REC Group in Norway has taken the high road in dealing with the junction
box problem on modules they made in 2008. The problem is old news. REC
discovered that the junction box they were using, which connected to the
tabing material coming out of the back of their modules with a
compression connection had the potential of developing a bad connection
and causing lower power output. These modules were sold in the US from
August through December of 2008 and they are labeled REC SCMxxx where
xxx is the wattage. The junction can be repaired by soldering the
connection. REC Group is planning to spend over $50 Million replacing
or repairing all of the modules with this junction box. Their new line
of modules labeled RECxxxAE-US has soldered connections in the junction
box so there is no worry about this problem.
Most major module manufacturers have had similar problems over the past
20 years. Some have replaced modules in mass and other have waited for
them to fail.
I am not worried about REC Group making good on any problems that come
up with their modules over the next 25 years. They are one of the
largest and most stable companies in the solar business and they make
wafers and cells for many of the major module manufacturers. They are
dedicated to making high quality modules and they are doing a good job
of making PV modules more affordable.
My biggest worry is what will happen to the thousands of low cost
Chinese and Indian made modules that are flooding in if there is a
warranty problem with one of their module manufacturers. Will they have
$50 million to replace the products or will they just disappear?
Thanks,
David
David Katz
President
AEE Solar
1155 Redway Drive
P.O. Box 339
Redway, CA 95560
Tel (707) 825-1200
Fax (707) 825-1202
da...@aeesolar.com <mailto:da...@aeesolar.com>
www.aeesolar.com <http://www.aeesolar.com>
DISCLAIMER:
This communication, along with any documents, files or attachments, is
intended for the use of only the addressee and contains privileged and
confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are
hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of any
information contained in or attached to this communication is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify
the sender immediately by e-mail reply and destroy the original
communication and its attachments without reading, printing or saving in
any manner.
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
_______________________________________________
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
