[RE-wrenches] American Solar 270 watt form factor replacement request
Is anyone aware what module would fit into this "hole"? SolarEdge system suffered a lightning hit. Thanks in advance, Bill LoeschSaint Louis, MO - ___ 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 There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Vertical wall, shared rails
Ben, There are a multitude of laser levels (in a multitude of forms) available to do what I think you are trying to do. The 110 feet might be an issue but if you are consistent you can probably plot the location for halfway and then repeat the process for the second half. Perhaps there is already a level that accommodates the 110 foot range in one effort? Best wishes, let us know what you decided and how it turned out. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 10/17/2016 6:49 PM, Benn Kilburn wrote: Hello Wrenches, Wondering if any of you have ever done anything similar to installing on a vertical wall using a horizontal shared rail racking system, array being about 32.8m (110') wide and 26.3m (86') tall The rails obviously have to be exactly perpendicular the entire length so we are taking extra care that the first row (top row) is true and using template spacers for each row down. Only problem is that the top of the building is a concrete parapet and anything but level. Wondering if anyone has any good tips for getting that top row level/square and keeping the rest of the rails perfectly perpendicular? (keeping in mind the length...32.8m (110') Much Thanks, *Benn Kilburn * CSA Certified Solar Photovoltaic Systems Electrician, SkyFire Energy Inc 14515 – 121A Ave NW | Edmonton, AB | T5L 2T2 P: 780-474-8992 | F: 888-405-5843 | www.skyfireenergy.com <http://www.skyfireenergy.com/> email <mailto:b...@skyfireenergy.com> facebook <https://www.facebook.com/SkyFireEnergy> twitter <https://twitter.com/SkyFireEnergy> linkedin <https://www.linkedin.com/company/283735?trk=tyah&trkInfo=tarId%3A1408655033432%2Ctas%3Askyfire%2Cidx%3A2-2-5> SkyFire Energy Logo_horizontal *_WE HAVE MOVED!_ Please note our new address above.* ___ 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 --- 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] DIN Rail connector source
William, You might determine the source eGauge uses for their DIN rail accessory components. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 9/26/2016 7:41 PM, William Miller wrote: Colleagues: I have been building a number of custom control and monitoring cabinets lately for some of our more complicated installations. I like using DIN rail components-- relays, connectors, fuse holders, etc. I have been buying these parts from Grainger, Newark, Digi-key, etc. From these suppliers there are a dizzying array of parts available, so much so that it is difficult to discern what will fit my needs. Also not all of them are of good quality. I am wondering if any of you have a found a single-source supplier you prefer for DIN rail components that you might recommend? Hopefully ne from which I can choose the parts I need without wading through 50 catalog pages. Also, is there a brand or style of connector block any of you favor? Most of my applications are low current. Thank you in advance for any input. Sincerely, William Miller Gradient Cap_mini Lic 773985 millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> 805-438-5600 ___ 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 --- 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] Issue with DR1512 and oven
Hi Kris, Where did you source your DR control boards? Thanks, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 9/19/2016 5:35 PM, Kristopher Schmid wrote: Hi Wrenches, I have a client that has blown out 2 control boards on their oven in the last few months. The appliance is a Whirlpool Model WFG515S0EW0 powered by a Xantrex DR1512. Since this is an off-grid home, i recommended that they get an LP stove with no oven glow bar and this was the unit that the appliance company supplied. Has anyone seen this before (i am assuming incompatibility of the circuitry with the modified sine wave output)? Can you recommend another model that has been tried and true (preferably Whirlpool)? Thanks tons, Kris -- Shine On! Kris Schmid Legacy Solar, LLC 864 Clam Falls Trail Frederic, WI 54837 www.legacysolar.com <http://www.legacysolar.com> 715-653-4295 NABCEP Certified PV Installer Licensed Wisconsin Master Electrician BSEE ___ 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 --- 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] Enphase Support Non-Responsive
Good to "see" you, Daryl. I, too was getting a runaround from Enphase and related this to the owner with some 50+ micros. He took on the attack dog posture and got results immediately. Sad that threats and abuse and long waits in phone queue are necessary. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 8/5/2016 8:38 AM, penobscotso...@midmaine.com wrote: Just to renew this line of conversation, I have been waiting for several call backs form Enphase, with no results, for the past three weeks. I also have warranty claims that go back four months+ that have not been fulfilled. I will not sell any more Enphase, at all, until they resolve these communication and warranty issues. Daryl DeJoy NABCEP Certified PV Installer Penobscot Solar Design It seems like we are talking about inverter and module customer service (good and bad) a lot lately. Has anyone else noticed that Enphase seems to have stopped responding to tickets submitted via their website? Hold times are unacceptable, so I gave up on that, but nobody gets back to you when you try to contact them via their web form for weeks, even about an existing RMA or ticket, and they no longer let you update tickets by email. They are very helpful and competent if you get them on the phone, but who has time for that?! I'm also waiting an unacceptable amount of time on a major module manufacturer warranty claim right now. I'd love to see Home Power or someone do a story on manufacturer responsiveness to dealers. Things are generally going down hill it seems. Jason Szumlanski Florida Solar Design Group ___ 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 --- 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] Hydrometer tube lost in a battery cell..
Battery utilizing solar electric and glycol utilizing solar thermal wrenches: If you use a Misco brand, model 7084VP your eye is ~7.5 inches away from something less than a drop of fluid (actually a smear of liquid) under a lighted cover. Can you use safety glasses with the Extech model? William, how did the industrial/production hydrometer work out for you? Thanks, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 8/2/2016 10:41 AM, William Miller wrote: Wally: Nice to see your name. I would add this: I hate to have acid too close to my eyes. William Gradient Cap_mini Lic 773985 millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> 805-438-5600 *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of *Wallace Stahle *Sent:* Tuesday, August 02, 2016 8:13 AM *To:* RE-wrenches <mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Hydrometer tube lost in a battery cell.. On Aug 1, 2016, at 5:50 PM, Steve Higgins wrote: Hey Jeremy, A plastic/rubber tube won't be an issue... Best thing to do is get them a refractometer that way the only thing you're putting into the battery is a pipette to remove just a drop or two of electrolyte... The Extech RF40 or RF41 are available on amazon and are generally priced well. Howdy Except that pipette is much too short for series 5000 Surrettes. I've dropped it into a cell before with successful retrieval. A tube extension, with snug fit to hydrometer tube works as well and facilitates a quicker process of cell to cell charge status check in my opinion. I do break out the refractometer at times but it takes lot of moves with acid rag or tissue wipe down process in my opinion. ___ 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 --- 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-wrenches] Thermal Camera for PV Troubleshooting?
Fellow Wrenches, Has anyone made use of any InfraRed (Thermal) cameras for diagnosing module performance faults? Thanks, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 --- 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] PV-direct air heating?
Bill, I wish I had first hand experience with these folks. What I can comment on is that they were IMHO the premier technically competent exhibitor pitching solar HVAC at the AHR show. Several exhibitors shared that they had a $10K commitment to exhibit (for just the base 10 x 10 foot booth) and yet some folks didn't know heat transfer basics. I can imagine that the inadequate installation of the mini-splits resulting in unsatisfactory operation doesn't surprise you. The well designed, well manufactured equipment is still dependent upon proper installation to deliver the advertised capability. Even here in Missouri, an EPA certification is theoretically required to purchase refrigerant. Unfortunately, just like the solar industry, certification is no guarantee of quality workmanship. There are similar groups to the RE-wrenches in many other technical areas. The first that comes to mind in the HVAC arena is HeatingHelp.com Undoubtedly there has already been discussion of the mini-split products as they have been actively promoted for well over three years and have justifiably been very well received by consumers. The mini-split promotes the concept of modular HVAC something our non-oil subsidized neighbor nations have been onboard for some time already. I cannot agree with you more about the tech support offered by the HVAC _manufacturers_. What helps is to understand how their supply chain, etc. is structured. In the example of International Comfort Products (ICP) they manufacturer quite similar products for no less than nine "quality brand name private label products" (oftentimes distinguished only by the label and perhaps a paint stripe). The distributor is the front line tech support. When the distributor cannot solve the problem, a three way conference call is requested with the manufacturer, which is hopefully returned the same day. Not exactly timely support for the field tech. Makes the solar tech support model look like perfection. I don't know that other HVAC manufacturers (Nortec, Johnson Controls, Trane, Goodman, et.al.) work the tech support any differently. Best, please keep us informed of your results, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 3/10/2016 10:34 PM, William Dorsett wrote: Thanks, Bill. Do you have any fairly close connection to anyone who has used HotSpot’s equipment, tech support etc? I’ve put in perhaps a dozen Fujitsu minisplit’s as an alternative to trying to find small efficient furnaces…and mostly in the early installs mistakes were made by HVAC techs who didn’t want to take the time to make sure there were no refrigerant leaks under very high pressure. They’ve otherwise been very good. Tech support…mixed bag. The heat recovery focus of HotSpot looks very promising. Again thanks Bill Dorsett Manhattan, KS *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Bill Loesch *Sent:* Thursday, March 10, 2016 4:12 AM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] PV-direct air heating? Dan & Bill, If mini-split equipment is what you are using/considering you might want to look further at www.hotspotenergy.com <http://www.hotspotenergy.com> John Williams who runs the place was at the AHR show in Orlando earlier this year and has DC and solar HVAC equipment. Hope it helps, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 3/9/2016 9:40 PM, William Dorsett wrote: Dan, I think it is Gree that has a PV direct mini-split heat pump for both heating and air conditioning. It may have run on two 250 watt modules. When in non-PV mode, I believe the AC is rectified to DC and run through an inverter. And there are now a few others as well….possibly Fujitsu. Bill Dorsett Manhattan, KS *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Dan Fink *Sent:* Wednesday, March 09, 2016 8:07 PM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] PV-direct air heating? I have an interesting question I haven't run into before, using existing equipment, some in place, some just waiting for an install. Has anyone here ever done an MPPT PV-direct install to DC air heaters? Advanced Energy used to have a PV-direct MPPT water heating controller, but the residential division of their company no longer exists. We are looking at 1200-1500 watts of PV. How would one program a Midnite Classic (for example) to most efficiently connect PV to DC heating elements without a battery bank/diversion load setup, whether for water or air? This one's new to me; I've never tried PV direct heating before. Thanks in advance for any input. Dan Fink Adjunct Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute IREC Certified Instructor™ for: ~ PV Installation Professional ~ Small Wind Installer
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV-direct air heating?
Dan & Bill, If mini-split equipment is what you are using/considering you might want to look further at www.hotspotenergy.com John Williams who runs the place was at the AHR show in Orlando earlier this year and has DC and solar HVAC equipment. Hope it helps, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 3/9/2016 9:40 PM, William Dorsett wrote: Dan, I think it is Gree that has a PV direct mini-split heat pump for both heating and air conditioning. It may have run on two 250 watt modules. When in non-PV mode, I believe the AC is rectified to DC and run through an inverter. And there are now a few others as well….possibly Fujitsu. Bill Dorsett Manhattan, KS *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Dan Fink *Sent:* Wednesday, March 09, 2016 8:07 PM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] PV-direct air heating? I have an interesting question I haven't run into before, using existing equipment, some in place, some just waiting for an install. Has anyone here ever done an MPPT PV-direct install to DC air heaters? Advanced Energy used to have a PV-direct MPPT water heating controller, but the residential division of their company no longer exists. We are looking at 1200-1500 watts of PV. How would one program a Midnite Classic (for example) to most efficiently connect PV to DC heating elements without a battery bank/diversion load setup, whether for water or air? This one's new to me; I've never tried PV direct heating before. Thanks in advance for any input. Dan Fink Adjunct Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute IREC Certified Instructor™ for: ~ PV Installation Professional ~ Small Wind Installer Executive Director, Buckville Energy NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers™ 970.672.4342 ___ 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 --- 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] PV-direct air heating?
Dan, Isn't that what the wind guys do and call it a dump load? Best, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 3/9/2016 8:07 PM, Dan Fink wrote: I have an interesting question I haven't run into before, using existing equipment, some in place, some just waiting for an install. Has anyone here ever done an MPPT PV-direct install to DC air heaters? Advanced Energy used to have a PV-direct MPPT water heating controller, but the residential division of their company no longer exists. We are looking at 1200-1500 watts of PV. How would one program a Midnite Classic (for example) to most efficiently connect PV to DC heating elements without a battery bank/diversion load setup, whether for water or air? This one's new to me; I've never tried PV direct heating before. Thanks in advance for any input. Dan Fink Adjunct Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute IREC Certified Instructor™ for: ~ PV Installation Professional ~ Small Wind Installer Executive Director, Buckville Energy NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers™ 970.672.4342 ___ 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 --- 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] SMA 5.0/6.0US
Fellow Wrenches, Would it not be reasonable for the _manufacturer_ of those products to offer this info ( so that, at least ideally, those products would be sized, installed, and serviced properly) and I might add without the added filter and expense of some third party operative. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 2/18/2016 6:34 AM, Dan Fink wrote: I wish somebody offered a NABCEP accredited master class about it with all the gory details. --- 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] Battery corrosion issue
Has the idea of using some solution of baking soda to minimize the existing corrosion has already been suggested? Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 1/21/2016 9:09 AM, frenergy wrote: I wonder if by the rounded shape of the flag, Todd's idea might work fine with still a significant amount of contact area. On 1/20/2016 2:02 PM, toddc...@finestplanet.com wrote: whoops, was that a flag terminal? i looked at it wrong and thought it was a post terminal. todd On Wednesday, January 20, 2016 2:01pm, toddc...@finestplanet.com said: On Wednesday, January 20, 2016 1:53pm, "Kristopher Schmid" said: Greetings, Do any of you battery gurus have a suggestion for a method of removing a bolt remnant that is corroded into a flag terminal. Both sides snapped off flush with the flag. I was thinking try to drill it out or maybe a small gear pulling tool? I will never again use the non stainless hardware supplied by the manufacturer... Picture attached for reference. Thanks! Sent from Finest Planet WebMail. 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 ___ 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 --- 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] AC house monitoring
Hi Folks, There was previous discussion about system(s?) that looked at the waveform of the load and got very specific as to reporting (if I understood the discussion), can anyone report on actual usage of this flavor of whole house monitoring? Sorry, Jay to use up your space, I would doubt this is in the two figure price range. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 12/11/2015 7:17 PM, jay wrote: HI All. I’ve been getting a bunch of requests for better monitoring of AC circuits, and I want to be able to understand some peoples loads better as well. This is for a full house 120v and 240v And individual circuits. I don’t need revenue grade. But looking for something that is easy to use, maybe blue tooth app, or digital display with memory ( day/week/month would be good) Could be internet connected but not a priority. I’ve seen some for $40-80. There are so many out there I figure someone/s have got some fav’s. thanks jay peltz power ___ 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 --- 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-wrenches] Sanyo NOW Panasonic warranty claim-Where to start?
Hi Folks, Anyone with experience in obtaining warranty service for Sanyo HIP-190BA3 modules? I hope the Sanyo/Panasonic response is better than my experience with Suniva. TIA, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 --- 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] Inverter back feed liability
Hilton, Would not an appropriate (and respectful) rejoinder be, "Why are you coming to me?" Your experience and expertise beyond Physics 101 may be primary driving reasons. A long time ago, I think it was Dave P. who shared he talked to a potential customer for a half hour for free, after that he was on their clock. Educate them, properly. Provide them resources. SELL them resources. Sell them what works. Sell them your expertise...with a smile. Best, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 11/23/2015 5:59 PM, Hilton Dier wrote: The most frightening words I can hear from a client are, "I am an engineer." Equally alarming is "I am a retired engineer." Either way, the "what ifs" are endless. Hilton Dier III Renewable Energy Design Solar Gain, LLC Missisquoi River Hydro LLC ___ 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 --- 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] Odd battery problem - very low SG in only one cell
Hi Dan, No definitive suggestions, but kudos for making it a learning experience for _all_. Great analytical technique. Hopefully you gain more credibility with the kids as a result of your candor. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 11/22/2015 8:49 AM, Dan Fink wrote: Esteemed Wrenches; I'm looking for input on what could be going on with a battery bank at the college I teach for. It's a stand-alone system with 4 Trojan 12v T-1275 in series / parallel for 24v, 660w of PV, running only a drainback solar hot water system for space heating. So, 3 pumps and 3 DTCs, max load 100 watts and doesn't run all that often, outback CC is usually in float. The batteries are only 2.5 years old and are regularly maintained. My lab class tested and maintained the battery bank last week, and on one battery there was one cell, in the middle of the battery, with a SG so low it wouldn't even register on our refractometer or midnite hydrometer. That battery reads about 0.2v lower than the others. All the other cells in that battery read reasonable SG, with 2 cells on the downstream side reading SG slightly low, but still in reasonable range. This was of course all before topping up the electrolyte with distilled water. Our troubleshooting exercise looked at: ~ Measurement error? Nope, I was right there supervising and 2 different lab classes got the same results with 2 different instruments; ~ Stratification? A suspicion especially since the system is usually in float. We equalized twice, no change in SG. I DID hear that likely this was the first time the batteries had ever been equalized, but no way to know for sure. ~ Spilled electrolyte from tipped battery replaced with water by a previous instructor's class? Can't see this, all the other cells would have lost electrolyte too; ~ A student accidentally discharged electrolyte into the bucket instead of back in the cell, then was replaced by distilled water when topping up? I can't see that either, the midnite hydrometer needs only a small sample. So, I'm left with "likely we have a cell that is failing for some reason" and students secretly smug that the professor is also stumped. Any ideas? Dan Fink Adjunct Professor, Ecotech Institute IREC Certified Instructor™ for: ~ PV Installation Professional ~ Small Wind Installer Executive Director, Buckville Energy NABCEP Accredited Continuing Education Providers™ 970.672.4342 ___ 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 --- 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] Haticon Mid and Ends
James, Glad you received at least one potential source for product, so far. With all due respect, why do you need to replace the clips? Any take away for others so as to not have this same issue? Thanks, -- Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 10/5/2015 10:13 PM, Ray Walters wrote: Contact S Flex in Denver http://www.sflex.com/htdocs/index.php/us/contact-information R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master Electrician Solar Design Engineer 303 505-8760 On 10/5/2015 7:37 PM, James Rudolph wrote: Aloha Wrenches, Does anybody know where I can get Haticon mid and end clips? The lead time with my distributors here is not feasible with my schedule. I believe we need 40mm and 31 mm ends. These are for old installs where the customer is re-roofing and we need to remove and re-install the arrays. (Canadian Solar and SolarWorld modules) Mahalo, * James B. Rudolph* *Haleakala Solar* * * *Director of Operations Oahu* *NABCEP Certified PV Installer # 091209-155 * * * * * * * ___ 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 -- Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 --- 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] PV testing
Fellow RE-Wrenches, What offerings exist for curve tracers like Glen refers to? Comments on specific models? Thanks, -- Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 10/4/2015 9:52 PM, Glenn Burt wrote: Why wouldn't you invest in an I-V curve tester like the Solmetric PVA series and let it do the heavy lifting of the testing you are looking for? Or am I missing something in what you are looking for? Sincerely, Glenn Burt Sent from my 'smart' phone so please excuse grammar and typos. From: frenergy <mailto:frene...@psln.com> Sent: 10/4/2015 21:56 To: RE-wrenches <mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Subject: [RE-wrenches] PV testing Wrenches, As time passeth, we're bumping more into older PVs/arrays that have questionable outputs. After minimizing the variables (dust, temps, sun angle, wiring, expected deterioration with age, etc) and still coming up with low numbers. Testing individual PVs' Voc and Isc don't seem to tell the whole story as they often look good. Would not a definitive test be to wire a suspect PV to an inexpensive mppt CC (oxymoron?) and then to an orphaned battery. The battery would have to have a mondo (surplus) rheostat paralleled to it to maintain a steady voltage during the test. With appropriate metering in place, you would then have Vmmp and Immp as the rheostat is tweaked to hold a steady batt voltage and the CC finds the knee. Help me here. I know its a little spendy to cobble up but the value of nailing an offender might be worth it. Am I missing something? Is it common for inverters to fall off in output gradually? Bill Feather River Solar Electric --- 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] DPW classic classic rack
Sky, Call Rae at DPW if it is going to happen, she can make it happen. Painlessly, perhaps. Like William Miller said, I am not a shill for DPW, but they have been around for 20+ years and they make a _lot_ of good stuff. Best wishes, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 9/29/2015 5:47 PM, s...@ecologicalsystems.biz wrote: Is anyone else having trouble getting replacement parts for DPW's classic classic rack(it's their first generation power rail)? We've been trying to obtain end clips and stand off brackets for over 6 months now. DPW has referred us to 3 different suppliers and each supplier in turn has told us that DPW will not ship them the parts. Is anyone else having these types of problems with DPW? Let me know, Sky ___ 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 -- Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 --- 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] off-grid propane tankless water heater advice
Rebekah and Fellow Wrenches, None of the Big 5 _manufacturers_ of tankless water heaters are currently manufacturing natural draft tankless water heaters. Paloma stopped their production several years ago and the then, sole provider of natural draft machines-Bosch has earlier this year stopped production of all it's natural draft models. Chances are you can still locate units in the system today but all of the Big 5 natural draft machines are today - out of production. If by trustworthy you mean reliable, then you should not use hydro generated units in the same sentence as reliable or cost effective. There might be other manufacturers beyond the Big 5 (Bosch, Noritz, Paloma, Rinnai and Takagi) out there but you might want to talk to Ian W. about his success with a natural draft "off-brand". When you have the choice to use a standing pilot model, that is your most reliable and long term low cost/expense leader. If you are really serious about energy conservation you might follow the rest of world lead and use the included piezo igniter every time you wanted hot water and save even the pilot gas when you were not using hot water. Credit myopic/marketing driven energy efficiency rules with part of this demise and an industry that fits in well in a capitalist society with the remainder. Read Tom Lane's article http://solarindustrymag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.15632 in the current issue of Solar Industry Magazine regarding the current status of the solar thermal industry and his suggestions for alternatives. Sabine and I, in the '80's switched an electric tank in an all electric condo daily for over eight years and never had to even replace the breaker. In a gas storage tank water heater, rotating the gas valve between pilot and on accomplishes almost the same effect of using the storage tank as a batch heater. Best wishes, -- Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 9/3/2015 10:06 AM, Rebekah Hren wrote: Hi Wrenches, Any suggestions for trustworthy: -propane tankless water heater - draft-vented -battery (or hydro) ignition with no electrical hookups It seems to be a lot harder to find tankless water heaters which do not have a 120VAC power supply these days. It's not a big power draw, but it is a phantom load for off-grid and I'm not sure it's a great idea to manually switch the tank power supply on/off several times day? Thanks! Rebekah Hren -- Tel: 336.266.8800 NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ 091209-85 NC Licensed Electrical Contractor ___ 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 --- 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] Non-conductive module frames
Willi, I haven't yet heard of plastic framed modules (and candidly, I hope I never do). I have heard of frameless modules. Essentially glass on top and glass on bottom. No metal (except for the mounting hardware). Hopefully you don't want to use plastic for that. One of these manufacturers exibited at SPI Las Vegas and had a very large, very attractive booth demonstrating the applications of frameless modules. If no one else on the List can remember this exhibitor (or his competitors), I'm sure I can resurect my records and get this manu. to you. Best wishes, keep up the high standards, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 8/31/2015 5:22 PM, William Miller wrote: Friends: I thought I had sent a message about this to the list but I believe not. My apologies if this is a repeat. We have been having trouble with corrosion on an installation on a beachfront residence. Here is a link <http://www.millersolar.com/MillerSolar/case_studies/marine_corrosion/Marine_corrosion.html> to a page I wrote about this problem. I am not a metallurgist, but I am thinking the problem is exacerbated by circulating currents. PV leakage is unavoidable. The currents will migrate to the metallic frames. When the frames come into contact with any other energized or bonded metal, electrolysis results. Regardless of the exact cause, metal is the affected material. I am wondering if the best practice would be to eliminate as much as possible any metallic components. This would mean plastic framed modules and plastic racking. I can source fiberglass strut easily. What I am looking for is plastic framed PV modules. Do any of you know of a manufacturer or distributor of such? Thanks in advance. William Gradient Cap_mini Lic 773985 millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> 805-438-5600 ___ 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 -- Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 --- 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] Standing metal seam clamps
Hi Jay, S-5 makes a big point about how their round nose set screws are better than the "cup" nosed setscrews of their competitor(s). I failed to see any supporting material for that claim. Have you seen the promo video where the handlebar mustachioed founder/owner gives a compelling build a better mousetrap speech? Problems with S-5 that you are willing to share? Joy, -- Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 8/13/2015 4:04 PM, Jay wrote: Hi all Any options for standing metal seam clamps besides S-5! Snap n rack ? Thanks in advance Jay Peltz power ___ 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 --- 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] SMA Sunny Island Sizing
Sunny Boy design assistance should have been Sunny Island design assistance. Sorry for the typo. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 13-Jul-15 8:51 PM, Bill Loesch wrote: Steve, "Let's not be dramatic."(?) Three messages on the same subject in three minutes? Please, please, "Let's not be dramatic." I'm glad your multiple posts slipped by the Moderator, it shows your foresight, planning and motivation. If this newsgroup is going to assist fellow wrenches, then I must ask, "Why, out of all the products that SMA manufactures/supports has the Sunny Boy design assistance fell out of disfavor? That info might be more relevant than your other responses and why the RE-_wrenches_ is open to manufacturers. Respectfully, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 13-Jul-15 2:17 PM, Steve Jefferson wrote: Let's not be dramatic. Of course our marketing and sales team will feature new products when they are coming to market. Thanks SMA America, LLC Steve Jefferson Contact Center Supervisor 3925 Atherton Ave Rocklin, CA 95765 - 3714 U.S.A. Tel: +1 916 625 3185 (direct) Fax: +1 916 625 0871 Mobile: +1 916 622 4253 Email:steve.jeffer...@sma-america.com www.SMA-America.com This email and any attachments thereto may contain SMA America, LLC confidential, privileged and private material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review, copying, or distribution of this email (or any attachments thereto) by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copies of this email and any attachments thereto. Thank you. -Original Message- From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf ofma...@berkeleysolar.com Sent: Monday, July 13, 2015 12:09 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA Sunny Island Sizing So when these great changes come out, we have to call a distributor to learn about them? The Sunny Island is not going anywhere, in fact there are some great changes coming soon. SMA America, LLC Steve Jefferson Service Line Supervisor 3925 Atherton Ave Rocklin, CA 95765 - 3714 U.S.A. Tel: +1 916 625 3185 (direct) Fax: +1 916 625 0871 Mobile: +1 916 622 4253 Email: steve.jeffer...@sma-america.com<mailto:steve.jeffer...@sma-america.com www.SMA-America.com<http://www.sma-america.com/> [cid:image001.png@01CF1CFA.FE18BEB0]<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ WzPuyqhzo&feature=youtu.be> This email and any attachments thereto may contain SMA America, LLC confidential, privileged and private material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review, copying, or distribution of this email (or any attachments thereto) by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copies of this email and any attachments thereto. Thank you. From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jay Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2015 5:14 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA Sunny Island Sizing Out of curiosity what is the design question? And I'd heard rumors that SMA was dropping the SI in the USA. Know anyone going to intersolar? I bet there are Sma folks there Jay Sent from my iPhone On Jul 8, 2015, at 4:32 PM, Jeremy Rodriguez mailto:allsolarjer...@msn.com>> wrote: Still no luck with SMA. I did have one call back and waited for an email, with no avail. I have since sent numerous emails to people mentioned on this list. I hope the support after the sale is better! Not sure if I should even be putting this on the wrenches list or not. I know it doesn't apply to working in the field, but. Jeremy Rodriguez All Solar, Inc. 1463 M Penrose Colorado 81240 Sent by Jeremy's iPhone. Sorry for typos and shorthand! On Jun 25, 2015, at 4:07 PM, Tump mailto:t...@swnl.net>> wrote: While they recently have down sized their staff I find this surprising. I have CCed an engineer and someone you can Btch slap.. enjoy Greg! TUMP Contact me off list if you still have a problem I do SI/SB installs On Jun 25, 2015, at 9:00 AM, Jeremy Rodriguez wrote: Hello So far I've been unsuccessful in getting SMA to return a call Does anyone have a direct line to one of their design engineers? •Off grid SI/SB 3Phase Help. Jeremy Rodriguez Solar Installation And Design Expert All Solar, Inc. 1463 M Penrose Colorado 81240 Sent by Jeremy's iPhone. Sorry for typos and shorthand! ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenc...@lists.re-wrenches .org> Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archiv
Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA Sunny Island Sizing
Steve, "Let's not be dramatic."(?) Three messages on the same subject in three minutes? Please, please, "Let's not be dramatic." I'm glad your multiple posts slipped by the Moderator, it shows your foresight, planning and motivation. If this newsgroup is going to assist fellow wrenches, then I must ask, "Why, out of all the products that SMA manufactures/supports has the Sunny Boy design assistance fell out of disfavor? That info might be more relevant than your other responses and why the RE-_wrenches_ is open to manufacturers. Respectfully, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 13-Jul-15 2:17 PM, Steve Jefferson wrote: Let's not be dramatic. Of course our marketing and sales team will feature new products when they are coming to market. Thanks SMA America, LLC Steve Jefferson Contact Center Supervisor 3925 Atherton Ave Rocklin, CA 95765 - 3714 U.S.A. Tel: +1 916 625 3185 (direct) Fax: +1 916 625 0871 Mobile: +1 916 622 4253 Email: steve.jeffer...@sma-america.com www.SMA-America.com This email and any attachments thereto may contain SMA America, LLC confidential, privileged and private material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review, copying, or distribution of this email (or any attachments thereto) by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copies of this email and any attachments thereto. Thank you. -Original Message- From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of ma...@berkeleysolar.com Sent: Monday, July 13, 2015 12:09 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA Sunny Island Sizing So when these great changes come out, we have to call a distributor to learn about them? The Sunny Island is not going anywhere, in fact there are some great changes coming soon. SMA America, LLC Steve Jefferson Service Line Supervisor 3925 Atherton Ave Rocklin, CA 95765 - 3714 U.S.A. Tel: +1 916 625 3185 (direct) Fax: +1 916 625 0871 Mobile: +1 916 622 4253 Email: steve.jeffer...@sma-america.com<mailto:steve.jeffer...@sma-america.com www.SMA-America.com<http://www.sma-america.com/> [cid:image001.png@01CF1CFA.FE18BEB0]<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ WzPuyqhzo&feature=youtu.be> This email and any attachments thereto may contain SMA America, LLC confidential, privileged and private material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review, copying, or distribution of this email (or any attachments thereto) by others is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copies of this email and any attachments thereto. Thank you. From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jay Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2015 5:14 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA Sunny Island Sizing Out of curiosity what is the design question? And I'd heard rumors that SMA was dropping the SI in the USA. Know anyone going to intersolar? I bet there are Sma folks there Jay Sent from my iPhone On Jul 8, 2015, at 4:32 PM, Jeremy Rodriguez mailto:allsolarjer...@msn.com>> wrote: Still no luck with SMA. I did have one call back and waited for an email, with no avail. I have since sent numerous emails to people mentioned on this list. I hope the support after the sale is better! Not sure if I should even be putting this on the wrenches list or not. I know it doesn't apply to working in the field, but. Jeremy Rodriguez All Solar, Inc. 1463 M Penrose Colorado 81240 Sent by Jeremy's iPhone. Sorry for typos and shorthand! On Jun 25, 2015, at 4:07 PM, Tump mailto:t...@swnl.net>> wrote: While they recently have down sized their staff I find this surprising. I have CCed an engineer and someone you can Btch slap.. enjoy Greg! TUMP Contact me off list if you still have a problem I do SI/SB installs On Jun 25, 2015, at 9:00 AM, Jeremy Rodriguez wrote: Hello So far I've been unsuccessful in getting SMA to return a call Does anyone have a direct line to one of their design engineers? •Off grid SI/SB 3Phase Help. Jeremy Rodriguez Solar Installation And Design Expert All Solar, Inc. 1463 M Penrose Colorado 81240 Sent by Jeremy's iPhone. Sorry for typos and shorthand! ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenc...@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<http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette .htm> Che
Re: [RE-wrenches] Voltage Degradation with Uni-Solar laminate
Some interesting results: ie. High altitude BIPV suffers reduced degradation because of minimal snow loading. (I assume because of less flexing of the substrate?) Array degradation was often listed as twice the module degradation. Offering a challenge to make the installation better? I left those Ivory Towers d.b.a. failure analysis to avoid sitting at a desk but still find a fascination in their results. Thanks, Ray, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 03-Jun-15 11:45 PM, Ray Walters wrote: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140213122404.htm http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/51664.pdf go to the conclusion on page 18. Thanks, R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master Electrician Solar Design Engineer 303 505-8760 On 6/1/2015 5:46 PM, jay peltz wrote: HI Ray, Can you tell me/us where you have your data on the a-Si having higher voltage degradation over time? thanks jay On Sun, May 31, 2015 at 11:31 AM, Ray Walters <mailto:r...@solarray.com>> wrote: Yes, amorphous modules degrade faster then crystalline cells. 15 years will really start catching up with you, that's why we always tried to stick to monocrystalline when we could. I think your best option for now is to rewire the array for much higher voltage. Even your current voltage problem aside, the system will run more efficiently at higher voltage: Less current = less voltage drop. I would probably just jump the 4 module sets in series in the combiner box to 8 in series. Should be a quick fix, and really show an improvement. I've seen this same issue with low voltage polys and undersized wiring. Usually the MPP controllers like some room to play with; as soon as the MPP voltage gets close to or less than battery voltage, the current drops off substantially. R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master Electrician Solar Design Engineer 303 505-8760 Jay Peltz Peltz Power jay.pe...@gmail.com <mailto:jay.pe...@gmail.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 ___ 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 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2015.0.5961 / Virus Database: 4355/9940 - Release Date: 06/04/15 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5961 / Virus Database: 4355/9940 - Release Date: 06/04/15___ 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] Water Heater Heat Pumps
Friends, Are we confusing two distinct technologies? Water Heater Heat Pumps are _not_ Water Source Heat Pumps. Thanks, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 26-May-15 11:35 AM, William Dorsett wrote: Dan was this a mini-split? The one's I've installed (typically not for 1800sqft house) spec AWG 14 or 12 so the full power draw on these can't be anywhere near that. In fact, there are two or three which are PV direct i.e.: http://www.hotspotenergy.com/solar-air-conditioner/HotSpot-ACDC12b.pdf which looks rebranded but with a SEER of 35, it's certainly worth a look. Gree also has one for which I don't have the tech sheet. The highest AC brand that I know of is Fujitsu and the SEER on it is ~26. Bill Dorsett Manhattan, KS -Original Message- From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dana Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 9:54 AM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Water Heater Heat Pumps What kind of power draw do you see on this unit? & what kind of duty cycle do you see for 2 people or 4 people? I amp clamped a 1800 sqft house heat pump for DHW & house heat in full power and measured 4338 watts & have a rough time recommending heat pumps for off grid. Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc - NABCEP # 051112-136 E - d...@solarwork.com - Web - solarwork.com O - 970.626.5253 C - 208.721.7003 "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" P Please consider the environment before printing this email. -Original Message- From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Tom Lane Sent: Monday, May 25, 2015 3:59 PM To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Subject: [RE-wrenches] Water Heater Heat Pumps Water heater heat pumps make excellent sense in a garage in HOT HUMID SOUTHERN CLIMATES and about 700 square feet of garage space is necessary AND you must run a condensate line like an air conditioner . DO NOT PUT THEM IN CLOSETS AND OR SMALL LAUNDRY ROOMS UNLESS YOU CAN VENT 700 square feet of unconditioned air space to them . They are noisy , but a garage in a humid hot southern climate is a good choice and with a time clock set for 11:00 AM to 4: 00 PM when the air in the garage is hot AND solar grid tied system is operating is a great strategy . GatorTom Sent from my iPad ___ 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 ___ 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 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5941 / Virus Database: 4354/9872 - Release Date: 05/26/15 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5941 / Virus Database: 4354/9872 - Release Date: 05/26/15___ 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] Pumping
Hi Mac, It has been a while since I kept up with pumping applications; however, the last time I looked, using electronically commutated motors (ECM) offered significant energy savings over other types. My understand is that the voltage tolerances must be tightly controlled to allow the ECM to reach it's design life. Perhaps offerings/ECM technology have improved today? Best wishes, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 05-May-15 9:36 AM, Mac Lewis wrote: Hello wrenches, I've got an off-grid pumping application question. The scenario is 400' of head, with needs of about 1400-2500 gallons per day. We are trying to pump from a low pond on the property to a high pond on the property, for pressurized water delivery all over the property. I can do a solar direct pump quite easily and serve this need. However, I'm also interested in efficient AC pumping options. He is currently undergoing an remodel and considering upgrading his off-grid equipment and bulking up his system. It may make sense to do an efficient AC pump and put the money saved by going with an AC pump, into his off grid system upgrade. What are some pumps worth looking at for this application? Does anyone know the efficiency of an SQFlex pump operated in AC mode? I can't find it in the literature. Thanks in advance -- Mac Lewis * "Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates * ___ 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 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4342/9701 - Release Date: 05/05/15 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4342/9701 - Release Date: 05/05/15___ 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] Trace DR Series-Control Board Commonality Between Units
Hi GreyBeards, Does anyone remember the Trace DR Series of transformer based inverters? I have a user who has suffered a lightning strike and has wasted the control board on their 1512 (no lights when battery power is applied). The board from my 3624 fits precisely into the space and after changing the jumpers, the lights light up and powers a small load. The small load is all I've tried so far. It occurred to me to verify this is an approved solution before I waste a good board, if I haven't already. If these boards are interchangeable, does anyone have defunct DR equipment (with a serviceable control board) or if they are not interchangeable, specifically a 1512 control board? Alternatively, does anyone provide board level diagnostics/repair? As always, thanks for the wisdom that this newsgroup offers, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4331/9583 - Release Date: 04/20/15 ___ 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] Manufacturers warranty......
Hi John, There are some critical details lacking in your question; however, I would be most interested in the manufacturers of US product (or let me say that more accurately, manufacturers "based" in the US providing warranty of their US or China or ??? manufactured product) response to this question. Compare and contrast is the term I remember from school (almost eons ago). Thanks, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 18-Apr-15 3:29 PM, John wrote: Hi All, what sort of policy applies in the U.S. when one has to go out to replace a product covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. I realize that this is a historic problem for those in the U.S. but what did it take to change the manufacturers minds about this. We have a local manufacturer of Grid-tied inverters (Enasolar) that refuses to pay out for us to go out and replace their inverter under their 5 year warranty. Otherwise they are a good company and good manufacturer of quality product. Their reason they have for that policy is that it is “because of the pricing and business model that we have implemented” I have let them know that the next time this might occur, they can go out themselves and own up to their warranty. Thanks for any advice – cheers,John Veix, N.Z. ___ 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 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4331/9568 - Release Date: 04/18/15 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5863 / Virus Database: 4331/9570 - Release Date: 04/18/15___ 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] Recommendation for torque tools
Bill,
Thanks for the tips, sources and the news that thermal imaging has
another application. FLIR offers some DIY training courses but nowhere
do I remember seeing this application.
Thanks again.
Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
314 631 1094
On 19-Mar-15 11:07 AM, Bill Hoffer wrote:
Bill
I like the CDI product line <http://www.cditorque.com/> and use a dual
scale dial indicator model for larger fasteners and their driver for
smaller electrical connections. Good quality and pricing. They
contract produce for SnapOn ( owned by them now) and have had their
own line now for quite awhile. I prefer the dial indicator over click
style to keep from over torquing the connection, especially stainless
on aluminum rails! They also sell calibration tool that you can use
in the shop to check when you might need to send it in for
re-calibration. I believe that it is not as critical with the dial
indicators because it is using a bending beam to measure rather than a
spring clik mechanism. Since I do 3rd party commissioning I do check
my calibration at the shop before after each job to insure accuracy.
It is becoming common practice to check torques on electrical
connections by using a thermal camera while under loads to identify
connections that need re-torquing to keep from over torquing and
busting off connectors. Loose connections show a significant higher
temperature than tight ones.
Bill
On Wed, Mar 18, 2015 at 6:57 AM, Bill Loesch <mailto:solar1onl...@charter.net>> wrote:
Wrenches,
Do you have a favorite brand/model of torque wrenches when
assembling mounts to manufacturer's specs? How do you handle
calibration?
TIA,
--
Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
314 631 1094
-
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161 SE Fourth Ave
P.O. Box 1823
White Salmon, WA 98672-1823
suneng...@gmail.com <mailto:bhof...@sunergyengineeringservices.com>
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[RE-wrenches] Recommendation for torque tools
Wrenches, Do you have a favorite brand/model of torque wrenches when assembling mounts to manufacturer's specs? How do you handle calibration? TIA, -- Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5751 / Virus Database: 4311/9328 - Release Date: 03/18/15 ___ 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] Solar cooker plans request
Hi Allan, You might remember Sharkey, one of the original, perhaps founding RE-wrenches, who has craftsman skills that would easily qualify at an artist level. He built his own solar thermal panel and in the end acknowledged that (even with his outstanding skills) would have been wiser to buy (rather than build) the finished product. The last time I looked, at least one of the solar cooker manufacturers built their model to be collapsible into a much smaller package than the "traditional bread box" which certainly would aid in storage and shipping. An actual sample is IMHO so very superior to any plans/drawings in as much as it allows the new user to maximize their creative skills to reverse engineer their local knockoff AND compare their results with what is available from an existing commercial product. One of the details that I remember from some 15 years ago was the gasketing on the commercially manufactured unit that kept the heat in the box quite well. In the 13th edition of the Solar Living Sourcebook, copyright 2008, the author mentions "The non-profit Solar Cookers International group provides cookers and simple cardboard and aluminum foil construction plans to developing countries." A Google search yielded the result below. solarcookers.org Good luck, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 12-Mar-15 1:54 AM, Allan Sindelar wrote: Wrenches, Our closest rural neighbor spends part of each year in Guatemala. She emailed me a request: I have a friend who can help me construct a solar oven or cooker if we can find good plans. Illustrations are the most important. I have access to pine lumber, glass, but nothing too technologically advanced. I also want to buy panels when I get back to NM to install on my home here. I have an electrician friend with experience here. Any help is greatly appreciated This is a bit off of our usual topics, but still consistent with RE. Can anyone send a good web link or other resource that meets this request? I will forward it on. Thanks, Allan -- *Allan Sindelar* al...@sindelarsolar.com <mailto:al...@sindelarsolar.com> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc. *505 780-2738 cell* ** ___ 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 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5646 / Virus Database: 4306/9282 - Release Date: 03/12/15___ 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] Chofu Hot Tub Heater
Gentlemen and Ladies, If you really want a powerful therapeutic whirlpool in your hot tub, the best solution I have experienced is a portable vintage Jacuzzi J300-B, 1/3 HP, 115 VAC, 5.6 A, manufactured by Jacuzzi Research, Inc. in Berkley, CA. 28 pounds. This model was available before GFCIs became commonly available, so original users were more than a bit of an adventuresome breed. It is intended for tub use but a snorkel on the air tube would allow "deep water" placement. Today, eBay has six units listed, ranging from $100 to $450 plus shipping including pink and turquoise as well as white, some sellers quote 1950's vintage. Not exactly the longevity you would get from a current day Jacuzzi _branded_ product. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xjacuzzi+j300-b.TRS0&_nkw=jacuzzi+j300-b&ghostText=&_sacat=0 Stay warm, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 03-Mar-15 5:33 PM, William Miller wrote: Ray: Nothing is more civilized than heated flush water! William On Mar 3, 2015, at 10:30 AM, Ray Walters <mailto:r...@solarray.com>> wrote: I think the jet tub is the better way to go for off grid. You are only heating the water and running the circ pumps a few hours/ week, and as Bill mentioned: no chemicals. I've tried all of the choices, and while hot water alone is nice, having the massage bubblers is definitely better. Not having chemicals and/ or nasty recirculated bacteria is also much better than regular hot tubs. Off grid folks don't have to do with out modern conveniences, instead they can do it even better. If you wanted to get savvy, you could recycle the water after to a grey water cistern dedicated for toilet flushing and irrigation. R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master Electrician Solar Design Engineer 303 505-8760 On 3/3/2015 7:30 AM, Bill Loesch wrote: Hi Brian, Great alternative and _proven_ solution. Moreover, the sanitation aspect to heat the water once per use all but eliminates the prospect of breeding "bugs" in the stagnant warm water. It is my understanding that spas/hot tubs that continuously reheat the same water need to have chemicals added to keep them sanitary (at least that is the way it works here for a public spa/hot tub). One other item, necessary to mention for all the rest of us not living in the relatively mild CA/coastal climate-since the tankless stores no heated water all tankless water heaters are subject to freezing conditions. Oh, yes, one can take on Mother Nature and add electric heaters, anti-freezing firing, etc. but for real world practicality, don't subject water to freezing conditions. Solution: mount the tankless inside the heated structure and run the hot tub line through a freeze protected faucet. Thanks for sharing, Brian, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 02-Mar-15 1:15 PM, Brian Teitelbaum wrote: Hey Allan, For many years, my wife and I have been using an old 6’ long claw-foot tub as our hot tub on the mountain. The 6’ tub is large enough, but very cozy for two people. We just run straight hot water from our Aquastar propane water heater into it, which gets it very hot. It takes a little time to let it heat up the cast iron tub, which cools it down just enough for a great soak. It stays hot for a pretty long period of time, but If it gets too cool, we just run more hot water into it. Then we just use the gray water for garden irrigation the next day. No chemicals, filters, or electricity needed. Brian Teitelbaum AEE Solar *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of *Allan Sindelar *Sent:* Sunday, March 01, 2015 6:05 PM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Chofu Hot Tub Heater Wrenches, I have an off grid client who wants a hot tub, and would prefer a propane heater rather than wood. The Chofu appears to be the only unit that doesn't require a circulation pump. He had located this on his own, but told me that "The propane fired, self igniting, hydrosiphoning Chofu is no longer available domestically. Seems the Japanese do not wish to export these to the USA anymore. I will keep looking as this was the most sane idea for the project and of course cheapest. Chofu listed on Island Hot Tub is currently unavailable. I talked to him a week ago and it sounded like there was no availability for the foreseeable future." Does anyone have a line on where one can be located before they're all gone? Or a good alternative? Thanks, Allan -- *Allan Sindelar* _allan@sindelarsolar.com_ <mailto:al...@sindelarsolar.com> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder (Retired),
Re: [RE-wrenches] Chofu Hot Tub Heater
Hi Brian, Great alternative and _proven_ solution. Moreover, the sanitation aspect to heat the water once per use all but eliminates the prospect of breeding "bugs" in the stagnant warm water. It is my understanding that spas/hot tubs that continuously reheat the same water need to have chemicals added to keep them sanitary (at least that is the way it works here for a public spa/hot tub). One other item, necessary to mention for all the rest of us not living in the relatively mild CA/coastal climate-since the tankless stores no heated water all tankless water heaters are subject to freezing conditions. Oh, yes, one can take on Mother Nature and add electric heaters, anti-freezing firing, etc. but for real world practicality, don't subject water to freezing conditions. Solution: mount the tankless inside the heated structure and run the hot tub line through a freeze protected faucet. Thanks for sharing, Brian, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 02-Mar-15 1:15 PM, Brian Teitelbaum wrote: Hey Allan, For many years, my wife and I have been using an old 6’ long claw-foot tub as our hot tub on the mountain. The 6’ tub is large enough, but very cozy for two people. We just run straight hot water from our Aquastar propane water heater into it, which gets it very hot. It takes a little time to let it heat up the cast iron tub, which cools it down just enough for a great soak. It stays hot for a pretty long period of time, but If it gets too cool, we just run more hot water into it. Then we just use the gray water for garden irrigation the next day. No chemicals, filters, or electricity needed. Brian Teitelbaum AEE Solar *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of *Allan Sindelar *Sent:* Sunday, March 01, 2015 6:05 PM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Chofu Hot Tub Heater Wrenches, I have an off grid client who wants a hot tub, and would prefer a propane heater rather than wood. The Chofu appears to be the only unit that doesn't require a circulation pump. He had located this on his own, but told me that "The propane fired, self igniting, hydrosiphoning Chofu is no longer available domestically. Seems the Japanese do not wish to export these to the USA anymore. I will keep looking as this was the most sane idea for the project and of course cheapest. Chofu listed on Island Hot Tub is currently unavailable. I talked to him a week ago and it sounded like there was no availability for the foreseeable future." Does anyone have a line on where one can be located before they're all gone? Or a good alternative? Thanks, Allan -- *Allan Sindelar* _allan@sindelarsolar.com_ <mailto:al...@sindelarsolar.com> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc. *505 780-2738 cell* ___ 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 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2015.0.5646 / Virus Database: 4299/9212 - Release Date: 03/02/15 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5646 / Virus Database: 4299/9217 - Release Date: 03/03/15___ 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] Horizontal axis
Hi again, Dana, Don't overlook the Staber top loading horizontal axis washer. staber.com Made in America since 1993. When Home Power reviewed the product some time ago, the issue of inclusion in the "side by side" comparison done by supposedly independent organizations came up and the omission of Staber and others by these testers was "justified" by "not a major player". I guess Tesla is not a major player in the auto world but is unquestionably a trendsetter, not unlike Staber. Best wishes, stay warm, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 05-Jan-15 11:58 AM, Dana wrote: Hey All Long time off list – Does anyone have any decent recommendations on low wattage - horizontal axis washing machines? I have (2) off-grid clients that are at the end of their Fisher Paykal machines life (140-160 watthours per load) & I did not know what to recommend as it has been a long time since I have been asked this question. As always thanks in advance. *Dana Orzel* _Great Solar Works, Inc - *NABCEP # 051112-136*_ *E*- d...@solarwork.com - *Web* - solarwork.com *O*- 970.626.5253 *C *- 208.721.7003 - No FAX Line *_"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" _**__* *P*Please consider the environment before printing this email. ___ 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 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2015.0.5577 / Virus Database: 4257/8875 - Release Date: 01/05/15 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5577 / Virus Database: 4257/8882 - Release Date: 01/06/15___ 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] Horizontal axis
Hi Dana, The best illustration for low power consumption Horizontal Axis washers are what are referred to as "apartment sized" units in the American trade. These European machines are smaller (and accordingly use less power than the poorly executed (IMHO) jumbo North American clones. Both ASKO and Miele ( Swedish and German respectively) make low power and water consumption machines that spin the clothes at up to 2,000 rpm (last time I looked) to truly minimize drying. Unfortunately, ASKO has recently adopted the American marketing approach to re brand a Korean manufactured American style washer to serve the less well informed consumer and deteriorate their own brand name. To the best of my knowledge ASKO still manufacturers their own "apartment size" units. Look at the gasket that the door closes on in the European models and then the American version, then judge for yourself. Caveat emptor, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 05-Jan-15 11:58 AM, Dana wrote: Hey All Long time off list – Does anyone have any decent recommendations on low wattage - horizontal axis washing machines? I have (2) off-grid clients that are at the end of their Fisher Paykal machines life (140-160 watthours per load) & I did not know what to recommend as it has been a long time since I have been asked this question. As always thanks in advance. *Dana Orzel* _Great Solar Works, Inc - *NABCEP # 051112-136*_ *E*- d...@solarwork.com - *Web* - solarwork.com *O*- 970.626.5253 *C *- 208.721.7003 - No FAX Line *_"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" _**__* *P*Please consider the environment before printing this email. ___ 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 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2015.0.5577 / Virus Database: 4257/8875 - Release Date: 01/05/15 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5577 / Virus Database: 4257/8875 - Release Date: 01/05/15___ 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] SPI 14 Post Show Request for Comments
Gentlemen & Ladies, Anyone who went to the LAS show have any comments? Hopefully, not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Thanks for sharing, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5315 / Virus Database: 4189/8474 - Release Date: 10/29/14 ___ 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] Modules over vents
Bruce, August, et al, This is but one more example of confusing terminology. A plumbing vent is not an exhaust vent! A plumbing vent (what August calls a cold vent) is provided to allow the sanitary drain traps (and perhaps more) to operate properly. Without the properly functioning traps you would have sewer gas smell and sewer gas from the plumbing fixtures. This was commonplace when indoor plumbing was introduced to early adopters. An exhaust vent is another animal entirely. An exhaust vent carries the combustion products to a suitable exterior location for dilution with ambient air. With the advent of power vented combustion appliances, a direct vent (one that takes in combustion air from the outside and naturally exhausts combustion products to the outside) is IMHO the only responsible way to install any power vented appliance in a freezing climate. (Power vented appliances come in both condensing and non-condensing flavors-they can penetrate the side wall or the roof). Originally, two separate pipes (with two independent properly separated penetrations) was used. That technique is still often used today. More recently concentric vents have been introduced both for condensing and non-condensing applications. A concentric vent can simplify some installations by putting the exhaust pipe inside a larger air intake pipe allowing for one, albeit larger, penetration. As you might imagine if the exhaust flow is hindered/diverted/redirected by an inappropriately located solar module combustion gasses will be re-ingested into the intake air. Not good for equipment performance. My understanding is the power vented _appliance manufacturer_ dictates what kind of separation/clearances are needed with their product. My guess is you find they want at least a foot of separation between the top of the " inverted cone" and the module. Probably not what you had in mind for an aesthetically pleasing installation. I hope this helps, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 23-Sep-14 6:54 PM, August Goers wrote: Bruce and All, Sorry, I hit send before I had a chance to complete my thoughts. What I meant to say was that I've found AHJs often allow us to cover cold plumbing vents but I've never tried or had any luck with covering hot vents including condensing boiler PVC vents. Once again, if in doubt you could see what the plan checker or inspector thinks. Best, August -Original Message- From: August Goers [mailto:aug...@luminalt.com] Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 4:15 PM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: RE: [RE-wrenches] Modules over vents Bruce, I'll send you the CA plumbing code vent section offlist (attachment too large for this list). The way I read the code is that you technically can't cover any type of plumbing or hot vent. However, and I've run into little resistance from AHJs in the Bay Area by covering these. You might want to check in with your plan checker. Best, August Luminalt -Original Message- From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Bruce Leininger Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 3:49 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: [RE-wrenches] Modules over vents Hi all. We're designing a system on a roof that is literally infested with plumbing, exhaust and combustion vents. The combustion vents are PVC and none of the vents are more than 1.5' above the roof. A racking company says that we can cover them with modules, since the modules will be at least 4' above the roof. They have not yet provided any building code references to say that this is ok. Do any of you know if the building code allows this? Thanks. Bruce ___ 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.htm l 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 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4025/8265 - Release Date: 09/23/14 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4025/8265 - Release Date: 09/23/14
Re: [RE-wrenches] Cooler Modules
boB, I am also surprised that FLIR was willing to provide a sub entry level product. You might be aware FLIR was willing to show results of the iPhone add-on using "simulated images". Most recently, FLIR has marketed another FLIR (high end) product reportedly capable of identifying carbon monoxide, see link below. http://www.flir.com/thermography/americas/us/view/?id=51857 Unfortunately, according to a nationally recognized CO expert, THIS IS A VERY, VERY DECEPTIVE ADVERTISEMENT. THEY OBVIOUSLY SELECTED C O TO "PIN POINT" BECAUSE IT WOULD RESULT IN GETTING THE MOST ATTENTION. THE MAXIMUM "BANG FOR THEIR BUCK?. IN MY MIND FROM THIS DAY FORWARD FLIR WILL BE "CROOKS" ! ! ! Gentlemen: While FLIR may build some great thermal imaging products using their own detectors, this kind of marketing hype detracts from their credibility entirely. I hope the smart phone add-on does what it promises to do. Caveat emptor, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 14-Sep-14 7:16 PM, b...@midnitesolar.com wrote: On 9/14/2014 5:01 PM, Dan Fink wrote: But no Android FLIR One yet. Arrrgh! Supposedly Flir will be announcing something for the Android next year. Right now you can get this Android add on but it's expensive... ($999 ?) http://therm-app.com/ The lenses are made of germanium and they are just not cheap. I am surprised that a Flir-One will be available for under $400 ! If it's any good (and from Flir, it probably is), this is great ! boB Dan Fink Buckville Energy IREC Certified Instructor^(TM) for: ~ PV Installation Professional ~ Small Wind Installer NABCEP / IREC / ISPQ Accredited Continuing Education Providers^(TM) 970.672.4342 On Sun, Sep 14, 2014 at 5:54 PM, Michael Welch <mailto:michael.we...@re-wrenches.org>> wrote: For the iphone, under $400. http://flir.com/flirone/ <http://flir.com/flirone/> ___ 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 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4015/8210 - Release Date: 09/14/14 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4015/8213 - Release Date: 09/14/14___ 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] Alternative to the Dedicated Subpanel
Fellow Wrenches, Has anyone used a "Generator Interface Device" aka Mechanical Interlock Attachment, Square D p/n QO2DTI instead of a subpanel? Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4015/8200 - Release Date: 09/12/14 ___ 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] Cooler Modules
Bill What kind of thermal camera are you using for this kind of inspection? Satisfied? Comments? Thanks, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 10-Sep-14 11:04 PM, Bill Hoffer wrote: Mark Loaded modules will have hotter cells. I know this from searching for bad cells with a thermal camera. At open circuit I could not see a difference, but short circuit or loaded I could see 20 - 30 C increase in mismatched cells . Bill On Wed, Sep 10, 2014 at 9:43 PM, Mark Frye <mailto:ma...@berkeleysolar.com>> wrote: Folks, Two identical PV modules are mount in an identical fashion and exposed to identical irradiance. One module is open circuit. The other is connected to a load and producing power. Is there a difference in the temperature of the two modules? If so, which one is cooler? Mark Frye Berkeley Solar Electric Systems ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto: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 <http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org <http://www.members.re-wrenches.org> -- William Hoffer 161 SE Fourth Ave P.O. Box 1823 White Salmon, WA 98672-1823 suneng...@gmail.com <mailto:bhof...@sunergyengineeringservices.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 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4015/8190 - Release Date: 09/10/14 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4015/8194 - Release Date: 09/11/14___ 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] Sunny Island with Fronius
Great tag line. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 11-Aug-14 10:23 AM, Craig Gerald Buttke wrote: Does anyone have any experience using SI with Fronius? Thanks. Yours in Solardarity, Craig Gerald Buttke M:(715) 630-1227 O:(715) 630-6451 F:(715) 952-4501 North Wind Renewable Energy, LLC 1626C W Pearl Street Stevens Point, WI 54481 www.northwindre.com NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional^(TM) NABCEP Certified PV Technical Sales Professional^(TM) State of WI: Master Electrician On 8/8/14 12:48 PM, re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org wrote: Send RE-wrenches mailing list submissions to re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org You can reach the person managing the list at re-wrenches-ow...@lists.re-wrenches.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of RE-wrenches digest..." When responding to posts within the Digest, be sure to restore the Subject: line to the original, and please edit out any extraneous lines from the quoted message. Today's Topics: 1. Re: WorkTruck Inverter Suggestions (Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems) -- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2014 09:18:56 -0600 From: "Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems" To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] WorkTruck Inverter Suggestions Message-ID:<04b348f4-a2ab-4ed4-9971-de1476ad5...@starlightsolar.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 Hi Bill, I?m probably stating the obvious but we always install mobile inverters closest to the battery due to the high loss at 12 volts, then run AC to the point of use. Larry On Aug 7, 2014, at 7:07 AM, Bill Loesch wrote: Gentlemen: Does anyone have any suggestions/preferences on mounting the inverter streetside or curbside on the service body "pickup"? TIA, ___ 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 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2014.0.4744 / Virus Database: 4007/8017 - Release Date: 08/11/14 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4744 / Virus Database: 4007/8019 - Release Date: 08/11/14___ 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] WorkTruck Inverter Suggestions
Gentlemen: Does anyone have any suggestions/preferences on mounting the inverter streetside or curbside on the service body "pickup"? TIA, -- Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4744 / Virus Database: 3986/7995 - Release Date: 08/06/14 ___ 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] UPS disturbance with SMA Inverters
Hi Mac, Have you ever tried adding more twisted pair lead length to the current sensors? With favorable results? Thanks, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 04-Aug-14 4:20 PM, Mac Lewis wrote: It does require that all of the monitored lines are relatively close spatially (or you can get more egauges). - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4744 / Virus Database: 3986/7981 - Release Date: 08/04/14 ___ 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] Canadian Solar
Bill, Thanks for the real world confirmation of the Solarworld warranty covering the Siemens product. I had heard the promise but had not yet had to experience the real world scenario. My compliments for seeing the big picture and also continuing to support the US manufactured product (and quality workmanship) rather than join in the race to the bottom. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 13-Jul-14 8:45 AM, frenergy wrote: Well, just to be fair, many Chinese Co.s are propped up by the Chinese gov't...favorable tax structures, free land, zero interest loans. Solarworld seems to be somewhat of a target for failing US manufacturers, however let's not forget the others here that have failed or may soon thanks to installers not willing to hang in there for domestic manufacturers. I actually take a small hit on my mark-up and try my best to sell the virtues of keeping jobs here, producing PVs with less environmental impact and keeping dollars in the US, to my customers. Any wonder where all that $$ comes from that is propping up the US debt. As a side note, SW replaced an entire array (residential) I could not pinpoint a reduction in output in after troubleshooting for a couple days. Rather remarkable in itself, the real story though is they were Siemens PVs. THAT is a warrantythey even paid the freight. I've been in this biz for about 20 years and am competing with a couple new local start-ups and the likes of Solar Universe and Solar City selling USA made PVs. Bill Battagin - Original Message - *From:* Kirk <mailto:k...@vtsolar.com> *To:* RE-wrenches <mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> *Sent:* Sunday, July 13, 2014 4:25 AM *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar Solarworld is now propped up by Middle East investors (Quatar) or so I've been told. Kirk Herander VSE On Jul 12, 2014, at 6:49 PM, "Marco Mangelsdorf" mailto:ma...@pvthawaii.com>> wrote: A not so large German company that’s been bleeding money for the past three years and whose stock value is in the toilet. Caveat emptor. *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Kristopher Schmid *Sent:* Saturday, July 12, 2014 10:26 AM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar I have been to the factory, Jerry and was very impressed. That's why i use them whenever possible. On Jul 12, 2014 11:27 AM, "Jerry Shafer" mailto:jerrysgarag...@gmail.com>> wrote: Solar world is backed by a very large German company and is investigating expanding the manufacturing foot print they have, have you been to the factory, If not you need to go, in some cases you can take your customer too. They sell low output cells that they will not use to other manufactures. You never know with manufactures look at Sharp, I prefer US over SEA On Jul 12, 2014 9:08 AM, "Kristopher Schmid" mailto:sol...@legacysolar.com>> wrote: Thanks for the input, folks. My client is very concerned about warranty disappearing if the company goes under and was attracted by their third party warranty. Solarworld is my usual go to module, but my client was not impressed with their stock history. Canadian Solar are Chinese? WTF? On Jul 11, 2014 5:40 PM, "jay peltz" mailto:j...@asis.com>> wrote: I'm always curious why they are interested in a particular product, any idea Kris? ( especially with canadian solar as usually people think they are canadian not chinese) jay peltz power On Fri, Jul 11, 2014 at 2:52 PM, Kristopher Schmid mailto:sol...@legacysolar.com>> wrote: Hi All, I have a client interested in using Canadian Solar modules. Anyone that can share their experience with them good, bad, or otherwise would be greatly appreciated. Also, a recommended distributor? Thanks, Kris -- Shine On! Kris Schmid Legacy Solar, LLC 864 Clam Falls Trail Frederic, WI 54837 www.legacysolar.com <http://www.legacysolar.com/> 715-653-4295 NABCEP Certified PV Installer Licensed Wisconsin Master Electrician BSEE _ ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto: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/eti
[RE-wrenches] SMA SB240 Micro - Request for Comments
Hi Folks, Anyone have any comments on the SMA Micro? How many different manufacturers (not brands) are now offering Micros? TIA, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4577 / Virus Database: 3931/7481 - Release Date: 05/12/14 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Shade for Inverters on a flat roof
Fellow Wrenches, Did the group get any efficacy resolution for Zomeworks Cool Box ? Although, I believe, primarily intended as a mechanism to moderate/mitigate temperature extremes to improve battery output on the temperature high and low ends, the cooler daytime temps, above and beyond mere shading, would not hurt anything (with the possible exception of one's wallet). http://www.zomeworks.com/battery-electronic-enclosures/cool-cell/ What Missouri DOT uses to house it's electronics/batteries is an enclosure with a secondary flat plate with approx. one inch standoffs between the top of the enclosure and the "shade top". Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 29-Apr-14 10:25 PM, Chris Mason wrote: I can show how we did the same thing on a flat roof using unistrut and angle iron for 3 x SMA 20kw Tripowers and a 400A panel. All we had was a $100 MIG welder. We put some roof steel sheet above the inverters. I will have to look for photos. Chris Mason Comet Systems Anguilla (264) 235-5670 St. Kitts (869) 662-5670 skype netconcepts NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ Renewable Energy Systems professional Generac Generators Factory technician On Apr 29, 2014 6:11 PM, "Allen Frishman" <mailto:amfr...@aeonsolar.com>> wrote: Hey Wrenchers, I am looking for suggestions for building a shade structure on a flat roof for inverters and load center. There is no bulk heads on this flat roof and it is a zero lot building so there is no exterior wall available to hang the inverters. No space inside the building either so the roof is the only option.Any suggestions? I will be using a ballast racking system so the array will not provide any shade. All ideas welcome and appreciated! /Al Frishman/ AeonSolar /(917) 699-6641 - cell/ /(888) 460-2867 / /www.aeonsolar.com <http://www.aeonsolar.com/>/ ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm <http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org <http://www.members.re-wrenches.org> ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2014.0.4570 / Virus Database: 3931/7413 - Release Date: 04/29/14 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4570 / Virus Database: 3931/7417 - Release Date: 04/30/14___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Flashing vs Sealant... again (is sealant code defensible?)
Hi Ray, Ten plus years ago, I observed this one thermal installation which also used the Oatey flexible gasket. Most all the 80's era installs had seriously deteriorated gaskets _except_ this one where the homeowner had painted everything with latex paint. That gasket was not deteriorated and was still flexible. That small UV film barrier was really beneficial. Automotive CV boots are available with a split for replacement use. I'm told that if you allow the glue to dry properly (without moving the steering wheel) it works as good as the non split model. I would not be surprised if a similar product exists for plumbing/electrical penetrations. With paint, that should be the last gasket replacement. Good luck all, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 11-Apr-14 3:15 PM, Ray Walters wrote: It definitely depends on the flashing. The Oatey type with the rubber gasket die after several years, and leak. For our installations, it really depends on the roof. In some cases with metal roofs, a flashing can't really have the overlap needed, and so it just becomes a big gooed on L foot really. Also, I look at L feet as a small 2" x 2" flashing. Relative to the hole size this is often a reasonable amount of sealing surface. Compare this to your average 4" plumbing penetration vs the size of the flashing. Look at how bulk head fittings on water tanks work. They're under several feet of water, and depend on a rubber gasket, not a flashing. I also consider what's under the roof too. A leak on an open carport is not as much liability as a leak over the vintage Steinway grand piano. Finally, if the roof is already having problems, (I love when they say: "it only leaks when it rains"..) you need to look at re roofing, and have the roofer seal around your mounts. R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master Electrician Solar Design Engineer 303 505-8760 On 4/11/2014 1:52 PM, Will White wrote: I've had a similar experience as August. We're using Ecofasten Green Flashing plus all holes get a dab of Geocel Proflex. We've also never had a problem with a properly flashed penetration. Thanks, Will *From:*re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *August Goers *Sent:* Friday, April 11, 2014 3:44 PM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Flashing vs Sealant... again (is sealant code defensible?) Hi Troy, There has been an ongoing debate on the RE-Wrenches list on this issue for years now. I've personally serviced many old L-feet systems that are fine and some that are leaking. The leaks normally occur in the missed holes adjacent to the L-foot. Also, many installers were using Sikaflex which over time loses its adhesion to comp shingles. Sloppy work is the worst culprit. We've used all sorts of flashings over the years and primarily stick with Quickmount E-series these days. All holes, both hits and misses, are squirted with M-1 sealant (from Chemlink) and we slide aluminum flashing (standard rolls of aluminum cut to size in the field) under the shingles for the missed holes. We've never had a leak with a properly flashed system and I am a strong proponent for using flashing products for all mounting points. Best, August Luminalt *From:*re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org> [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of *Troy Harvey *Sent:* Friday, April 11, 2014 12:20 PM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Flashing vs Sealant... again (is sealant code defensible?) 1. I'm interest in a poll of installers who are using flashings vs sealant. Now that the flashing market has evolved, what are you using today? When did you switch to flashings (if you did). And why not, if you still prefer sealant. 2. Is there a any code defense for sealant systems ? (L-foot sealed down to shingles). Does anyone know of a scientific shootout between sealants and flashings? Here is my view: The construction industry is slow to evolve. Sealants, clauks & adhesives are not trusted in general, due to the legacy of code, and we have a mechanical vs. chemical industry bias. There is something about seeing a flashing that says, that is a "professional job", it must comply with code. And yet, my experience says I'd trust a 50-year silicone over a flashing that depends on gravity. Gravity should be dependable right? But anyone in snow country can tell you in spring, water can go uphill after ice dams form. There are high-rise buildings that use "structural glazing" which is just glass and silicone. These systems are now getting to be 50 years old without issue. The cost of flashi
Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Module fire ratings
Hi David, Can you elaborate on the mounting system(s?) that would minimize fire propagation? TIA, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 06-Feb-14 1:11 PM, David Brearley wrote: William, There are few Class A fire-rated PV modules on the market today: http://www.trinasolar.com/us/product/PDG5.html http://www.silicon-energy.com/products/modules The broader context is that UL is in the process of revising the way that fire ratings are determined for PV systems. To date, modules have received a fire classification. However in the installed environment, fire propagation has more to do with the mounting system than with module construction. Therefore, fire classification tests in the future will be based more on the mounting method. As Bill Brooks explained here on January 8th: UL 1703 has been substantially changed as to how modules are fire rated. Basically, modules will no longer receive a direct fire rating unless they are installed in a fire-rated mounting system. A current module with a Class C or Class A rating will no longer have that rating. The mounting system will carry the fire rating. Modules will have specific “types” based on their construction. This way a rack manufacturer can get a fire rating on modules of a particular module construction type and not have to rerate their rack with every module that has that same construction. All these changes in the UL1703 standard are going to require education so that fire officials and building code enforcement officials understand how to enforce the new building code rules in light of the new version of the UL standard. Arguably, enforcement of fire rating requirements in the I-codes is running ahead of the development of the applicable UL standard. It's safe to say that working groups at SEIA and SolarABCs are very interested in tracking these types of issues. The SolarABCs has had fire classification ratings on its radar for several years now: http://www.solarabcs.org/current-issues/fire_class_rating.html David Brearley Senior Technical Editor,/SolarPro/magazine NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional david.brear...@solarprofessional.com <mailto:david.brear...@solarprofessional.com> Direct: 541.261.6545 On Feb 6, 2014, at 12:20 PM, re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-requ...@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: *From:*William Korthof mailto:wkort...@gmail.com>> *Subject:**[RE-wrenches] Solar Module fire ratings* *Date:*February 6, 2014 10:56:05 AM CST *To:*re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> *Reply-To:*RE-wrenches <mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>> I've just been informed by a city (our own City in fact) that is asking for minimum Class-B fire-rated solar modules, citing rules newly adopted Jan 1, 2014. The expert behind the counter made reference to IRC section 902.4, which seems to call for solar installations to meet the same fire rating standard as the roofing on which they are installed. It was the end of the day. Most roofing is B or A rating apparently, and my official was adamant that this meant only a B or A rated panel would be allowed. As far as I know, virtually every solar panel I've ever handled going back to the mid 90's was Class C rated. The only Class A I remember (and the only one I noticed from web searching) was the obnoxiously unwieldy glass-on-glass 300-watt series that got absorbed by Schott and probably discontinued many years ago. I have one of those antiques in my shop for fun, and I encountered exactly one installation that used the product (from another installer), and there were "issues" with the panels within the first 10 years. Is this Class A/B requirement issue true? Did the state fire marshall adopt a policy at the start of this year that basically bans all panels with C rating? Are there any class B or A rated modules on the market? Who's brilliant idea was this? /wk -- William Korthof <http://www.sustainsp.com/images/SSP_Logo_RGB_email.jpg> 714.875.3576 and 800.524.2970 Sustainable Solutions Partners (also dba: EE Solar) ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2014.0.4259 / Virus Database: 3684/7068 - Release Date: 02/06/14 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4259 / Virus Database: 3697/7071 - Release Date: 02/07/14___
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV Wiring methods
That said [PV WireClips], wire management is often a matter of strong opinion, and we are far from standardization and an accepted set of best practices. Jason Szumlanski Fafco Solar Jason, Can your wire management procedures equal the 20, 25, or 30 year warranty your modules offer? I hope so, and I hope your client is expecting the installation to last as long as the modules. If the standardization is late in coming, establish your own best practices. This forum offers a leg up on those folks who do not keep current and similarly, those willing to do only what the status quo requires. Respectfully, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On Thu, Nov 14, 2013 at 1:08 PM, Jason Szumlanski wrote: I know we've had this discussion before, but I wanted to again recommend the WireClips from PV Racking. We are using them on Enphase trunk lines, and find them to be great for this purpose. At $0.25 each, they are cost effective. That said, wire management is often a matter of strong opinion, and we are far from standardization and an accepted set of best practices. Jason Szumlanski Fafco Solar On Thu, Nov 14, 2013 at 1:03 PM, Kirpal Khalsa wrote: Augustthank youyou are right they are actually a Heyco productmy bad!!! Ray, we recently got them thru http://www.heilind.com/products/heyco/Heyco_solar.asp Ray...Contact me off list and i will share my sales persons contact info.. Cheers, Sunny Regards, Kirpal Khalsa NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional Renewable Energy Systems www.oregonsolarworks.com 541-218-0201 m 541-592-3958 o ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV Wiring methods
Hi William (and any other person who wishes to describe themselves as professional (designer, installer, etc.)), Please accept this note as confirmation that your evangelism on wire management has not fallen on entirely deaf ears. Additionally, I'm curious how the practice of requiring a ten year equipment warranty squares with the acceptance of plastic wire ties. Sincere thanks from one convert, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 3:41 PM, William Miller wrote: Bill: I respectfully disagree with your logic: Define "perfectly installed." If your connections are tight and permanent and the conductors are protected from damage, you have a great chance of a reliable, safe lifetime of service. How can you guarantee that your leads will stay protected after the ties fail? Studies show that even UV resistant wire ties will fail well before the life expectancy of the system has expired. When the ties fail, your PV leads are hanging on the roof. Even before the ties fail, rodents can chew on them. Conduit was invented for a reason and we should be using it. I agree that arc-fault breakers will improve the situation, but I don't think any form of OCPD is a substitute for good wiring practices. I think wire protection is just as important on PV circuits as it is on any other high voltage circuit. Try getting away with wiring a rooftop air conditioning unit by tying the conductors to some metal framework with plastic ties and see how long it takes to get red-tagged by your local inspector. I suspect we've gotten to where we are on lax wire protection standards for two reasons: 1.In the early days, PV was low voltage, 12 to 24 volts, and was treated as such, even though current capabilities exceeded that of conventional low voltage thermostat, door-bell and telephone wiring. 2.It is my understanding that PV wiring standards in Europe are not stringent, and European demand drove the PV market for many years. Products were built to satisfy the European market and US standards had to work with the equipment available. Some would say: "if it is under the array, it is protected." We have seen PV wire getting damaged under arrays and it is possible to get damaged under BPIV components as well. I believe that protecting PV wire is more important than protecting conventional AC circuit wiring because PV circuits are more prone to create and sustain arcing. Some say that protecting PV wire in conduits will add too much expense to PV installations. Consider the cost of fires and, inevitably, injuries and deaths. One news story about an obscure, rarely used product is already causing many of us headaches. Statistically, it is inevitable that more accidents will happen. I don't want that on my conscience. I would suggest that we need to expand the discussion beyond fire hazards. I also worry about electrocution hazards in high voltage PV circuits. Good wire protection is essential in preventing contact with high voltages. Unprotected PV wiring is an irresponsible practice. I am fighting an uphill battle to develops methods to protect PV wiring because the industry is not helping at all. The trend has been to make it harder to protect wiring. This trend will result in accidents. I think we should do better. Sincerely, William Miller From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Bill Brooks Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 3:38 PM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 6, Issue 423 William and David, This particular problem goes away with arc fault detection. The longer we wait to introduce arc fault detection into our systems, the more we will have opportunities for news reports such as the one William brings forward. Wire ties are not the problem. Could a wire tie cause a problem-sure, just like anything improperly installed. At the end of the day, you can a have a perfectly installed system, but if it does not have arc fault detection and high resolution ground fault detection, it can still catch on fire. You have no control over product failures other than buying from large companies that can actually insure their products in a failure. Fires are not that common, but it didn't take much to get all the viewers of this news report up in arms did it? Bill. -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wre
Re: [RE-wrenches] On demand WH
Hi Brian, Jason, All, I believe the heater you have is an e.l.m. Leblanc made in France. When Pierre, founder of Controlled Energy Corporation, brought these to the US many moons ago the Aquastar name was added to the cover graphics. The BS model means that this is a temperature (solar) modulated water heater while the vast majority (B models) are flow modulated heaters. Following the Bosch takeover of Controlled Energy, they still kept parts for these (125,000 BTU/h and its big brother) units not only available but very reasonably priced. Since the Bosch tankless division became managed by ex Rinnai people the key parts (thermocouples and temperature sensor for the BS model) for these old workhorses have become unavailable through US parts distribution. One variation of planned obsolescence? You decide. I have tried to source these key parts through a German contact without success. If someone has a French contact that speaks tankless, you might have more success. If you need a part, other than those listed above, contact me off list, I can probably help you. Regarding the hydro-generated spark model, I'm very glad you have had success with the unit. At the point in time when you need to replace either one of the two electronic parts that make up this sub system, your fuel savings will have been negated many fold over. "...Using technology for technology's sake produces SST's (Super Sonic Transports)." (Anon.) Best wishes, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 02-Oct-13 12:35 AM, Brian Teitelbaum wrote: Hi Jason, I used to get parts from Controlled Energy Corp in Vermont, but I haven't contacted them in at least 8 years, so I don't know if they still have them for the old units. Brian AEE Solar -Original Message- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jason Lerner Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 8:49 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] On demand WH Hello Brian, I am running one of these older French models at home as well. Do you happen to have a source for parts? Thanks, Jason Lerner Waldron Power and Light Co. On Sep 30, 2013, at 9:39 AM, Brian Teitelbaum wrote: Hi Bill, I'm still running an Aquastar 125BS (original French model, before Bosch bought them) that I installed in 1990. I've had to rebuild the water valve once (after a freeze up; it's in an unheated outside closet on the north side of my house), the high-temp sensor once, and I needed to replace the thermocouple a few times when I was just using a small propane tank to run it. I installed a 250 gallon propane tank in the late nineties and haven't had to replace the thermocouple since. The Aquastar still works great, even when my incoming water temp is near freezing. I just have to use less cold-water mix during the winter. Are you finding the new Bosch models to be this reliable? Brian Teitelbaum AEE Solar -Original Message- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Bill Loesch Sent: Monday, September 30, 2013 5:00 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] On demand WH Hi Bill, et al, There are two major categories of tankless water heaters-natural draft (which work very similar in control aspect to a conventional tank i.e.. no electric required, some form of pilot light) and power vented (all power vented machines have need for at least a fan, most a computer with some form of display included - if your own body is incapable of telling you if the water is sufficiently hot). Of the Big Five (major players in the tankless market) all manufacture one or more models of power vented tankless. Today, only Bosch markets a natural draft tankless. Bosch offers more than one model of natural draft tankless, standing pilot and intermittent pilot. If you like simple, trouble free, and low life cycle cost, you have but one choice. http://www.bosch-climate.us/files/201304181918370.520PN_English_06.201 1.pdf What must be properly addressed with _any_ tankless is intake and exhaust venting, gas line sizing, and water quality. Since this isn't a tank, the pilot flame does almost nothing in terms of freeze prevention. Some manufacturers state flow rate for their heaters without also providing temp rise. Flow rate without temp rise is meaningless. The above is a 117,000 BTU/h machine. Sometimes winter ground water temperatures are significantly colder than summertime temps. If you want hot water in the winter, too, make sure you use the appropriate temp rise. Hardness is the biggest issue with water quality, if you scale the heat exchanger you won't get the performance advertised. If you have hard water, a water softener or descaling _as required_ is necessary. I am a big fan of tankless and have been since '8
Re: [RE-wrenches] On demand WH
Hi Dick, Following the Carter era oil embargo energy awareness, pilot lights were reduced from ~700 BTU/h to ~ half. In a tank, that heat is put to amazingly efficient use; not so with a tankless. In places where they take energy usage seriously, the pilot light is lit only when the tankless is going to be used. A piezo igniter is standard on the standing pilot natural draft heater identified earlier. For all those folks with a tank, using it as a batch heater with the circuit breaker or pilot gas selector also eliminates the majority of standby loss. My pet peeve is folks who unwittingly heat the water well past the using temp and temper it with cold at the faucet. Glad you are pleased with your tankless operation, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 30-Sep-13 7:29 AM, Richard L Ratico wrote: As concerns standby loss, I can't speak to the others, but the Rinnai has a simple on/off button on the front of the unit. A remote controller is available which also provides the switch. It does take afew seconds for the unit to boot up. Up to three remotes may be installed, making the on /off operation and temperature adjustment fairly convenient. Been using a Rinnai here, on grid for 10 years or so. It works. We like it. I understand a pilot uses a significant amount of gas over the course of a year. Just sayin'. Dick Ratico Solarwind Electric --- You wrote: If its a Rinai, I measured one once that was 30 watts AC standby, and jumped a bit higher when firing. It also needed pure sine. The customer swapped it for a regular hot water tank. Some Bosches and old Palomas, etc. had either a piezo ignition or pilot, but took no power. I'm working on a system with one now that needs 12vdc at about 5 watts. R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master Electrician Solar Design Engineer 303 505-8760 --- end of quote --- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4142 / Virus Database: 3604/6707 - Release Date: 09/28/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4142 / Virus Database: 3604/6707 - Release Date: 09/28/13 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] On demand WH
Hi Bill, et al, There are two major categories of tankless water heaters-natural draft (which work very similar in control aspect to a conventional tank i.e.. no electric required, some form of pilot light) and power vented (all power vented machines have need for at least a fan, most a computer with some form of display included - if your own body is incapable of telling you if the water is sufficiently hot). Of the Big Five (major players in the tankless market) all manufacture one or more models of power vented tankless. Today, only Bosch markets a natural draft tankless. Bosch offers more than one model of natural draft tankless, standing pilot and intermittent pilot. If you like simple, trouble free, and low life cycle cost, you have but one choice. http://www.bosch-climate.us/files/201304181918370.520PN_English_06.2011.pdf What must be properly addressed with _any_ tankless is intake and exhaust venting, gas line sizing, and water quality. Since this isn't a tank, the pilot flame does almost nothing in terms of freeze prevention. Some manufacturers state flow rate for their heaters without also providing temp rise. Flow rate without temp rise is meaningless. The above is a 117,000 BTU/h machine. Sometimes winter ground water temperatures are significantly colder than summertime temps. If you want hot water in the winter, too, make sure you use the appropriate temp rise. Hardness is the biggest issue with water quality, if you scale the heat exchanger you won't get the performance advertised. If you have hard water, a water softener or descaling _as required_ is necessary. I am a big fan of tankless and have been since '89 when I was first introduced to them as a user. Today, I install and troubleshoot all five major manufacturers. Co-located with the load, tankless provides you not only endless hot water but also instant hot water. Good luck, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On Sat, Sep 28, 2013 at 10:19 PM, frenergy wrote: Off-grid Wrenches, I'm working on a load sheet and am having a hard time finding standby and while firing electrical usage for a propane-fired on demand water heater. Do they some/all have standing pilots, glow bars, something else? I'm guessing the standby power needs are very low but we all know how even 10-15 watts adds up over 24 hrs when you're off-grid. If any body has some actual numbers rather than just pdf.specs (though manus specs might help some), I would be most grateful. Thanks in advance. Bill Feather River Solar Electric -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
[RE-wrenches] Replacement for Solar World SW 175, 165, 155 or equivilent form factor
Hi Folks, If anyone has any of these modules or some replacement that has worked for you, please advise. SW 155 -SW 165 voltage 39.4SW 175 is 44.4 AMPS 5.3 Tom Lane Energy Conservation Services 352.377.8866 (office) 352.231.3495 (direct) This message was posted by Bill Loesch for Tom Lane as Tom is having computer upload problems. Feel free to contact Tom directly. Thanks, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Li-I question
Hi Allan, You might want to talk to someone at Multi Contact as they are introducing a line of Li-I connectors. I would be very surprised if they did this without extensive market research as to who would buy the product. Looking forward to your report. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On Thu, Sep 19, 2013 at 11:50 PM, Ray Walters wrote: Looks interesting, I've been waiting for Li+ to start making sense on larger scales. The cycle life does not appear to be better than a HUP lead acid battery, despite the claims of "10 times the cycle life of an AGM battery" I'm confused because in their white paper they also claim: 200 cycles at 100% DOD < 2000 cycles at 80% DOD > 3000 cycles at 80% DOD. What does that mean? Also the warranty has 3 yr free replacement, 10 yr prorated, but doesn't cover shipping or installation, and also demands an engineering evaluation of the installation to allow the warranty. Despite their claims of being the most comprehensive warranty in the business; it is not. My entire power tool collection as well as my computer and phone run on Li+, so I'm a believer, but I've also been vetting BS claims in our industry for over 2 decades. Corvus needs to put more time into some BCI cycle life charts, and provide a warranty that covers shipping and installation time like others. Some case studies, and independent testing would help as well. Anybody have any ball park pricing on this? R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master Electrician Solar Design Engineer 303 505-8760 On 9/19/2013 9:58 PM, Kevin Pegg wrote: These folks are real I've met with and touched the product. I've been working on a possible use of these but client hasn't said go yet so can't quite yet vouch for the product. http://www.corvus-energy.com/ Kevin -Original Message- *From:* re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org]*On Behalf Of *Allan Sindelar *Sent:* September 16, 2013 12:58 PM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Li-I question Wrenches, In order to provide accurate information about lithium-ion batteries, I'm looking for referrals to current suppliers with available product, with specifications and retail pricing available. Having read Randy Richmond's article on Li-I in HP153 earlier this year and Dan Fink's posts here, I understand the advantages and limitations. I am just looking for actual supplier websites and contacts, please. Thank you, Allan -- *Allan Sindelar* _Allan@positiveenergysolar.com_ <mailto:al...@positiveenergysolar.com> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder and Chief Technology Officer *Positive Energy, Inc.*, a Certified B Corporation^TM 3209 Richards Lane Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 *505 424-1112 office 780-2738 cell* _www.positiveenergysolar.com_ <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/> ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] VFX inverter vertical
William, You have the well deserved reputation of the go to guy for clean equipment mounting solutions. Isn't sideways breaker operation what you have in any panelboard/load center? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just my $0.02. Best wishes with the install, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On Mon, Sep 16, 2013 at 1:02 AM, William Miller wrote: Friends: We have not one, but two jobs coming up in the near future requiring we mount FW500 base plates 90 degrees rotated from the norm. In all my years I have never had to do this and now it is twice. I am trying to wrap my head around this. I hate to have breakers actuate sideways so I hesitate to just rotate the DC cabinet with the base plate. I may keep the DC cabinet vertical and punch a hole in the top to accommodate connections to the inverter. I want to ensure that we have room for an additional inverter so I will try to position the KO as far to one side as possible to see if another inverter can fit. We rarely use the Outback AC cabinet any more anyway, so we will just use the standard QO panel(s) mounted at the top right side up. They may hang off of the base plate somewhat, but we deal with that regularly. Anyway, that is my tentative plan. Anyone else deal with this. Have any photos? Thanks in advance, William Miller -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] programmable relay board
Mac, Have you investigated the voltage controlled switch by Solar Converters? http://www.solarconverters.com/index.php/products/92-voltage-controlled-switch/126-vcs-1ah-or-vcs-1al Good luck, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 11-Sep-13 7:44 AM, Mac Lewis wrote: Hello wrenches, I am swapping out a customer that had an SW 4024. We are going to replace it with a Magnum MS4024. He had been using Relays 9 & 10 on the SW to control input from a small hydro system, with each one controlling two different hydro turbines. He set this up himself and it seems to work well. I am looking for a suitable replacement programmable relay board that would offer similar or better functionality as Relays 9 & 10 on the SW. Any suggestions for robust programmable relay boards with good documentation? Thanks -- Mac Lewis * "Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates * ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3222/6654 - Release Date: 09/10/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3222/6655 - Release Date: 09/11/13___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Mouse pee in the SW
Dan, et al,
Once the board has been cleaned sufficiently that the inverter is no
longer operating intermittently and your "hope" has been realized, when
would you apply a field conformal coating? Would you choose/recommend
something better than Krylon clear spray?
Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
314 631 1094
On 15-Aug-13 6:33 PM, Exeltech wrote:
William,
Urine is conductive, and apparently has formed some unwanted electrical pathways between
components. This conductivity could easily continue after the board has
"dried" due to humidity in the air.
If the need is dire, you can try the following:
You will need two 9" x 12" ceramic ("Pyrex" etc.) cake pans (or of a size appropriate for the
PCB); a gallon of *steam distilled* water (not de-ionized, not "purified", but >steam distilled<);
and some 91% rubbing alcohol (the 70% variety has too much water content):
1) Remove the contaminated PC boards from the inverter.
2) If there are no water-sensitive components (where water ingress would be problematic),
wash (agitate) the board gently in a ceramic pan filled with approx 1/2" to 1"
of *steam distilled* water. Nothing less. Water depth should be adequate to submerge
and cover the affected area. Do this for approximately 10 minutes. The objective is to
dissolve the contaminants. This can take time, especially if in tight areas between
components where water doesn't readily circulate.
3) Remove the PCB from the distilled water.
4) Gently rinse the PCB in another ceramic pan filled with sufficient alcohol
to at least partially cover the PCB components. The objective here is to
displace the distilled water.
5) Put the PCB in a *LIGHTLY* warm oven or a sunny warm location. Allow the
alcohol to completely evaporate. This may take time (an hour or more), as the
alcohol may have entered various tight areas on the PCB where air doesn't
readily penetrate.
6) Once dry, reinstall the PCB in the inverter .. and hope.
Follow normal precautions for work with AC power and for static electricity
abatement. Be wary of any large high-voltage capacitors that may have retained
some charge.
Also .. more than one PCB may be affected.
And as always .. do so at your own risk.
Dan Lepinski
Industry Veteran
On Thu, 8/15/13, Allan Sindelar wrote:
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Mouse pee in the SW
To: "RE-wrenches"
Date: Thursday, August 15, 2013, 5:39 PM
William,
I don't have a definitive answer, but I doubt it's either display or chipset;
more likely in the boards. The chips are EEPROMs that contain programming for
the firmware; unless there's a bad socket connection from the pee, they won't
be affected. The display is pretty much self-contained within its plastic case,
and not where the corrosive pee is likely to end up. I'd more suspect circuit
board troubles, but I can't tell you which ones.
Allan
Allan Sindelar
al...@positiveenergysolar.com
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder and Chief Technology Officer
Positive Energy, Inc., a Certified B CorporationTM
3209 Richards Lane
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
505 424-1112 office 780-2738 cell
www.positiveenergysolar.com
On 8/15/2013 3:36 PM, William Miller wrote:
Friends:
I had a mouse take up residency in an SW inverter (SW4024).
It peed on the top circuit board and chewed on one wire, at least that we
found. We have had this happen before and solved the problem by cleaning and
drying.
This time the mouse pee was minimal and cleaned off easily and what appeared to
be throughly. However we can't get the inverter to work reliably. Sometimes
it works and sometimes it does not. The overload light is solid and the error
light flashes. The controls work on some menus and not on others. If I shut
the inverter down it won't come back on.
I take off the cover, look around, connect and disconnect ribon cables and it
comes back on, only to go out a day later.
I have a spare display and chipset. I am considering changing out one then the
other.
Any adivce would be appreciated.
As always, I am very grateful to all of you. It seems I have been receiving more advice than I have been giving lately so I look forwards to the opportuntiy to reciprocate.
Sincerely,
William Miller
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Re: [RE-wrenches] GFX Series with generator
Here, here, Bob-O. Thanks for the comment. My sentiments exactly. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 08-Aug-13 1:15 PM, Bob-O Schultze wrote: Then again, SOME of us don't buy Chinese goods. On Aug 8, 2013, at 9:53 AM, Ryan wrote: To echo Tom the XW is probably the best product for the job. Ryan On 8/8/2013 12:49 PM, Tom Duffy wrote: William How about the Schneider XW4024 or if 48 volt a XW4548? It’ll sand alone now with gen and later grid-tie Tom Duffy Senior Solar Design Engineer Toll Free 888-895-8179 t...@thesolar.biz <mailto:t...@thesolar.biz> Customer Service and Accounting 888-895-6810 Grid tie sales 888-895-7847 Off Grid sales 888-895-4058 Other Product Sales 888-895-9612 Central America Sales (Panama)507-6-126-1253 Shipping and Receiving 888-895-6497 Tech Support 888-895-8179 SKYPE: thesolarbiz *From:*re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *William Miller *Sent:* Thursday, August 08, 2013 10:47 AM *To:* 'RE-wrenches' *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] GFX Series with generator Friends: We a have a client that is off-grid right now but will have a grid connection in a few months. They need an inverter that will connect to a generator now and the grid later. Can the Outback G series inverter do that? How about any other inverters in the 4Kw range? Thanks in advance. William 17395 Oak Rd. Atascadero, CA 93422 www.millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> 805-438-5600 voice* *Note: above number replaces cell number ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3209/6560 - Release Date: 08/08/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3209/6560 - Release Date: 08/08/13___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 6, Issue 276
Hi Corey, 3M makes VHB (Very High Bond) "glue" used extensively in the automotive industry to attach trim to body panels without fasteners. If the surface is irregular you might want to use a double sided VHB tape with a thin layer of foam between the two glue surfaces. I would suggest contacting 3M customer service/tech support to make sure all the requirements of your application are met by the multitude of 3M product offerings. Good luck, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 22-Jul-13 11:46 AM, Corey Shalanski wrote: Our local inspector is allowing sticker-type labels, so we have begun printing our own with a laser printer. We found "weatherproof" sheets available in a variety of size configurations: http://www.onlinelabels.com/material_polyester_laser_labels.htm After about six months of testing they seem to be adhering alright to most surfaces, but we can't seem to get anything - including trophy plaques - to stick to SMA inverter cabinets (or any surface with a "grainy" texture) without using some sort of super glue. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's found a successful method or product for this application. -- Corey Shalanski Joule Energy New Orleans, LA On Wed, Jul 17, 2013 at 2:50 PM, Bob Ellison <mailto:reelli...@gmail.com>> wrote: If you're using a P touch there are labels with adhesives available that are non-removable and stick on real well The regular labels will unpeel at some point The nonremovable ones don't unpeel their labels and hold their colors very well especially inside a box Opening a box and finding five labels laying on the bottom isn't pleasant! ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2013.0.3349 / Virus Database: 3204/6511 - Release Date: 07/22/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3349 / Virus Database: 3204/6513 - Release Date: 07/23/13___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Water softener question
HI Allen, Kinetico is a quality machine. Not a problem with city water pressure. Check that your well water pressure will be satisfactory. What is absolutely required is a good sediment prefilter to keep the little gear train from becoming contaminated and jammed. If the gears don't spin freely, they miscount the water used and dose the water too sparingly resulting in not so soft water. Another benefit of the Kinetico, in addition to the dual resin tanks, is those (smaller) resin tanks can be wall mounted so the only piece of equipment that would typically take up floor space is the salt tank. All sorts of testing apparatus exist to verify the pH but the users first line of defense should be if the water feels silky/slippery/slimy, depending on personal perceptions, then the machine is working. If not, fix it now as scale buildup plays havoc with all the valves and appliances the untreated water flows through, especially the hot water. Have you considered that the meaningful application may be on the hot water only? You probably already know not to plumb the garden faucet(s) into the salt softened water. Good luck, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 10-Jun-13 1:24 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote: Wrenches, Has anyone had experience with the Kinetico line of non-electric water softeners? http://www.kinetico.com/water-softener/ Thank you, Allan -- *Allan Sindelar* al...@positiveenergysolar.com <mailto:al...@positiveenergysolar.com> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder and Chief Technology Officer *Positive Energy, Inc.*, a Certified B Corporation^TM 3209 Richards Lane Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 *505 424-1112 office 780-2738 cell* www.positiveenergysolar.com <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/> ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3199/6394 - Release Date: 06/08/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3199/6398 - Release Date: 06/10/13___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Bridge AC Modules
Hi Carl, As recently as SPI 12, in Las Vegas, SolarBridge had seven (7) module manufacturer partners. IF there are only four partners today, some due diligence investigation may be in order. In other maters, Exeltech/Exeltech Solar is no longer partnered with the American made Helios AC modules. I have no installation experience with any of the above, but hope a viable AC module comes to the fore, soon. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 28-May-13 2:10 PM, Carl Adams wrote: Hello Wrenches, SolarBridge is paired up with four companies ( ET Solar, Mage Solar, Talesun, and Solartec ) manufacturing AC modules. Have any of you installed any of these yet and if so what was your impression. With Regards Carl Adams SunRock Solar ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3184/6367 - Release Date: 05/29/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3184/6367 - Release Date: 05/29/13___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] BZ Products Charge Controllers
Dan, Why don't you talk to Frank (owner of BZ Products) and discuss your application with him. He supplies his products worldwide and likely your remote application(s) are not something new to him. He might even be able to give you some pointers in the process. Best wishes, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 10-Apr-13 3:19 PM, Dan Fink wrote: Nathan; I was just about to ask exactly the same question here on the Wrenches list. The BZ controllers seem to fill an amperage niche vs price point that we need here for small MPPT 12v - suresine systems deployable by helicopter, canoe etc. We don't need UL listing for these systems. I'd love to hear reports on these controllers from other Wrenches before I buy any of them and haul them out into the bush. Dan Fink, Executive Director; Otherpower Buckville Energy Consulting Buckville Publications LLC NABCEP / IREC accredited Continuing Education Providers 970.672.4342 On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 2:03 PM, Nathan Stumpff mailto:nat...@arcticsun-llc.com>> wrote: Hello wrenches, Anyone have any experience with BZ Products charge controllers? Kind of thin website (http://bzproducts.net/) but it seems like a pretty slick way to be able to use the ubiquitous 60 cell panels in small systems, if the controllers are quality. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks, -Nathan ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6222 - Release Date: 04/03/13 Internal Virus Database is out of date. - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6237 - Release Date: 04/10/13___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery Terminal Connections
Hi John, I believe NOCO produces a product called QuikCote which appears to be something like Vaseline blended with baking soda. Isn't NoOx the trade or generic name for the coating properly applied between approved junctions of copper and aluminum? In addition to the "magic mystery ingredient" isn't the principle that if you exclude air (oxygen) from the material, you prevent oxidation (corrosion)? If that is the case and lacking any of the above commercial products, would not axle grease or fish oil (reportedly the base ingredient of WD40) also accomplish the corrosion prevention aspect better than leaving that desired "clean, bright, and tight" connection "unprotected". Thanks also to another list member for the heat gun (hair dryer) tip to get the coating into all the little crevices. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 01-Apr-13 6:26 PM, John wrote: Hasn't anyone heard of LanoCote - it is a CRC product and use it instead of Vaseline. Its better than Vaseline, lanolin-based and anyone in the marine industry should carry some. Available in a 500 ml plastic container or as a spray can. Disclaimer - no kick-backs were obtained by promoting this product Cheers - John V from sunny N.Z. === -Original Message- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of penobscotso...@midmaine.com Sent: Tuesday, 2 April 2013 12:08 p.m. To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery Terminal Connections And I would second, third and fourth Alan, Ray and William's recommendations.Stainless steel flat washers on both sides of the terminal with a split washer and vaseline coating have kept almost all of our battery banks trouble free over the last twenty five years. We provide each customer a laminated "battery care sheet" for the top of the battery box. It includes watering instructions, "clean, bright and tight" recommendations for the hardware,yearly cleaning of the battery top surface with warm water, being sure to keep the battery tops tight, and also recommendations of a yearly wipe down and re-application of a thin coat of vaseline. This advice has kept us remarkably service call free on our battery based systems (about 180 or so in Maine and the Caribbean) Daryl Friends: In my opinion, the single most important procedure is to put a flat washer between the bolt head and the lead flag. Many, many times I have seen the bolt head sink into the flag, loosening the connection. You know it has happened because the lead moves in around the bolt threads and makes the bolt difficult to remove. I saw this twice last week, both with systems we installed, using hardware provided by the manufacturer that did not include flat washers. We now provide the flat washers and use lock washers as well. Second most important procedure: clean, shiny, metal-to-metal connections, torqued before any coating is applied. William Miller ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6218 - Release Date: 04/01/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6218 - Release Date: 04/01/13 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address &
Re: [RE-wrenches] Cable tray
Hi Chris, Thanks for a glimpse of how our German brethren handle PV design & installation. After all, who has more experience with design, execution, and funding than the Germans? There remains an arrogance that the US has a lock on how best to do any number of things. Hopefully, this antiquated attitude will change, soon; hopefully, before we are all reduced to asking the equivalent of, "Would you like to Supersize that meal?" Best wishes on your install. Please keep us informed of how others around the world better handle these items. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 28-Mar-13 1:03 PM, Chris Mason wrote: I am working on a large installation in a country that uses 230/400V 60Hz for the grid, so we had to look to Europe for the inverters and work 1000V. I spent some time on the phone with SMA Germany to discuss the reqiurements in Germany and to understand the design methodology the inverters were designed for. First of all, the inverters are gorgeous. The first one we installed is a 3Ph 17KW with 6 sets string inputs, 2 x MPPT. They connect the strings directly to the inverters, no disconnects. The inverters have a Electronic Solar Switch on the bottom, pull it down and the strings are disconnected. We are using 26 module strings or that install, which massively reduces cabling and components. I showed the engineer a photo of our larger installs, he laughed at the use of "pipes" for the cables. We install massive AC disconnects, they use a little isolator about the size of a Coke can. Everything is a multi-core cable. I also read a guide to the British Standards on PV installation, and their approach to grounding is absolutely different. Since PV conductors are all isolated now, they don't even want you to ground the array structures, in fact they describe grounding as a shock hazard. Very different mentality. I might think that the US way is likely safer if we were comparing with China or the third world, but this is Germany. I think they know electricity. Chris On Wed, Mar 27, 2013 at 12:16 PM, John Berdner mailto:john.berd...@solaredge.com>> wrote: Exposed single conductor sunlight resistant cable in cable trays are widely used in PV systems outside the US. There is a very large installed base of systems with good long term performance data using this type of construction. We should not discount the advantages of wire cable trays just because we are unfamiliar with it. Look at data cabling – Characterized by many, relatively small, cables over long distances with periodic drops. Sounds a lot like PV source circuits (other than voltage and current in the wires of course). There are lots of videos out there showing how to pull 10’s of pairs of wires simultaneously in cable trays. IMHO, we need to look at ideas like this to reduce installation cost and time. Installation costs are becoming the tall pole in the tent and new thinking is needed. As systems are falling to sub $3.00 /Watt all-in, running wire in conduit will simply not be cost effective. Running wire in conduit is one of the reasons PV installation costs in the US are double (or more) of those in Europe. As one of my former German colleagues noted: “It is only in the US where you need first to be a plumber before you can be an electrician” Best Regards, John Berdner General Manager, North America SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. 3347 Gateway Boulevard, Fremont CA 94538 USA */(*Please note of our new address.)/* T: 510.498.3200, X 747 M: 530.277.4894 *From:*re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org> [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of *Allan Sindelar *Sent:* Wednesday, March 27, 2013 8:51 AM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Cable tray Andrew, We have used #10 USE-2 for about 16 years, and our high-elevation New Mexico sun is quite intense. I have yet to see any degradation exceeding fading discoloration on any conductors from that far back, even when directly exposed to sunlight. No cracking, peeling, delaminating, or hardening. Allan *Allan Sindelar* al...@positiveenergysolar.com <mailto:al...@positiveenergysolar.com> NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician Founder and Chief Technology Officer *Positive Energy, Inc.* 3209 Richards Lane (note new address) Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 *505 424-1112 * www.positiveenergysolar.com <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/> On 3/27/2013 8:41 AM, Andrew Truitt wrote: Bill - What is your take in conductor insulation d
Re: [RE-wrenches] P1 micro performance
Fellow Wrenches, No stones from this Missouri P.E. Perhaps if more Greybeards gave such candid comments it might influence others toward something other than a race to the bottom. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 24-Mar-13 12:07 PM, Ray Walters wrote: Hear, Hear, Carl. That has also always been my experience as well. In my off grid work, reliability trumps budget, and I almost always over size charge controllers, relays, inverters, fuse holders, etc. Most failures seem to be related to pushing the design limits of the equipment. I spent the past year working on multi MW systems, where they saved every penny possible. The inverters were undersized by 20 to 25% but sitting in unairconditioned enclosures. Even better that the projected 30 year life of the system did not even include inverter replacements. I'm sure I shall be stoned to death for saying this, but basically the grid tie solar community just doesn't have enough experience under its belt yet to have seen what we learned a decade ago in the off grid world. When they start putting call backs, down time, inverter replacements, and the related loss of respect and business into their spread sheets; they'll start oversizing the inverters more, like you, Marco, and many of us already know. R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master Electrician Solar Design Engineer 303 505-8760 On 3/23/2013 7:19 PM, Carl Emerson wrote: Friends, I am a little puzzled by this topic. What has happened to the good engineering practice of sizing electronic equipment so that it is not driven to the maximum. My understanding is that the MTBF increases significantly the harder you drive the unit. This seems to be a case of overdriving the units for short term gain. *Carl Emerson* *Free Power Co. * *Auckland N.Z.*** What I *can't* answer is the long-term effect this may have on the overall life of the inverter. THAT depends on various intricate design considerations that went into creating the inverter in the first place. Dan Lepinski, Senior Engineer Exeltech / Exeltech Solar Products With 41 years experience as a design engineer in solar energy. ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6187 - Release Date: 03/18/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6187 - Release Date: 03/18/13___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] P1 micro performance
Hi boB, Kudos to you, too. Flat-topping (bottoming) is so very descriptive and hopefully universally understandable. Excellent analogies. Technical education/expertise sharing is one of the most prized benefits of belonging/participating on the RE-wrenches list. Thanks, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 22-Mar-13 1:07 AM, boB wrote: On 3/21/2013 9:59 PM, Exeltech wrote: Wrenches, I'm probably a lone voice on this .. and not intending to get overly picky. No, two lonely voices, Dan. I associate clipping with audio waveforms which stops the negative or positive voltage peaks flat. Also called flat-topping. Limiting is like turning down the volume. The waveform stays the same and does not distort as it would if it were being flat topped (and flat bottomed) Thanks ! boB Could we call power limiting what it is .. "limiting", and not "clipping"? Clipping implies distortion, which isn't the case here. Limiting is just that. The inverter output is limited to some maximum value -- not "clipped". The output power curve flattens when integrated over time, but this still isn't distortion in the waveform. It's simply a point in the output where the derivative is zero. Not increasing, not decreasing. Just .. zero. No additional increase in the output for an increase in available energy at the input. Think "governor" on an engine Thanks. Dan Lepinski, Sr. Engineer Exeltech / Exeltech Solar Products --- On *Thu, 3/21/13, David Brearley //* wrote: From: David Brearley Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] P1 micro performance To: "RE-wrenches" Date: Thursday, March 21, 2013, 11:37 PM Thanks for sharing the screen capture, Marco. Interesting issues to think about here. This is actually prime clipping season in many places (not sure about Hawaii) due to the cool weather. While there are more sun-hours in the summer, the cell temperatures are often high enough that you won't tend to see rated power out of the modules. While I'm not running performance models for work, the people who do are routinely increasing dc-to-ac ratios, often as high as 1.4-to-1. Having said that, most inverters aren't installed on a roof. (Not yet anyway.) I'd probably lean to a more conservative sizing ratio for micros. While I can imagine some scenarios where I'd be comfortable with a 215 W micro on a 265 W module---like a flat roof install in Vermont, which reportedly doesn't see 1,000 W/m^2 very often---I wouldn't try that here in Texas. ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6187 - Release Date: 03/18/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6187 - Release Date: 03/18/13___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] P1 micro performance
Hi Dan, A very heartfelt thanks for the education. It is exactly this kind of attention to detail that separate the professional from the practitioner. Moreover, at least in this case, the proper terminology is hopefully better and more widely understood. Thanks again, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 21-Mar-13 11:59 PM, Exeltech wrote: Wrenches, I'm probably a lone voice on this .. and not intending to get overly picky. Could we call power limiting what it is .. "limiting", and not "clipping"? Clipping implies distortion, which isn't the case here. Limiting is just that. The inverter output is limited to some maximum value -- not "clipped". The output power curve flattens when integrated over time, but this still isn't distortion in the waveform. It's simply a point in the output where the derivative is zero. Not increasing, not decreasing. Just .. zero. No additional increase in the output for an increase in available energy at the input. Think "governor" on an engine Thanks. Dan Lepinski, Sr. Engineer Exeltech / Exeltech Solar Products --- On *Thu, 3/21/13, David Brearley //* wrote: From: David Brearley Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] P1 micro performance To: "RE-wrenches" Date: Thursday, March 21, 2013, 11:37 PM Thanks for sharing the screen capture, Marco. Interesting issues to think about here. This is actually prime clipping season in many places (not sure about Hawaii) due to the cool weather. While there are more sun-hours in the summer, the cell temperatures are often high enough that you won't tend to see rated power out of the modules. While I'm not running performance models for work, the people who do are routinely increasing dc-to-ac ratios, often as high as 1.4-to-1. Having said that, most inverters aren't installed on a roof. (Not yet anyway.) I'd probably lean to a more conservative sizing ratio for micros. While I can imagine some scenarios where I'd be comfortable with a 215 W micro on a 265 W module—like a flat roof install in Vermont, which reportedly doesn't see 1,000 W/m^2 very often—I wouldn't try that here in Texas. ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6187 - Release Date: 03/18/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6187 - Release Date: 03/18/13___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Galvanized vs. Aluminum WAS: 14 inch aluminum standoffs?
Hi Andrew, Would anodizing the aluminum offer any benefit to you ? One of the non-traditional solar mount suppliers offered just such a galvanized product and even sent out samples of their product. I put my sample outside to see what kind of performance it did offer. Probably something on the order of a year later, I called to inquire what profiles they offered. It was no longer a current product. I interpret this as another example of the marketing driven nature of business today. You may be aware that the label on Home Despot shelves tracks (among other things) how many of _that_ item was sold from that store location that month, when the total is zero for three months running the item is dropped. It is a profitable way to optimize shelf space, it is also one major reason why my _local_ supply house gets my business and HD is my supplier of last resort. Enjoy the weekend, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 15-Mar-13 3:52 PM, Solar Energy Solutions wrote: Dear All, While not participating much in the dialog I greatly appreciate your time and knowledge on matters of the Sun. My question is two fold. Are folks using galvanized or hot dipped galvanized in any way, shape or form out there for their mounting systems? I feel like I need to know this as we only use aluminum because our climate is so wet. Yet we are in a situation where using galvanized might be the best and only options, although we am not seeing anything with galvanized that is readily out there either. Fold Two: Does anyone know of a source for 'standoffs' that are greater than 7"s but less than say 20"? Sincerely, *Andrew Koyaanisqatsi* President *Solar Energy Solutions, Inc.* Since 1987, Moving Portland and Beyond to an Environmentally Sustainable Future. *503-238-4502* *http://www.solarenergyoregon.com/ * *"Better one's House too little one day* *than too big all the Year after."* ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6177 - Release Date: 03/15/13 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6177 - Release Date: 03/15/13___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Modules ready for primetime?
Hi Nik, As of SPI 2012, Solar Bridge advertized seven module manufacturers using their product. Remember Exeltech, manufacturer of exemplary sine wave inverters, is also a player in this ACPV market, undoubtedly other players, too. IMHO, ACPV is the route that the industry will _eventually_ follow. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 30-Oct-12 10:13 AM, Nik Ponzio wrote: I have a prospective customer requesting AC modules for a commercial job. What is currently available? Thanks in advance. Nik ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5363 - Release Date: 10/30/12 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5363 - Release Date: 10/30/12___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] weak voltage
Mick, Thanks for sharing. Outstanding troubleshooting (particularly when done remotely). Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 15-Oct-12 8:24 AM, Mick Abraham wrote: Hello, Wrenchies~ Mac Lewis wrote about battery strangeness on the Sunny Island system for his clients. Here is a theory to consider, Mac. I once bought a 48v string of >famous brand< two volt cells in which one cell had been loaded backwards into its case. When hooked up according to the +/- markings on the case, this cell was discharging at the same time the rest of the string was charging so even though the others were running high during the charge, the end to end voltage immediately slumped to relatively low values after the charge was ended. The one cell was effectively missing in action. My client was a DIY type who was distant from my location but he owned a voltmeter that was still in the box. I coached him through a "voltage walk" up the string and sure enough we found the one increment that was subtracting from overall string voltage instead of adding to it. The >famous< battery supplier said this was impossible, they are checked three times, this never happens & can't happen, blah blah...and they were only convinced when the cell was back in their shop and they could measure this for themselves. Even after they checked it, they said, "It's the first time in our 20 + years with that brand that we have ever seen this." Black swan. At my request, the company paid to ship back the entire string and ship all new replacement cells to the client. This seemed important because the other 23 cells had been subjected to a high voltage per cell and had gotten a bit hot before the problem was discovered. Perhaps this theory is worth checking on site. Whatever you find to resolve this problem, Mac, be sure to report back on list so we can all learn. Jolliness, Mick Abraham, Proprietor www.abrahamsolar.com <http://www.abrahamsolar.com> Voice: 970-731-4675 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5332 - Release Date: 10/14/12 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5332 - Release Date: 10/14/12___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
[RE-wrenches] Automatic Meter Reading WAS: Fronius State 104
Hi Fellow Wrenches, Thanks for the insight that AMR systems could interfere with not only data monitoring (previous thread) but also with the inverter control function, too. I have attempted to gain some insight into the AMR system the local utility uses (Cellnet) but talking to the utility people, they would have you believe this is privileged if not secret info. When Ameren first implemented the system (reportedly the largest AMR system in the nation) they advertized that they would know within seven seconds that you were without power. That number has been seriously revised upwards in the interim. Anyone have any info about using/accessing the AMR info for the customer to view? As always, TIA for the collective wisdom, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 09-Oct-12 7:06 AM, Jeff Wongstrom wrote: All, The utility(Flathead Electric Co-op) has recently completed automatic meter reading using a power line carrier for all co-op members. I will give them a call to find out the type and frequency of signaling. The state 104 has been occurring within 10 minutes of connecting to the grid. Perhaps the IG uses the zero crossing and is confused by the meter reading signal. I have talked with Fronius and it looks like they may send an IG+ as an upgrade. Perhaps the IG+ does not get confused by meter reading signals. Fingers crossed. If it does go into state 104 maybe opening up the frequency window will help. We have no other inverters on this utility for comparison and have had no feedback on the hand full of grid-tied systems out there. Thanks for the valuable input, Jeff Jeff Wongstrom NABCEP Certified 406.291.3416 thirstylakesolar.com On Oct 8, 2012, at 7:38 PM, Kent Osterberg wrote: Jeff, Is there any chance the utility has recently implemented a remote meter reading system? The Aclara TWACs remote meter reading system communicates by putting a pulse on the line that is very near the zero crossing of the voltage waveform. Unfortunately the zero crossing is easily and often used as a reference point for frequency measurements. Devices that watch the zero crossings are often confused by the TWACS signal. The signal isn't there constantly -- only when the local kWr meter has been asked to send data. Kent Osterberg Blue Mountain Solar, Inc. www.bluemountainsolar.com t: 541-568-4882 On 10/8/2012 9:34 AM, Jeff Wongstrom wrote: Hello wrenches, We have a Fronius IG3000 that chronically and frequently cycles into and out of a state 104(grid frequency not within admissible range). The utility has monitored the supply and claims to have found no frequency or supply issues. Fronius sent a replacement inverter but the error persists. The tie in point was moved from the critical loads sub panel to the main distribution panel. The state 104 persists with ALL other breakers open. A Fluke DMM min/max function captures no frequency readings outside of the inverter frequency window-same with voltage readings. Any suggestions or recommendations? Thanks, Jeff ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options &
Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase M210
Jason, You might be interested that the vast majority of owners use the monitoring for maybe two weeks and then no more. Individual module monitoring is a great troubleshooting aid and perhaps a sales aid, but (according to the equipment manufacturer info) essentially a novelty for the owner. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 27-Sep-12 7:55 AM, Jason Szumlanski wrote: It's still cheaper to do a separate micro, unfortunately. Hopefully that will change soon.I also like the Enphase monitoring better from a consumer friendliness standpoint. From an installation standpoint, I can definitely see us doing mostly AC module residential installations in the not-too-distant future. The SMA and Power-One options sound promising. Always exciting! *Jason Szumlanski*// On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 7:15 PM, David Brearley <mailto:david.brear...@solarprofessional.com>> wrote: Jason, You might also check out SunPower's ac modules: http://us.sunpowercorp.com/homes/products-services/solar-panels/AC-home-solar-panel/ On Sep 26, 2012, at 5:49 PM, Sequoya Cross wrote: I haven’t seen a full compatibility list on the new SMA-240US. At this point technical downloads aren’t available and the data that is present on the website is still preliminary. I do have a contact who is beta-testing the units and will see if he has any more information or wants to comment. Thanks- Sequoya Cross Backwoods Solar *From:*re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>[mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>]*On Behalf Of*Jason Szumlanski *Sent:*Tuesday, September 25, 2012 4:50 AM *To:*RE-wrenches *Subject:*Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase M210 Uh oh I guess that means no more SunPower E18/230 with Enphase. That sucks - it was a good premium product offering for us. Anyone know if the SMA or other microinverters are compatible with SunPower? *Jason Szumlanski* /Fafco Solar/ On Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 6:51 PM, Marco Mangelsdorf mailto:ma...@pvthawaii.com>> wrote: Uh oh….I just learned that our Enphase friends are no longer making the M210s. I need (50) of ‘em @ 240V. Anyone have any leads on that many, please? Please contact me off-list. Thanks, marco ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm <http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org <http://www.members.re-wrenches.org> ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm <http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org <http://www.members.re-wrenches.org> ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm <http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org <http://www.members.re-wrenches.org> ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5293 - Release Date: 09/26/12 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www
[RE-wrenches] AC Module vs. Microinverter WAS Enphase M210
Hi Bill, et al, Thanks for pointing out there are generational differences with the SolarBridge inverters. In one small effort to unmask some of the marketing drivel, as of earlier this month, there were seven different module manufacturers using some form of SolarBridge inverter. Unfortunate also that SPI booth personnel at SolarBridge did not acknowledge (or know) of differences in their product lineage, similarly unfortunate at least one module manufacturer booth person (VP sales) did not know the distinction between microinverter and AC modules. For what show participation costs exhibitors and attendees alike, less fluff (and more accurate information) would be my preference. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 26-Sep-12 8:38 PM, William Dorsett wrote: Jason, If the pictures of the E18 & 19 are accurate, and from my conversations with the different suppliers that include SolarBridge inverters, several of these use the original Pantheon I instead of the updated Pantheon II model. Apparently there are differences in the locking clip in the module connectors and perhaps some problems with inverter data speed between the models. I think SolarBridge looks promising and one of the great advantages of micros is the fine resolution troubleshooting. In locating Enphase under an array, it makes sense to locate as many under as few modules as possible in the event of call backsso you don't have to flip the card in the middle of the deck. With AC modules, the inverters is going to be evenly distributed under the whole array. So you are way more likely to be crawling out there to the middle. Bill Dorsett Sunwrights Manhattan, KS *From:*re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *David Brearley *Sent:* Wednesday, September 26, 2012 6:16 PM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase M210 Jason, You might also check out SunPower's ac modules: http://us.sunpowercorp.com/homes/products-services/solar-panels/AC-home-solar-panel/ On Sep 26, 2012, at 5:49 PM, Sequoya Cross wrote: I haven't seen a full compatibility list on the new SMA-240US. At this point technical downloads aren't available and the data that is present on the website is still preliminary. I do have a contact who is beta-testing the units and will see if he has any more information or wants to comment. Thanks- Sequoya Cross Backwoods Solar *From:*re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>[mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org]*On Behalf Of*Jason Szumlanski *Sent:*Tuesday, September 25, 2012 4:50 AM *To:*RE-wrenches *Subject:*Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase M210 Uh oh I guess that means no more SunPower E18/230 with Enphase. That sucks - it was a good premium product offering for us. Anyone know if the SMA or other microinverters are compatible with SunPower? *Jason Szumlanski* /Fafco Solar/ On Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 6:51 PM, Marco Mangelsdorf mailto:ma...@pvthawaii.com>> wrote: Uh ohI just learned that our Enphase friends are no longer making the M210s. I need (50) of 'em @ 240V. Anyone have any leads on that many, please? Please contact me off-list. Thanks, marco ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm <http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org <http://www.members.re-wrenches.org> ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm <http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org <http://www.members.re-wrenches.org> ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http
Re: [RE-wrenches] Reducing Glare from Solar Modules
Sequoya, Shade cloth applied to the outside of the window frame on select windows where the glare is objectionable not only reduces the solar intensity but also reduces the heat load significantly better than any interior shade or curtain. The exterior shades (which cam be attached by snaps) can be removed for winter to allow full solar input. The glare (reflection) would be reflected in a different direction in winter v. summer. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 20-Aug-12 1:21 PM, Sequoya Cross wrote: We have a customer who is up against a very unhappy neighborhood in Wyoming regarding his solar installation. It consists of 24, Schott Poly mods flush mounted on a 4/12 pitch, metal standing seam roof. The next door neighbor is complaining that the glare from the modules is blinding him at certain points in the day (and year). Has anyone come up against this issue and do you have any solutions that we may employ (i.e. anti-glare film, some kind of coating, a shade cloth). The customer is more than happy to lose efficiency instead of losing the entire installation. Thanks- Sequoya Cross Backwoods Solar Electric Systems ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2012.0.2196 / Virus Database: 2437/5211 - Release Date: 08/20/12 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] American modcos
Hi Marco, Kudos for your decision to "Buy American". I hope the "Made in USA" is legit and not some dumbed down, politically correct, bureaucratic, legal speak. Care to provide any insight as to your decision? Thanks, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 22-Jul-12 11:48 PM, Marco Mangelsdorf wrote: I'm going to make a choice between two U.S. module manufacturers---Helios out of Wisconsin and 1SolTech out of Texas---for one of the module brands that I'm going to carry. Any of you have experience with either one that you'd care to share? Thanks, marco ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2012.0.2196 / Virus Database: 2437/5147 - Release Date: 07/22/12 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] efficiency
Hi Jay, Your government at work. See http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13000 for an explanation of energy factor (their efficiency rating) which combines recovery efficiency, standby losses, and cycling losses. You might want to consider how many moving parts there are in the heat pump water heater and who will service the refrigeration system (Here in River City an EPA blessed individual (practically an HVAC tech) is required). There are optional kits now sold which essentially duct the rejected air to a different space during the season when that air would not be beneficial. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 14-Jul-12 6:33 PM, jay peltz wrote: Hi All, I've got a client who is thinking of getting a heat pump hot water heater. Wanted me to confirm that it would save him kwh per year over a standard tank unit. Yes it will, or so all the numbers say for his area etc. But I cannot figure out ( or find out) how to compare the energy factor 2.2 in full heat pump mode vs the .91 in electric element mode? Anybody know how to do this? thanks, jay peltz power ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2179 / Virus Database: 2437/5132 - Release Date: 07/14/12 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] L feet no flashing in shingle roof
David, Why does your editor put Todd's articles (and use him as a cover story) in your magazines (more than once, I believe) if it is not for his __experience__? The fact that there is a prescribed product (more than one in this case) that gets blessed when old fashioned, time tested, craftsmanship has already solved the problem is a testament to what payola will buy. No leak, no negligence, no claim. But then your magazines wouldn't garner such a big advertizing budget without all those manufacturers with new and "improved" products. Additionally, this List would perhaps have to find alternative funding, too. If you are really interested in eliminating the "irresponsible, fly-by-night, subsidy chasers" one easy way may be to eliminate the subsidy. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 04-Jul-12 10:07 AM, David Brearley wrote: Todd, The issue isn't whether your approach works, but whether it is defensible in the event that something leaks. Most solar contractors receive public funds (rebate monies, ARRA program distributions, etc.). Some of those companies are installing systems in a manner that is not building code compliant. It just takes a high profile leaky roof at a VA hospital or a public housing project where a solar system was installed in a manner that does not meet the building code to lose years of goodwill and support for the industry. Modules prices have fallen quite a bit, but we all loose if State and Federal or public (opinion) support for the industry goes away. Obviously, that's the worst case scenario: That somehow the industry gets painted as being made up of a bunch of irresponsible, fly-by-night, subsidy chasers. Probably nothing to worry about, though. I'm pretty sure there's no precedence for that sort of thing actually happening. Right? What's more likely is that AHJs will get hip to the fact that they need to inspect the building code compliance of roof attachments. When they do, which side of the curve will your company be on? (Since your mind seems to be made up, Todd, that question is addressed to List at large.) Happy Independence Day, David Brearley, Senior Technical Editor SolarPro magazine NABCEP Certified PV Installer ™ david.brear...@solarprofessional.com <mailto:david.brear...@solarprofessional.com> Direct: 541.261.6545 On Jul 3, 2012, at 10:37 PM, toddc...@finestplanet.com <mailto:toddc...@finestplanet.com> wrote: i wasn't going to enter into this discussion, but this posting prompted me. my most recent job was done with the assistance of the customer. he and i have a long working history, my being his employee some 25 years ago installing shw systems in the area, and now he hiring me to do his personal home's pv system. he insisted on straight L foot mounting without flashings... and i have to agree. in the 25 to 30 years since we did those shw systems, not a single one has leaked. plus, the installation was at the roof ridgeline, so pv quick mounts wouldn't have worked anyway. we put 2 X 8 blocking in the attic between the trusses to acomodate the mounting bolts and used a nice fattie gob of black silicone on each foot, which gooshed out when tightened. the mount will easily outlast the roof... leak free. honestly, i don't care what the ubc/ibs says. if done properly,these kinds of mounts are bombproof. years of experience backs this up. also, i have seen plenty of 'code compliant' oatey no-caulk sewer vent flashings with rotten rubber leaking into homes to know flashed penetrations are no panacea either. todd On Tuesday, July 3, 2012 2:53pm, "David Brearley" <mailto:david.brear...@solarprofessional.com>> said: +1 on the use of structural screws. We ran an article about lag screws a couple years ago: http://solarprofessional.com/article/?file=SP3_4_pg70_Shelly One of the things that surprised me when I read this manuscript is how variable lag screws are in terms of construction and quality. Besides the convenience of being able to drive a structural screw without a pilot hole, the engineering specs are likely better documented and the manufacturing tolerances are probably tighter as well. FWIW: I think that using unflashed attachments in these litigious times is unwise. It's not consistent with best practices in the construction industry. It does not meet building codes. It violates the roof warranty. It makes your competition look good. We ran our first article on this topic 4 years ago, in our inaugural issue of SolarPro magazine: http://solarprofessional.com/article/?file=SP1_1_pg72_Fain The industry has come a long way since then, both in terms of awareness and in terms of off-the-shelf flashed attachment options. There are so many quality flashed attachment solutions to chose from now that I'm not sure why anyone would knowin
Re: [RE-wrenches] Kyocera KC 120-1R = 102 Watt
Wallace, Can you describe what your x v test is? Something more sophisticated than a DayStar meter? Anyone have any info about KC70 modules not being up to strength? TIA, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 27-Jun-12 4:00 PM, Wallace Stahle wrote: On Jun 26, 2012, at 2:59 PM, SunHarvest wrote: The KC120's turned out to be faulty. Kyocera replaced all 12 of the bad KC120's with refurbished KC120's and requested an invoice for my labor to complete the exchange. I tested the new and old modules side by side and both registered the same voltage and amperage. It's only under load when the power failure is apparent. This is why I initially ruled out the modules as being the problem. Thanks for all your help wrenchers! Eric Stikes Owner Eric, You might want to look at the module label and confirm output. Just this Monday I opened an unused, 3 year old box of two of those replacement Kyocera 120-1Rs and while doing a x v discovered it was only 102 watts. I arranged the replacement of 10 these 3 years ago and don't think I actually looked then, What more need ye know than KC120 right? But suspect I had the wool pulled over my eyes by Kyocera. A net loss of replacement watts. Even though Kyocera will replace them with pleasure, it seems strange for them to allow a whole class of customers to absorb the cost of faulty modules with prematurely failed batteries and/or excess generator use, so that Kyocera can absorb the cost slowly over years while thousands of customers pay the consequence$ until the swap happens. Why not a recall? $$$ of course. Then the pleasantly supplied replacements come in 15% smaller. Ouch Anyone else out there with 120-1R Kyocera modules that label 6.08 I-pk and 16.8V-pk. Kyocera needs to "amp up" the replacements in my view. - Wallace Stahle Future Electric Energy Co P O Box 236 Willits, CA 95490 fut...@pacific.net <mailto:fut...@pacific.net> CA Lic.# C10-762093 707-459-0474 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options& settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules& etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2012.0.2179 / Virus Database: 2437/5096 - Release Date: 06/27/12 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP
Hi Chris, et al, As I remember, at least one of our colleagues on this list signs his email with the UL solar certification. I hope I don't put him on the spot, but I would be interested in his comments on the subject. As I remember, the UL blessing requires an electrician license, (as I remember, that "detail" is absent from the NABCEP blessing) wouldn't that also lend just a bit of competency to the conversation, too. I note (again) the absence of any "official" NABCEP commentary on the subject. I thought having vendors on the list for prompt response was the major reason for their inclusion. Respectfully, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 01-Jun-12 7:14 AM, Chris Mason wrote: I really appreciate the effort that NABCEP takes to ensure the certification has value. Being in the Caribbean, I find that having a NABCEP PV certification ends the conversation on competency before it begins, as no international company expects to find capable people here. Being NABCEP certified makes a hugh impression on investors and clients -- Chris Mason President, Comet Systems Ltd www.cometenergysystems.com <http://www.cometenergysystems.com> Cell: 264.235.5670 Skype: netconcepts ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options& settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules& etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> Version: 2012.0.2171 / Virus Database: 2425/5038 - Release Date: 06/01/12 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP
Tom, et al, Well said. It's not just certification that is a business (and often a sleazy and opportunistic motivated one at that), EDUCATION is, today, a business. Why does the manufacturer often charge for instruction on how to properly install their specific equipment? May I suggest $$$ and a misconception of what a bad install costs in terms of lost good will the end user could have provided that brand (and the trade in general). In many occupations there is a requirement for continuing education for continued certification. The involved, dedicated, and responsible person is doing this anyway. The supply chain is complicit in this misconception, too. You might also ask why NABCEP doesn't even _address_ solar hot air. Would we be able to get that answer from the horse's mouth first-hand? Respectfully, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 24-May-12 7:09 PM, Tom Duffy wrote: Certification is just a business, whether it's for computer Techs or Solar Installers, and they seem to be entities unto themselves. I have heard all the arguments for certs, but like you said some folks don't test well but are knowledgeable others test well but are clueless as to practical applications. Back a decade or so ago I taught Computer Tech certification (A+) at our local university. In one class that I taught I had 23 network admins (Employed as such) and managing large networks. Only three tested and one passed. The point is all were capable network admins. The real question is... how does one prove their expertise? Especially to the general public. I have seen some real nightmarish off grid systems setup by NABCEP installers and Non-NABCEP as well. It is a problem and though I don't believe in certification, I also don't have an alternative suggestion either. ** Kind Regards Tom Duffy Senior Solar Design Engineer Toll Free 888-895-8179 t...@thesolar.biz For: Customer Service and Accounting 888-895-6810 Grid tie sales 888-895-7847 Off Grid sales 888-895-7765Other Product Sales 888-895-9612 Shipping and Receiving 888-895-6497Tech Support 888-895-8179 ** *From:*re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Dana *Sent:* Thursday, May 24, 2012 12:04 PM *To:* 'RE-wrenches' *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] NABCEP NABCEP has been a strangely quiet subject on this forum. FYI - I checked with our honorable moderator prior to posting this. If we are attempting to expand the field of "certified" installer and designers why is NABCEP run the way it is? Getting the NABCEP cert and living in w.CO has been a virtual nightmare & living where I do and having to travel 7 hours each way, stay in a hotel etc, this is a joke. I may be in the minority but point to make here. Beyond that I became a wrench because I do not test well [avoided a 4 year degree] yet I can outline a schematic for electrical or plumbing in my head and build it the first time correctly. The test schedule and availability - NABCEP needs to open up to local proctoring, libraries, schools, etc. 2 tests a Year? Electricians can re- test 24 or 48 hours? later and use a variety of resources. Why can we not? When an electrician tests they get their results as they walk out of the test room. Why do we have to wait 6 weeks? The NEC book is the only reference material at the test when is not doing a trade about knowing your resources and utilizing them? From what I understand any number of professions and trades get to use several resource books. You would think we were going to be secret agents or the like. I have done off grid for 24 years. Most NABCEP folk who are GT only have not a clue as to battery based design and should not be allowed to do the same. I am "certified" and probably very competent up to 50KW would be just fine but 100KW or 1MW? This is probably not a brilliant idea without a backup coach. Questions on 3 phase on the test? I would ask my licensed master electrician yet we are asked several questions on 3 phase. I have asked masters and they have had to go look up the answer. I would suggest a basic GT cert up to 50KW with a supplemental for >50kw and a separate adder for off grid. Tests every 2 month or on a scheduled basis with you local librarian I fly my NABCEP cert in the bathroom and upside down. It is in distress, stinks, and needs help. The re-wrenches is strangely silent on this much damaged product called certification. I see some major issues and would like to start a discussion about how it is managed. I think it needs rethinking. Thanks for considering & your opinion? Dana Orzel - Great Solar Works, Inc - E - *d...@solarwork.com <mailto:d...@solarwork.com>* - V *970.626.5253* F - 970.626.4140 C - 970.209.4076 web - www.solarwork.com <http://www.solarwork.com> &
[RE-wrenches] Logo(?) Shrink Tubing
Hi All, Many moons ago, I believe it was Trace that had shrink tubing with it's logo (or at least printing) on the tube. Anyone know if that is only manufactured so or is an aftermarket process also available. I am aware of the label maker/tubing maker product but only know enough to be dangerous. Thanks for any collective knowledge/experience. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Decentralized power
Phil, You are right, it is a different tack on how to think of energy. Too bad that the solar installation shown isn't of the same quality as the article. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar On 17-Apr-12 12:28 AM, Philip wrote: Just wanted to share with the list one of the better mainstream articles on RE that I've seen in a while. For me it really captures a new way of thinking about the true meaning of independence, autonomy, responsibility and community. http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/04/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-the-decentralization-of-energy/255873/ This is a great list, Phil ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options& settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules& etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2411/4936 - Release Date: 04/14/12 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] PV harvest in grid-tied systems
David, What did you choose for revenue-grade monitoring? Comments? Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 On 18-Apr-12 4:01 AM, David Katz wrote: William I have a grid tie system with a Outback Radian and Xantrex 600 volt charge controller with 4kw of modules and it sells back flawlessly. I have revenue-grade monitoring on the system and I am very happy with the output. David Katz Sent from my iPhone On Apr 16, 2012, at 6:51 AM, "William Miller" wrote: Friends: There has been recent discussion on this forum about PV production in grid-tied with battery systems. I have been faced with this same problem in a 3 XW system installed in 2009. The customer's power bill never went down. PV harvest was abysmal. The system would create great short circuit current but would not harvest into the batteries. It is starting to appear the XW firmware was at fault. The inverters would charge the batteries too high so the charge controllers would back off. Upgraded firmware seems to be helping, but the data set is still limited. Remember this: just because a PV system can produce does not mean it will. The charge controller knows only one thing: battery voltage. If it is high, production is curtailed. Off-grid production will also be reduced is consumption is curtailed. Charge controllers that can be set for grid-tied applications help, but only if the inverter(s) do not keep the battery voltage too high. William Miller Miller Solar Voice :805-438-5600 email: will...@millersolar.com http://millersolar.com License No. C-10-773985 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options& settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules& etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options& settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules& etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2411/4943 - Release Date: 04/17/12 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] small battery boxes
Hi Larry, Some of these "better" steel or fiberglass boxes come with threaded inserts (on the back, near the corners) so perhaps bolting the pole mounts to the suitably equipped box would eliminate even the welding. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar - Original Message - From: "Larry Crutcher,Starlight Solar Power Systems" To: "RE-wrenches" Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 9:25 AM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] small battery boxes > Hey Jeff, > > Ditto here. We purchase wall mount boxes and then weld our own pole mount adapters. See a few enclosures here: http://stores.ebay.com/Electrical-Replacement-Parts/_i.html?_fsub=13 I don't think these are Ul listed. Some have open bottoms. We install mesh material for ventilation. > > Larry Crutcher > Starlight Solar Power Systems > > > > On Dec 29, 2011, at 9:52 PM, Jeff Yago wrote: > > We are having a real problem finding a pole-mounted battery box for smaller > solar sign lighting projects. We have switched to LED lights which cost > more byt do not require the larger batteries and solar module. However, the > smallest battery box we can find is the DPW 16" wide x 9" deep X 20" tall. > This is a great box for group 31 battery, but is too large and costs too > much for smaller applications. I am thinking about using a group 22 battery > which would fit in a pole-mounted battery box that is 12" wide x 8" deep x > 15" high, which still leaves room for a control panel at the top rear. > > It does not look like the solar manufacturers have anything, so do you know > of anybody making a battery box this size but perhaps it is being sold for > another type application. It still will need small screened louvers for > ventilation and a locking door, but we can always make our own control panel > if that is not supplied. Since its 12 volt DC and off-grid application I do > not think it needs to be UL listed which might help reduce cost, but not > sure. > > Any suggestions?? > > Thanks, > > Jeff Yago > > > > > ___ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > ___ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] small battery boxes
Hi Jeff, You might try looking at offerings from Hammond Manufacturing and Hoffman(sp?) two separate companies which both produce quality boxes. Sorry my catalog references are not currently at hand. It is disappointing that solar manufacturers that I am aware of, do not compete in quality with the above manufacturers but price their products similarly. Good luck, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar - Original Message - From: "Jeff Yago" To: "'RE-wrenches'" Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 10:52 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] small battery boxes > We are having a real problem finding a pole-mounted battery box for smaller > solar sign lighting projects. We have switched to LED lights which cost > more byt do not require the larger batteries and solar module. However, the > smallest battery box we can find is the DPW 16" wide x 9" deep X 20" tall. > This is a great box for group 31 battery, but is too large and costs too > much for smaller applications. I am thinking about using a group 22 battery > which would fit in a pole-mounted battery box that is 12" wide x 8" deep x > 15" high, which still leaves room for a control panel at the top rear. > > It does not look like the solar manufacturers have anything, so do you know > of anybody making a battery box this size but perhaps it is being sold for > another type application. It still will need small screened louvers for > ventilation and a locking door, but we can always make our own control panel > if that is not supplied. Since its 12 volt DC and off-grid application I do > not think it needs to be UL listed which might help reduce cost, but not > sure. > > Any suggestions?? > > Thanks, > > Jeff Yago > > > > > ___ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Off Grid Alarm Communicator
Hi Carl, We too provided power to a home owner for an alarm system (and more) for a remote vacation cabin in the heart of meth. country several years ago. The cabin had previous wiring provisions for lighting, etc. on one 15A AC circuit, when occupied, so this is not a carbon copy of your requirements. My take away from this experience was to prohibit the alarm company from keeping their (traditional AC SLA) backup battery in place if you choose to use a flooded system and it is properly designed, as Jeff says, with no low power shutdown during the worst weather. In this application, a local bell/horn also sounds during alarm conditions for much more than two minutes, as I remember. Wiser and more efficient next time, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar - Original Message - From: "Carl Adams" To: "RE-wrenches" Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2011 6:29 AM Subject: [RE-wrenches] Off Grid Alarm Communicator > Hello Wrenches, > > I had a request from a local alarm company for a small PV - Battery > system to power an alarm communicator system. The parameters given > are as follows > > 12 V DC power supply to the gear > standby load 28 mA - this is the majority of the time > Operation peak load 2A for 2 minutes - once per day for communications > check and as required for alarm condition report > > Have any of you provided such a system and if so could you share your > recommendations for a cost effective solution. > > With Regards > Carl Adams > SunRock Solar > ___ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Liability
Mac, You have gotten some great advice from previous responders. Don't underestimate the use of before and after photos with interim photos of any hidden problems discovered during the repair. Sometimes I even manage to get the owner/caller in the photo, too. The photos also have a side benefit of refreshing your memory when they call again a couple (or more) years later. Bill Loesch - Original Message - From: mac Lewis To: RE-wrenches Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 10:43 AM Subject: [RE-wrenches] Liability Hey wrenches, Wanted to see what everyone does in a case like I just encountered. I got a call from a tenant for an off-grid system installed by the landlord (supposedly an electrician). I went up there to look at the site and it was a mess. System lacked OCPDs, there were gouges in the insulation of the wires, loose terminals, nothing ran in conduit, etc... I was called up there to see why the generator was not auto starting. I got the auto start working, expressed my concern to the tenant about the workmanship and left. Now I'm wondering whether I should have touched the system at all. What would you do? Is there liability here? Thanks -- Mac Lewis "Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Convert Grid Tie SW4048 to Backup System; Add New Inverter, AC Coupled
David, Is this not the same control strategy you described for the initial issue of Solar Pro? Two similar installations? As I remember you used a GVFX back then, when did the venerable SW enter the picture? Bill Loesch - Original Message - From: "David Katz" To: Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 11:06 AM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Convert Grid Tie SW4048 to Backup System; Add New Inverter, AC Coupled > Nathan, > I use an SW for backup in AC coupling. I use one of the auxiliary 1 amp relays to activate a larger relay on the AC output of the grid tie inverter to break the Ac connection when the batteries reach full charge voltage. This is I simple but crude pwm charge control merthod. When the AC breaks, the grid tie inverter goes off for 5 minutes. The loads operate on the Sw, pulling the battery down, which closes the relay and the cycle repeats. > David Katz > > - Original Message - > From: Nathan Jones [mailto:solardud...@yahoo.com] > Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 07:10 AM > To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Convert Grid Tie SW4048 to Backup System; Add New Inverter, AC Coupled > > Bill, > I believe Allans post indirectly answered my question. While he did not specifically state the SW could be used in an AC coupled arrangement, I believe it was implied. Since the listing issue, as I understand it, was due to failure to drop out of sell mode in a certain set of circumstances and never had anything to do with the behavior of the inverter in any of its "incoming AC only" settings as far as disconnecting there should not be any question as to its suitability for AC coupling there. The only question would be how they would react and manage backfed AC from a GTI in event of a grid failure. That question is unknown to me and has not been specifically answered yet. Any one have an answer to that? > Nathan Jones > Power Source Solar > Springfield, Mo > R > 417-827-0738 > On Tue, Nov 22, 2011 6:08 AM CST Bill Loesch wrote: > > > > >Fellow Wrenches, > > > >Didn't Jim Duncan provide the impetus for the delisting and hasn't he > >provided a comprehensive discussion here (or some other linked location) > >before? > >Does anyone have an answer to Nathan's question of 20 November 11? > > > >Bill Loesch > > > >- Original Message - > >From: "William Miller" > >To: "RE-wrenches" > >Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2011 1:12 PM > >Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Convert Grid Tie SW4048 to Backup System; Add New > >Inverter, AC Coupled > > > > > >> Joel: > >> > >> I don't belive it was an NEC thing, it was a UL/ETL consideration. This > >> relates to the NEC only in that it is required to use listed equipment. > >> > >> William Miller > >> > >> > >> At 09:21 AM 11/20/2011, you wrote: > >> >Where in the NEC is the requirement for the GTI interface? > >> > >> ___ > >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine > >> > >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > >> > >> Options & settings: > >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > >> > >> List-Archive: > >http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > >> > >> List rules & etiquette: > >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > >> > >> Check out participant bios: > >> www.members.re-wrenches.org > >> > > > >___ > >List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > > >List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > > >Options & settings: > >http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > > >List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > > >List rules & etiquette: > >www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > > >Check out participant bios: > >www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > ___ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > ___ > List sp
Re: [RE-wrenches] Convert Grid Tie SW4048 to Backup System; Add New Inverter, AC Coupled
Fellow Wrenches, Didn't Jim Duncan provide the impetus for the delisting and hasn't he provided a comprehensive discussion here (or some other linked location) before? Does anyone have an answer to Nathan's question of 20 November 11? Bill Loesch - Original Message - From: "William Miller" To: "RE-wrenches" Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2011 1:12 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Convert Grid Tie SW4048 to Backup System; Add New Inverter, AC Coupled > Joel: > > I don't belive it was an NEC thing, it was a UL/ETL consideration. This > relates to the NEC only in that it is required to use listed equipment. > > William Miller > > > At 09:21 AM 11/20/2011, you wrote: > >Where in the NEC is the requirement for the GTI interface? > > ___ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
[RE-wrenches] Wire Management WAS: Solar World Poly
Ray et al, I'm very curious how the Germans deal with the pigtail wires. Typically, their standards make ours pale by comparison. As solar becomes more mainstream, the trade solutions will follow. Unfortunate and disappointing that the race to the bottom is now also including heretofore premium quality manufacturers. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar - Original Message - From: Ray Walters To: RE-wrenches Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 9:06 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar World Poly The company that offers an innovative wire management solution for their modules will have their stock go up. (Hint Hint Solarworld). A few years ago we could run conduit module to module, looked great but that would be unreasonable on a large system today. However the "just let the wires fly, and the installer can figure out" design may be the current standard, but its not even close to being optimized. Its unbelievable all these bright engineers on the manufacturing side can't come up with something better. Ray Walters On 6/24/2011 7:47 PM, William Miller wrote: Unfortunately for all of us the PV industry has put little thought into proper wire management. Standard appliances (such as air conditioning units) all accommodate standard trade size wiring hardware (conduit and fittings). This is not the case with PV wiring. ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Paint for Rubber Flashings
Hi Drake and August, My '80's era solar hot water inherited customer told me he used latex paint on the "rubber(?)" insert in the flashings as well as on the pipe insulation (and they were in flexible shape some 20+ years later). Oatey (et al) makes the "rubber" washer flashings and John Deks (et al) makes the Dektite bellows/accordion style flashing. The customer used a color that matched the dark bronze of the existing metalwork and I'm thinking the dark color may provide more UV resistance than lighter colors. There is now aerosol plastic paint from Krylon and Rust-oleum sold for plastic lawn furniture, plastic sheds, etc. It does a great job of camouflaging the white PVC pipe used in solar pool heat systems on a dark roof but I don't know of its suitability/compatibility for use on the flashing seal materials mentioned above. Best wishes, Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - Original Message - From: August Goers To: RE-wrenches Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 11:27 AM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Paint for Rubber Flashings Roofers often use this type of aluminum paint here in the Bay Area - http://www.gardner-gibson.com/linedetails.aspx?id=57 I think a good quality outdoor latex paint works fine too. Best, August August Goers Luminalt Energy Corporation 1320 Potrero Avenue San Francisco, CA 94110 m: 415.559.1525 o: 415.641.4000 aug...@luminalt.com From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Drake Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 6:33 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: [RE-wrenches] Paint for Rubber Flashings Hello Wrenches, We had a discussion on the list previously concerning degradation of rubber boots on flashings due to UV exposure. Apparently painted boots will hold up much better than non painted. Can anyone recommend an appropriate paint to use? Thanks, Drake Drake Chamberlin ATHENS ELECTRIC OH License 44810 CO license 3773 NABCEP Certified PV -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] 24 volt Battery Bank comparison
Hi Michael, With all due respect, do the reference "idiot lights" do that much for you? I have always thought a thermal camera/viewer/FLIR/etc. would be great but so would a used car. My digital IR thermometer at several orders of magnitude difference in price has served me well, if tediously, to do some of the uses described. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - Original Message - From: "Michael Welch" To: "RE-wrenches" Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 12:43 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] 24 volt Battery Bank comparison Every now and then I see reference on this list to the need for thermal detection. Here is an interesting, inexpensive piece of equipment that could be used for finding hot (loose or corroded) connections, hot batteries, hot PV cells in modules, and even poorly insulated spots, its original intended purpose: http://www.blackanddecker.com/power-tools/TLD100.aspx I have one and used it for finding uninsulated spaces, but cannot attest to its durability or suitability for the other uses mentioned above. boB Gudgel wrote at 01:00 AM 6/1/2011: >This might be a good reason for an installer to have one of those FLIR (or similar) thermal imager cameras.  They're a bit on the expensive side, but could >really be helpful for so many things.  Even just to know if you have left a nut loose (under load of course) > >boB ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Side-by-side microinverter, maximizer, and conventional inverter comparisons
Joel, As I remember Trace rebranded the (nominal 100 watt) OK4U units as MicroSine about 2000 AD. Didn't SMA (or someone else) recently take over the OK4U product line? Do I understand you were not impressed with the MPPT OK4U microinverters performance (vs. the non-MPPT SMA?) under full sun? Do I understand correctly that you compared some 2,000 (OK4U?) microinverter units with 74 transformerless (?) SMA machines? The "as much as", "up to", etc. wording is why "caveat emptor" and "Your Mileage May Vary" should accompany each one of those comments. Kudos marketing mavens. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - Original Message - From: "Joel Davidson" To: "RE-wrenches" Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 8:54 AM Subject: [RE-wrenches] Side-by-side microinverter, maximizer,and conventional inverter comparisons > Wrenches, > > A few years ago, we compared conventional and MPPT charge controllers and > found power production improvement in only in unique conditions and rarely > over 15%. Now Microinverter and DC maximizer companies are claiming "as much > as 25%" increased electricity production and a booming market. See > http://www.interpv.net/market/market_view.asp?idx=401&code=401&part_code=01 > > I've been comparing grid-connected microinverters since 1994 when Henk came > out with his OK4U and am not impressed in full-sun (no shade) comparisons. > In 2005, I compared a side-by-side 200 kW system with two 100 kW Xantrex > inverters with a 200 kW system with 74 SMA inverters and saw no difference > in kW or kWh. > > Have any wrenches made side-by-side comparisons? Are the claimed > improvements hype or real? > > Joel Davidson > > ___ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Hydrometer source
Hi Dave, http://www.freasglass.com/ These are the upscale hydrometers Backwoods did stock when Steve ran the place. USA manufactured product. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - Original Message - From: Dave Palumbo To: 'RE-wrenches' Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 7:17 AM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Hydrometer source We used to buy temperature compensated hydrometers from AEE to include with the sale of a battery bank for off grid customers. My sales person says AEE is no longer carrying that item. I believe they were made by Dekka. Recommendations for a new source for battery hydrometers in the $8 to $ 15 range? David Palumbo Independent Power LLC 462 Solar Way Drive Hyde Park, VT 05655 www.independentpowerllc.com NABCEP Certified PV Installer Vermont Solar Partner 23 Years Experience, (802) 888-7194 -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Oatey and Standoff vs QuickmountPV Labor
Mark and Jamie, Also, not an answer to your labor question, but... The flexible flashings you describe are inherently less durable than their non flex cousins. As you are well aware, the culprit is sun or perhaps more accurately, UV exposure. One solar thermal install which was still going strong some 20+ years later had painted those flex flashings and there was no deterioration that I could discern. Choosing the wrong paint could, I am sure, produce accelerated deterioration over doing nothing. As usual, caveat emptor. Even with tightly spaced modules, there is still a gap (window) for the sun to peek through. How do you inspect those interior flex flashings during the life of the system or roof? Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - Original Message - From: Mark Frye To: 'RE-wrenches' Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 9:07 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Oatey and Standoff vs QuickmountPV Labor Jamie, You did not ask, but I am offering: I find the Oatey flashing with the elastomeric boot to be a somewhat suspect product. I know, I knowyou see them everywhere on the finest tract homesbut My everlasting image is of 6 or 7 of them peeping out below the last row of modules..except..there wasn't any rubber there anymore...all rotted out. Back in the day I went for a custom rolled cone flashings that I could caulk into the post and slide a rubber counter-flashing over the whole thing. Overkillperhaps. Best of Luck. Mark Frye Berkeley Solar Electric Systems 303 Redbud Way Nevada City, CA 95959 (530) 401-8024 www.berkeleysolar.com -- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jamie Johnson Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 6:59 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: [RE-wrenches] Oatey and Standoff vs QuickmountPV Labor Wrenches, We have been asked to quote a large number of installs on comp shingle roofs for an individual owner who requires Oatey flashing's with a 3" standoff on all installations. For the past 2 years we have installed the QuickmountPV product on comp shingle roofs and are use to the labor rate quoted for that, my notes from 2+ years ago seem to reflect a 20+% savings in labor by using the QMPV vs the Oatey and standoff method. Since my notes may not be accurate, I am curious if you are willing to share, what the rest of you have experienced with the labor difference? Thanks in advance. Jamie Johnson NABCEP Certified PV Technical Sales Professional NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer General Manager SOLAR POWER ELECTRIC -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org <>___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Trickle charge a generator cranking battery?
William, Wouldn't you want to specify what kind of battery chemistry? How often are you able to inspect this battery/generator system? If you choose SLA battery, will you have consistently good insolation for year round charging? If not, you are saving a bit of initial cost and potentially (questionable IMHO) better reliability at the potential expense of longer battery life. Is that a good trade-off? Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 - Original Message - From: William Miller To: RE-wrenches Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 12:28 PM Subject: [RE-wrenches] Trickle charge a generator cranking battery? Friends: Ii it possible, with the correct module, to trickle charge a generator cranking battery without the use of a charge controller? What modules fit this criteria? Thanks in advance. William William Miller Miller Solar Voice :805-438-5600 email: will...@millersolar.com http://millersolar.com License No. C-10-773985 -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Battery watering
Hi Dana, Unless your tap water is nearly as mineral free as distilled water, you might want to consider filling your batteries with something other than tap water. I have _no_ experience with automatic battery watering systems but I can comment that the battery doesn't like contaminants. If I am seeing the "hose connection" correctly, attached to the garden faucet, then the distilled water may solve a number of heretofore "battery" problems. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar 314 631 1094 Distilled water is available (in the laundry area of your supermarket) for under a dollar a gallon from most all supermarkets. I bought a distiller and produce my distilled water for ~$0.07 per gallon. - Original Message - From: Dana To: 'RE-wrenches' Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 4:37 PM Subject: [RE-wrenches] Battery watering I found Battery Watering Systems ; http://www.batterywatering.com/ Kits and lots of options on parts for battery service. I am getting a new pressure sprayer and ordered a "gun" that stops when the battery fluid is at a preset level $80, includes a flow meter visual, 20PSI pressure reducer, sprayer handle and auto stop tip. No more sore back from leaning over the battery bank, Yes! Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc E - d...@solarwork.com V - 970.626.5253 F - 970.626.4140 C - 970.209.4076 web - www.solarwork.com "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" Do not ever believe anything, but seriously trust through action. -- ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org -- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1209 / Virus Database: 1500/3545 - Release Date: 04/01/11 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)
Kent et al, Regarding different earth ground potentials, the local electric utility company recently participated in the annual spring home show, this year's effort by that utility continued the green hype labeled Pure Power, but the new event was a high voltage safety demo aimed at adults as well as kids. What the enterprising independent contractor (a former utility lineman) presenting from the well equipped three booth wide demo pointed out (among other things) was, in the event of a down high voltage transmission wire coming into contact with your car, the safest place was (to remain) in your car. Only when the car was energized _and_ on fire should you try to exit. Here is the key if you survived this far and a big surprise to me: If you expected to survive exiting the car and "walking" away, you should remember to "bunny hop" (keep your feet together) while you hopped your way from out of the car to a good distance away. He pointed out that the distance between your steps, should you choose to "walk" away, would be between different earth potentials high enough to kill you. Sobering stuff. How far to hop he did not define and I did not ask. My take away-don't loose your balance while hopping or receive the same unwelcome results as walking. Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar - Original Message - From: Kent Osterberg To: al...@positiveenergysolar.com ; RE-wrenches Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 7:25 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Allan, It isn't easy to find the rational info about this topic amongst the mountain of irrational scare and hype. Consider reading about solar disturbances on National Geograpic News and Geomagnetic storms on Wikipedia. Then read a little about nuclear blast EMP on Wikipedia or many other places. Shake this together and you start to reach the scare and hype that shows up on survivalist blogs. Yes, it is possible for there to be problems. Power and communication systems have been disrupted by geomagnetic storms before. Power and communication systems will have trouble again. Homeowner inverter systems probably won't have any trouble at least not any serious trouble. Yet you can't rule out the possibility that some of them will experience some sort of damage. Communication systems depending on radio wave propagation will certainly experience interference. Some frequencies will be worse than others. Since intense radio interference can cause electronic devices to misoperate, inverters are potentially at risk too. Since the corneal mass ejection, CME, arrives a couple days after the visible solar flare, there is time to prepare and it would be wise to shut things down for the arrival of the CME. IMHO, the risk to solar or battery based inverter from a solar burst is not very great. Wire based communication systems, pipe line systems, and electric power systems are exposed to telluric or earth currents, see telluric current on Wikipedia. To understand why these are a problem, a couple popular misconceptions about earth must be corrected: 1) the earth isn't zero resistance 2) the earth potential isn't the same everywhere. Even copper which is a much better conductor than the earth has resistance! The earth is more akin to large piece of inhomogenous resistive material that we make connections to by poking electrodes into it; much like the doctor sticks electrodes on your chest and back for an EKG. And current flows through this huge resistor system: telluric current, galvanic current, current from cathodic protection systems, current from some electric power systems. So the earth can't possibly all be the same potential. Now take two grounding electrodes that are many miles apart: they certainly are a different potential. If connected by a conductor, current will flow through it - usually just a small current. In an EMP event, the telluric current can suddenly and dramatically change. Possibly change to damaging quantities but more often in a manner that causes power system protection relays to trip lines off unnecessarily. Consider two grounding electrodes a few hundred feet apart - the telluric current isn't likely to be large enough to cause any problem. No electronic communication means no banking, no commerce, no police or fire protection, no internet. By gosh it could be the end of society as we know it. Sell the survivalist a spare inverter and charge controller (all sales final - no returns allowed - because they will probably want to return it after the solar maximum). Kent Osterberg Blue Moutain Solar, Inc Allan Sindelar wrote: For those of us less aware of solar flare issues and what we might expect that relates to PV, could someone provide a good link to educate us? Thanks, Allan Allan Sindelar al...@positiveenergysolar.com N
