Re: [RE-wrenches] Galvanic compatibility of commonly used solar materials
I recently inspected a large ground mount off-grid system about 3 years old that was installed by others. I would have used a #6 bare copper ground wire due to being exposed almost 100 feet of array length and connected to several ground rods with no conduit, but the installer had used #10 which still barely met code, but sure was flimsy. Anyway, this small ground wire was sagging down in many places along the array length due to about a quarter of the galvanized steel self-tapping screws holding the copper against the aluminum had totally dissolved. We always use the cadmium plated copper grounding blocks and stainless steel screws to attach the #6 copper ground wire, and I can see now just how fast the galvanic action can dissolve metal when you don't use stainless steel hardware. Jeff Yago _ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. ___ 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] Galvanic compatibility of commonly used solar materials
hi i have seen fast corrosion of copper on galvanized, it also seems as if once the galvanized is gone the steel underneath rusts very fast. I have had good stability of galvanized on aluminum (or anodized aluminum. --- On Mon, 1/26/09, August Goers wrote: > From: August Goers > Subject: [RE-wrenches] Galvanic compatibility of commonly used solar materials > To: "'RE-wrenches'" > Date: Monday, January 26, 2009, 6:00 PM > Hi Wrenches, > > I'm wondering what types of experiences you folks have > with galvanic > corrosion. As we all know, racking and ground systems > commonly use copper, > aluminum, steel, etc. which may or may not be compatible > with each other. > There's the theory: > http://www.engineersedge.com/galvanic_capatability.htm > and then there's real life experience. > > I have first hand experience with aluminum lay in lugs used > to bond modules > corroding and turning to powder. We all know to use tin > coated copper lugs > for module and racking grounding. However, I see bare > copper ground wires > run over all sorts of different metals and I wonder what > issues might pop up > in the long haul. > > How well does bare copper hold up when it is touching > anodized aluminum? > What about copper and hot dipped strut? How do you run bare > ground wire when > you're connecting multiple arrays separated from each > other? Has anyone seen > issues arising between steel and aluminum racking parts? > > I'm looking forward to seeing what types of field > experiences you have seen. > > Best, > > August > > > > August Goers > > > Luminalt Energy Corporation > O: 415.564.7652 > M: 415.559.1525 > F: 650.244.9167 > www.luminalt.com > aug...@luminalt.com > > > > ___ > 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] Galvanic compatibility of commonly used solar materials
Hi Wrenches, I'm wondering what types of experiences you folks have with galvanic corrosion. As we all know, racking and ground systems commonly use copper, aluminum, steel, etc. which may or may not be compatible with each other. There's the theory: http://www.engineersedge.com/galvanic_capatability.htm and then there's real life experience. I have first hand experience with aluminum lay in lugs used to bond modules corroding and turning to powder. We all know to use tin coated copper lugs for module and racking grounding. However, I see bare copper ground wires run over all sorts of different metals and I wonder what issues might pop up in the long haul. How well does bare copper hold up when it is touching anodized aluminum? What about copper and hot dipped strut? How do you run bare ground wire when you're connecting multiple arrays separated from each other? Has anyone seen issues arising between steel and aluminum racking parts? I'm looking forward to seeing what types of field experiences you have seen. Best, August August Goers Luminalt Energy Corporation O: 415.564.7652 M: 415.559.1525 F: 650.244.9167 www.luminalt.com aug...@luminalt.com ___ 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
