Hello wrenches Does anyone have any photos or links to photos showing unanodized (not anodized) aluminum racking systems in the field for a few years?
I have heard that such hardware may pit a bit and look ugly, but wondering how much corrosion would actually take place, and if structural integrity would be compromised. Unanodized Al failing much faster in an environment <50 mi from the coast? Any info here appreciated. cheers Jim MacDonald Design + Engineering Dept. Solar Energy Systems, LLC Brooklyn, NY 11222 www.solarEsystems.com<http://www.solaresystems.com/> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jeff Clearwater Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 5:13 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Salt & Aluminum vs Galvy Thanks Daryl and Ray - I appreciate the info! Other's concurr? jc [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> wrote: Thanks for reminding me Ray....Jeff, we use ss transition boxes instead of pvc. You can find 6x6x4 or 4x4x4 boxes for a reasonable price considering their superiority when it comes to longevity. Obviously use at least 3R rated boxes at a minimum. Daryl DeJoy NABCEP Certified PV installer Penobscot Solar Design Galvanized does not do very well in Hawaii near the water. I haven't seen much powder coated Al, but anodized AL with SS hardware seems to work about as good as anything I've seen. We see SS J boxes, fiberglass boxes seem to break down in the UV after several years, but painting with the right paint helps a lot. The last job I worked on there, we had 2 guys paint all exposed J-boxes and PVC conduit with a heavy duty oil based (messy cleanup) paint. I'll let you know in 5 years how it all looks. Also, be sure and get all your conduit clamps and unistrut in stainless. More expensive, harder to find, and harder to cut, but you'll see the difference in a couple of years for sure. Just a single washer that's not SS will stand out like a sore thumb later. Ray Walters On 9/27/2011 11:40 AM, Jeff Clearwater wrote: Hi Esteemed Wrenchies, So for the project I'm working on in the Bahamas for ground mount racking - have folks found Aluminum or Galvy to stand up against salt spray better? And if Al - powder coated or anodized? And with mixing them - (like a typical Steel Pipe rack with Al Rails) - are the junctions going to be a problem with lots of salt? Any solution to AL framed modules not turning black and ugly? Do black anodized module frames help? Thanks! Jeff -- Jeff Clearwater Village Power Design Renewable Energy Consultant 32 Years in all Aspects of Renewables www.villagepower.com<http://www.villagepower.com> skype: jclearwater 413-559-9763 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 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> ________________________________ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com<http://www.avg.com> Version: 2012.0.1834 / Virus Database: 2092/4575 - Release Date: 10/26/11
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