Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback Grid Problems

That's a great tip Steve. Is there a downside to changing this setting? Daryl > Ray, > > If you go to the Status FX Sell menu what is the disconnect reason when > it does this? > > Also have you set the Grid Tie Authority from IEEE to User, when > customers are all the way out at the end of the

Re: [RE-wrenches] AC modules verses codes and safety

Hi Jeff, We were contacted the other day by Lowes, who asked if we would be interested in installing their (highly overpriced) "plug and play" systems. They are selling Andalay Solar's 3kw package (they us Enphase). I told them we would at an installed price much higher than we usually charge. T

Re: [RE-wrenches] Utility Transformers (was Outback Grid Problems)

Thanks Joel. I would also add that the utility also ran a much larger feeder line from the transformer to my house, likely to cover all their bases. Daryl > Ray, > > I think Daryl is on to something. I would suspect a line problem > (under-sized feeder, bad connections, failing transformer, tre

Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback Grid Problems

I saw the fault "high ac input voltage" at least three times. I changed out the boards in the inverter TWICE, both times freebies from OutBack. I checked battery spec. grav., programmed it and re-programmed it, talked ad nauseum on the phone with tech supportnothing. It was OutBack tech support

Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback Grid Problems

Ray, Believe me when I say I have gone through all the exercises described so far by our esteemed colleagues. I think you will find the problem is with the customers transformer. I continue to make impressive amounts of kwh since the swap out last week. Daryl > Battery bank is in great shape,

Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback Grid Problems

Hi Ray, It's very funny this comes up with you now. I have a 3500 watt array running my home. For years I sold between 10 and 16 kwh per day, depending on the time of year, on a sunny day. I should mention the panels are in a south facing field on pole mounts. Suddenly I was noticing a decrea

Re: [RE-wrenches] Missing MC4 Connectors?

Hi Jeff, Try Todd at Solar Electric Distributors. 877 778 0009 or 303 778 0300 Daryl > > We normally keep a good supply of pre-made module MC4 M/F cables in stock, > but several recent large projects really lowered our inventory. No > problem, I will just call our suppliers and order more.

Re: [RE-wrenches] Fwd: Apollo charge controllers

We installed the first two released Apollo T-80's on a job in the Caribbean three years ago. I was out on that island two weeks ago and went out to check on the system and it is still performing remarkably well. The home is actually on a bluff overlooking the ocean with the BOS components installed

Re: [RE-wrenches] Xantrex XW4548 noise problem

Hi Ryan, We have a lot of XW's installed and not one of them is what I would call loud. I would call the SW and SW Plus series loud. If it is simply that he is sensitive to noise I would recommend having a dead air space between whatever you layer the wall with. I built a recording studio for so

Re: [RE-wrenches] Magnum Energy 120/240 inverter problem.

John, I would second Ryan's experiences. We too have more than a few Magnum's out there working fine in Maine, some more than two years old. Daryl > John > > we have a pile of the magnum 120/240 units here in Maine all on > epanels as well and a few are in the cold never had a problem ye

Re: [RE-wrenches] Evergreen EC 110

Hey Tump, Evergreen still makes these. I suspect Gro or one of the other Evergreen dealers stocks them. Daryl > Anyone have one of these around? Please contact me off list. THANKS > > t...@swnl.net > www.SWNL.net >Solarw

Re: [RE-wrenches] Nabcep - grid tie---Off grid

I try to do more lurking here than participating, simply because there are many experienced installers here with similar experience and knowledge. I do agree with the earlier post that maintains the best experience with off grid systems is living with off grid solar. Our office is 100% off grid as

Re: [RE-wrenches] Equipment shortages, long lead times?

Here, here Bob-O. We, too, have seen no decrease in our off grid market as well. It is rapidly becoming a specialized field here in Maine.(not talking about you, Tump) Even our largest competitor is now sending off grid business to us as they have had too many problems training competent install

Re: [RE-wrenches] Xantrex XW CC availability

Ryan, If you haven't tried the Apollo Solar controller you might consider it. We have many installed and they seem, after an intially rough start, to be a superior product. I have yet to use the high voltage model but plan to at the first opportunity. You can configure the panels to 200 VDC OC.

Re: [RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 2, Issue 1099

All REC modules manufactured in 2008 are being recalled. The have a problem with thermal cycling over a period of time weakening a contact in the j box. We have installed REC and think they are a good panel. REC is paying us to go to Cat Island in the Bahamas to replace 16 modules we have ins

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar modules

We have installed about 20k of these modules, largely off grid. I would make these recommendations: Install on good quality mounting. We have almost exclusively been installing these on DP&W top of pole mounts. The frames are not particularly beefy but they are not flimsy, either, and a good

Re: [RE-wrenches] Pitched EPDM Roof Attachment

Carl, In the past we have had 8"x8"x 1/4" aluminum plates made up by the local machine shop for about $9 each and used them to distribute the compression for L feet on SIP roofs. It works very well and allows you to adequately tighten the lags and not compress the foam. For more specifics give

Re: [RE-wrenches] Dealing with snow

Hi August, Here in Maine we get pretty decent amounts of snow. There isn't any foolproof way to keep your panels clear without doing it manually because we sometimes get sticky, half ice, half snow type of precipitation, but here's some of the things we do. > > > > 1. Do you typically mount arra

Re: [RE-wrenches] Craftsman 82062 DC/AC Amp Clamp

I've dropped my six year old Fluke 337 three times, once off a second story ladder onto a gravel driveway, and I'm still using it without ever sending it off for repair. Daryl DeJoy NABCEP Certified PV installer Penobscot Solar Design > Don't know about the rest of you, but I can and eventuall

Re: [RE-wrenches] sales to-date

About 50% below last year at this time here in Maine. Daryl > Down about 70%. > > Todd > > On Saturday, May 30, 2009 11:06am, "Marco Mangelsdorf" > said: > >> Compared to the first five months of last year, how would any of you who >> care to respond compare your year-to-date sales in 2009? >>

Re: [RE-wrenches] squirrel problems

We are in Northern Coastal Maine and have red squirrels, gray squirrels and flying squirrels and in 21 years have never had a squirrel problem. Daryl Penobscot Solar Design > I am in the real Northern New York, (not the city) and have no problem > with > chipmunks or squirrels or anything else

Re: [RE-wrenches] pay for sales leads

These all seem to be just more people trying to make money from the "solar bandwagon". I ignore all of these. It takes less time to hit "delete" than to try to follow up with them. > Don't waste your time IMO. > > We tried one a while back, and 95% of them were something like "we are > intere

Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar power on Truck?

Hi Ryan, There are a number of thin film products that can be laminated onto a truck roof, but when it comes to running an air conditioner it will only be something he imagines runs his ac unit. UniSolar makes a long, thin roof laminate but it must be adhered to Galvalume or Zincalume roofing ma

Re: [RE-wrenches] MPPT greater than 150V

I am waiting to receive a beta model from Apollo Solar and will be putting 10 AP-120 modules in series on it. The Beta testing will be easy with full internet interface standard with the controller, Apollo will be able to monitor it with no work on my part. Daryl > Midnite solar has 2 beta unit

Re: [RE-wrenches] Is a Smart Phone a Useful Tool in PV?

I use a Blackberry Curve (T Mobile) because we do a fair amount of out of the country work and its WiFi capability has saved me a ton of money. I can make long distance calls from any wirelessly connected hotel room, etc. for the cost of ten dollars a month. The Curve with the GPS does not have thi

Re: [RE-wrenches] Panel Fire

Joel, As another Maine installer (of over 20 years) I second Tump's assessment.I, too, know Dr.Komp and have volunteered a lot of time for the MSEA. Dr.Komp is a very intelligent engineer, but without the quality control and testing I would not want a high voltage DC system of homebrew panels on

Re: [RE-wrenches] Prices on PV

Very well put, both Jeff and Joel! I was trying hard to think how to respond reasonably and you've both saved me the trouble. Thank you. > Very well put Jeff > > > -Original Message- > From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org > > To: RE-wrenches > Sent: Wed Feb 04 19:48:41 2009

Re: [RE-wrenches] NY Times: 25% price reduction on PV

I believe a more real world number is 10%. I believe you could find panels that were selling for 25% more than the cheapest panels now, but that is not a realistic view. To somehow infer that a, say, Sharp 180 or Sanyo HUP has dropped 25% is once again creating a situation for we design/install/sel

Re: [RE-wrenches] dpw top of pole mount pipe problems

Ryan, I would be very wary. If DP&W says it is engineered for Sched.40 steel then that is what it is most likely warrantied for. I don't do anything that would void a manufacturers warranty. After 21 years in this business it is one of the most important things I've learned. If DP&W will warrant

Re: [RE-wrenches] Wanted: poly battery boxes, many sizes

US Plastics sells many many sizes of poly and fiberglass containers. They have an extensive website and will even custom make boxes if you order a quantity of them. Perhaps a joint effort of all who need thwm if they don't have the proper size. http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/default.asp?cookie_t

Re: [RE-wrenches] GPS units

I'll reiterate what was said earlier. I paraglide and use a variometer for measuring altitude. It uses barometric pressure and is accurate to within a few feet (cross referencing maps of launch areas). You can find used, very good quality variometers on paragliding and hang gliding sites for a coup

Re: [RE-wrenches] Back feeding battery inverter with grid-tie inverter

Hi Jeff, This isn't an answer to the questions below, but an alternate suggestion. Apollo Solar has a charge controller which allows for strings of up to 200 VOC (160 volts nominal) and I believe 100 amps. Would this not be a simpler, more efficient system? Just a thought... Daryl DeJoy NABCEP

Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP "rant"

I know that for those of us in more rural areas the post educational requirements (18 hrs of continuing certified education) can also be burdensome. I agree that this is a good thing but few, if any, certifcation programs are held in Maine. We typically have to travel 6-8 hours each way, hotel, tra

Re: [RE-wrenches] seaside installation

Hi Kirk, About 75% of our installations need to consider the effects of salt air. We install along the coast of Maine and in the Bahamas, so there are additional issues of temperature extremes which can compound problems in a not-so-well thought out system. From using silicone grease for termina

Re: [RE-wrenches] battery commissioning

Ron, You might talk with Roy at RAE Storage Battery in Berlin CT. He is one of the few distributors of Surrette Batteries that I know that do this. Surrette does ship him the batteries dry and he fills and heats them up. It takes a lot of power, a very well vented work area and, in my opinion, t

Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback PSR-SCT

Todd, Just wondering, is there a problem with the US Plastics products? As I said previously, we've used them for more than 15 years with no problems. Typically we use the more expensive, acid rated ones but they make many that will do the job. Daryl > > > > > > > Sure we can all get

Re: [RE-wrenches] PSR SCT

Hi Todd and all, We use products from US Plastics. They make great, acid resistant trays in lengths up to four feet. Here's the link to a page where you can find some of their products. They have an extensive website, so look around a bit. You can spend a lot ($300+) or a little, depending on w

Re: [RE-wrenches] Magnum AGS with Kohler RES 8.5

Is this a propane generator? If it is, all propane generators that we have dealt with (Kohler included) have a 12 v solenoid on the propane regulator where the propane line enters and is attached to the generator. There should be two wires going to this solenoid 12+ and common. When the generator s

[RE-wrenches] Sharp racking on cement roof tiles

Hi all, We are currently sizing an 8-10 kw system in Nassau in the Bahamas and are faced with installing a racking system on 1 inch thick cement roof tiles. We have not done the Sharp training as they seem to be perpetually full before we get to them and their responses are only form letter resp

Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP succumbs to IBEW pressure?

Hey Tump, There's no shortage of installers in Maine, only a shortage of work. Daryl > Good day fellow NABCEP installers. My brother in law ,who is a member of > IBEW, was visiting from Minnesota, needless to say we have some > interesting > discussions, this one for example. > He said

Re: [RE-wrenches] 48 VDC to 24 VDC converter

Hey Todd, Try these guys. We've been using their equipment for years, and while early on (maybe 12 or 13 years ago) we had some problems that is no longer the case. http://www.solarconverters.com/ Daryl Penobscot SOlar Design NABCEP Certified PV installer > Wrenches, > > I am needing a 48 VD

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