whole pane breaks up. 
You can't do much about sun showers but you can certainly avoid spraying 
the hose on hot glass.


Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar


On 10/20/2023 1:47 PM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote:
I don't understand the thermal shock nonsense. It routinely starts 
downpouring here when it's blazing hot out (sun showers) and the rain 
is way cooler than ground water in summer. It makes no sense. If hose 
water from the ground is going to hurt solar panels, you better not 
put them where it rains!


I replied privately to Dana, but for the benefit of the group, it 
takes a heavy soiling to make any appreciable difference. I have done 
numerous tests at times of high pollen and found little to no benefit 
to cleaning solar panels. Certainly it would not be worth paying 
someone to do it. Other climates may have different results. My 
suggestion would be to test first. Module level power electronics can 
provide incontrovertible proof.


Jason



On Fri, Oct 20, 2023, 4:21 PM Dave Tedeyan via RE-wrenches 
 wrote:


Hi Dana,

See attached from REC. I would imagine these guidelines would
apply to all modules.
Cheers,
Dave

On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 3:56 PM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches
 wrote:

Hey ally ‘all,

Ok bad solar installer! 7 years & I have never cleaned my
modules & live on a dirt road. Yeah rain does a good job with
the dust but there is a film mostly on the edges.

What does everyone do for cleaning?

My array is 16’+ tall on a hill side. I have a pressure washer
& was going to pick up a large sponge type mop & mount it on a
painters extension pole.

Good Biodegradable cleaning solutions?

_

Dana Orzel GREAT SOLAR WORKS!

C – 208.721.7003  E – d...@solarwork.com


W - www. greatsolarworks.com 
www.solarwork.com 

/_“Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988!”_/

___



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Re: [RE-wrenches] Cleaning PV mods

2023-10-20 Thread Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches 
I don't understand the thermal shock nonsense. It routinely starts
downpouring here when it's blazing hot out (sun showers) and the rain is
way cooler than ground water in summer. It makes no sense. If hose water
from the ground is going to hurt solar panels, you better not put them
where it rains!

I replied privately to Dana, but for the benefit of the group, it takes a
heavy soiling to make any appreciable difference. I have done numerous
tests at times of high pollen and found little to no benefit to cleaning
solar panels. Certainly it would not be worth paying someone to do it.
Other climates may have different results. My suggestion would be to test
first. Module level power electronics can provide incontrovertible proof.

Jason



On Fri, Oct 20, 2023, 4:21 PM Dave Tedeyan via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Hi Dana,
>
> See attached from REC. I would imagine these guidelines would apply to all
> modules.
> Cheers,
> Dave
>
> On Fri, Oct 20, 2023 at 3:56 PM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> Hey ally ‘all,
>>
>>
>>
>> Ok bad solar installer! 7 years & I have never cleaned my modules & live
>> on a dirt road. Yeah rain does a good job with the dust but there is a film
>> mostly on the edges.
>>
>>
>>
>> What does everyone do for cleaning?
>>
>>
>>
>> My array is 16’+ tall on a hill side. I have a pressure washer & was
>> going to pick up a large sponge type mop & mount it on a painters extension
>> pole.
>>
>>
>>
>> Good Biodegradable cleaning solutions?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _
>>
>> Dana OrzelGREAT SOLAR WORKS!
>>
>> C – 208.721.7003  E – d...@solarwork.com
>>
>> W - www. greatsolarworks.com www.solarwork.com
>>
>> *“Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988!”*
>>
>>
>> ___
>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>>
>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org
>>
>> 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
>>
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>> other:
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>>
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>>
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>>
>>
>
> --
> [image: Logo] 
> Dave Tedeyan, P.E.
> Owner | Sungineer Solar
> p: he | him | his
> a: 1653 Slaterville Rd. | Ithaca, NY 14850
> w: www.sungineersolar.com 
> c: (607) 270-0370
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[RE-wrenches] Cleaning PV mods

2023-10-20 Thread Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches 
Hey ally 'all,

 

Ok bad solar installer! 7 years & I have never cleaned my modules & live on
a dirt road. Yeah rain does a good job with the dust but there is a film
mostly on the edges.

 

What does everyone do for cleaning?

 

My array is 16'+ tall on a hill side. I have a pressure washer & was going
to pick up a large sponge type mop & mount it on a painters extension pole. 

 

Good Biodegradable cleaning solutions?

 

 

_

Dana OrzelGREAT SOLAR WORKS!  

C - 208.721.7003  E -   d...@solarwork.com

W - www. greatsolarworks.com  
www.solarwork.com

"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988!"

 

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[RE-wrenches] Replacement inverters for legacy SunPower mods

2023-10-20 Thread Mac Lewis via RE-wrenches 
Hello Wrenches,

Does anyone have suggestions for replacement inverters for the older
SunPower modules that require positive grounding?

Can anyone quantify what the efficiency drop may look like in a
transformerless inverter topology paired with these modules?  Is it the
negative ground we want to avoid or do these require positive ground to
avoid the PID?

I appreciate any input, suggestions that you may have.

Cheers!

-- 



Mac Lewis

*"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*
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