I started an email yesterday but was pulled away........... Kirpal couldn't
have nailed my response to the grumblings about DPW much better. Its not like
we haven't any problems with their racks, but in the big picture and knowing
from personal experience the challenges of running a manufacturing biz, I will
continue to install DPW racks. Significant problems are very rare and have
been promptly dealt with, small problems are just that, small.
BTW, they do have a variety of wire management products on Pgs 23, 24
of the Power Rail catalogue/pricing pdf...not TPM related so much but
something. Many of our TPM installs already are leaving more room from the
lower edge to the ground for shedding snow so the issue of 4 year olds (or
anybody for that matter) tugging on wires has become less of an issue as those
wires are at an inaccessible height.
I too wish to say thanks to DPM.
Bill
Feather River Solar Electric
----- Original Message -----
From: Kirpal Khalsa
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2015 7:38 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] DPW Rack Problems
Wrenches.....We have used the DPW products, primarily their top of pole racks
for years....we have well over a hundred of the racks installed....We love
their simplicity, and ease of assembly....We have never once had a problem with
an installed rack....never had a failure of any kind....We appreciate the fact
that they supply extra hardware with each shipment.....Inevitably we drop parts
and a few extras are always appreciated.....
For us it is the details...We get comfortable installing something we have
done many many times....we are able to predict our pace and therefore we can
give our customers accurate bids which leave us not over bidding or under
bidding....Changes are sometimes necessary and a result of innovation or
improvements....Its the communication which sometimes lags....knowledge is
power....When we know we are going to be dealing with some change it is easier
for us to predict and anticipate changes to our habits....and therefore
planning as well....predictability is our friend!!!
Our recent experiences have left us a bit disgruntled....while the quality of
the installed DPW racks has not changed or degraded we have been left with
carrying the extra burden of some of the changes....I am glad to ehar the new
paint is going to be new again...Hopefully it will not have the same issues
with regards to the packaging sticking to the wet(ish) paint and leaving us
with a headache of trying to figure out how to clean off imprints of paper,
styrafoam and shrink wrap off of the strong back....
DPW has been a great partner over the years....Growing pains affect us
all....Sometimes they are more noticable than others....
Communication is key!!! I will likely continue to use their top of pole
racks, as I haven't found any better options....
I value the effect this list has on maintaining the pressure on manufacturers
to be responsive to us installers who are on the front lines of making their
products fit into the market place....We all have our areas of expertise....and
each step is important.....I for one am not interested in becoming a racking
manufacturer!!!
Cheers....
Sunny Regards,
Kirpal Khalsa
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
Oregon Solarworks LLC
www.oregonsolarworks.com
541-218-0201 m
541-299-0402 o
On Thu, Oct 8, 2015 at 7:03 AM, Howie Michaelson <[email protected]>
wrote:
William,
I have followed your posts over the years and appreciate the efforts you
have made in developing and then your willingness to share them with the list.
Thank you.
If DP&W had wire management products available, it never reached my radar,
although admittedly I never asked them either. We would definitely consider
passing more for that added value.
I too appreciate the robustness of their TPM product, especially compared
to the old Unirac TPM that we started out with and watched get blown apart more
than once. However, I think we would benefit from a more competitive market,
which would hopefully help drive better product to installers and thereby
customers.
Howie Michaelson
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
Catamount Solar
Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service
VT Solar Electric Incentive Partner
http://www.CatamountSolar.com
802-272-0004
On Oct 8, 2015 3:13 AM, "William Miller" <[email protected]> wrote:
Howie:
At one time I shared your dream: that if only the manufacturer’s would
build wire management and shielding systems, consumers would flock to buy them.
I asked DPW to help me develop some wire shielding hardware and Steve
Schumacher was willing to give it a try. See this link for some pictures of
the system Schu helped us develop. Unfortunately, I was one of the few people
that ever asked for this product, and there was no reason for DPW to put any
more energy into the idea.
Over time I came to realize that what is hindering the development of
better wire management and wire shielding systems is not the lack of
manufacturers building the systems-- it is due to the lack of demand for them
in the market. Wire management and shielding systems will add to the cost of
any installation. If installers can get away without using these systems, why
should they bother?
They get by without them because building officials are all too often
ignorant and lazy. I have tried and tried to convince the officials in the
county in which I live to read the black and white of the current NEC but they
refuse. Most of the inspections of my work by building officials last less
than 2 minutes. When I ask inspectors and plan checkers questions about codes
and practices I usually get quizzical stares.
The engineers at DPW know what the code requires for wire shielding: they
can read and I have highlighted the requirements many times. DPW was willing
to experiment, but apparently no one asked to buy these systems so there was no
reason to put them in the catalog.
I have had my problems with the DPW painted parts for years. It is not a
new problem. Hopefully with the attention they are getting this will be
resolved. I have also waited way too long for even the most minor parts
orders. This needs to improve. How hard can it be to put a few dozen bolts in
a box? Why should it take almost two weeks? They need to fix the paint and
get parts and assemblies out the door in a reasonable time.
I must say, however, that DPW has provided a very consistently good range
of products over the years and they have been more responsive than 99% of the
manufacturers out there. I am still a fan of DPW.
Sincerely,
William Miller
Lic 773985
millersolar.com
805-438-5600
From: RE-wrenches [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Howie Michaelson
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2015 6:15 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] DPW Rack Problems
Thanks Michael for the communication conduit.
While I appreciate DP&W's effort to address the issues raised, I don't
feel their response really speaks to the issues - for us, these are long
standing problems, although they appear to possibly be getting worse more
recently.
More importantly, for me this is one of the most valuable aspects of this
list - the power of the group to garner a manufacturer's attention in order to
address a problem (think warranty replacement issues, or equipment failure
rates) or make an improvement.
For instance, if a ground mount racking manufacturer developed a
functional, code compliant wire management system, I would expect to hear about
it first on this list, get highly useful evaluations of the innovation, and
then watch the sales of that system take off due to the "viral" nature of
information shared on this list. If there are any racking manu reps that still
read this list, perhaps they could take the ball and run with it. One can
dream...
Howie
Howie Michaelson
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
Catamount Solar
Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service
VT Solar Electric Incentive Partner
http://www.CatamountSolar.com
802-272-0004
On Oct 7, 2015 7:51 PM, "Michael Welch" <[email protected]>
wrote:
I have had off-list contact with DPW, and I've been asked to post the
following for them. If you have questions about my posting this on their
behalf, contact me off list.
Thanks.
Thank you for alerting us to the problems you recently encountered with
the paint used in our TPMs. It is our intent to respond to customers' concerns
to maintain your trust and support. We recently had a problem when a supplier
discontinued a paint we've used since the inception of our TPM product line.
After testing multiple formulations over the course of several weeks we were
able to source a silver paint comparable to the original and now have that
paint problem resolved. As to lead time issues we are working with our
distributor partners to move orders more quickly through their internal
processes. We extend our apologies for the inconvenience this paint problem
has caused. Please contact me personally with any questions or concerns. I
may be reached at [email protected] or at 505-889-3585. Steve
Schumacher, DPW Solar, National Sales Manager
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