And of course with standard "outdoor" inks from sticker printing outfits online (like promotional bumper stickers I've done) red and yellow fade first in the sun--exactly the colors we need the most! Enamel paint markers last longer in the sun than Sharpies in my experience, but always depends on the surface. Dan Fink Executive Director, Buckville Energy Consulting NABCEP PV Associate NABCEP Certified PV System Inspector IREC Certified Instructor™ for: ~ PV Installation Professional ~ Small Wind Installer NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers d <[email protected]>[email protected] 970-672-4342
On Tue, Jun 30, 2020 at 4:10 PM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar < [email protected]> wrote: > If there was something available like a sharpie with acrylic latex I would > use it more. Just easier to put it in the JB and know it will last. As far > as code, I just do what the inspector wants. Luckily I do not see them > much[image: > Wink] > > > > *Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar > "we go where powerlines don't" > http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/> > e-mail [email protected] <[email protected]> > text 209 813 0060* > > On Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:18:15 -0500, Corey Shalanski <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Hi Jesse, > > We did in fact use Sharpie on the test wall. I made the mistake of writing > the "start date" for the test wall in Sharpie, but I think it only lasted > the first couple years. As others have pointed out, the ink will usually > fade and become illegible within a few years - depending on the level of > direct sunlight exposure. I've got plenty of photos from site re-visits > showing labels with handwritten numbers that are no longer visible. As > Martin pointed out, it's questionable whether labels can even include > handwritten text based on NEC 110.21(B)(2)... So, I guess in response to > your follow-up comment, feel free to show those folks this photo along with > the message "here is your sharpie" (it's completely vanished). > > We experimented with nylon labelmaker tape and found that to generally > hold up better than Sharpie. We also tried out a handheld engraving tool > (for plastic/phenolic labels), but that was kind of a non-starter. At one > point we even invested in a full-fledged engraving machine. I believe it > came with its own software, and we purchased sheets of blank placard > material. Unfortunately, we could never get our machine operator to turn > the corner on making the label creation process efficient & worthwhile--the > last I looked, the machine was sitting in a dark corner of the lunchroom. > > I agree with Brian/Dan that the different components in a PV system have > different expected lifespans, and we can't reasonably expect all components > to last as long as the longest-lasting component (PV modules). Labels seem > to be one of those components that we can anticipate replacing every 5-10 > years. > > -- > Corey > > > > >
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