Re: [RE-wrenches] Inter-row shading, additional information

William, In a series string, the one-cell shading in the long dimension will reduce the voltage of the string by 1/3 of one module. This is often a small amount of voltage since 12 or 13 modules are in string. In lower voltage systems, the loss will be much more pronounced. No shading is good

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage modules in high voltage applications

I still have some old Xantrex STXR inverters that work on 48 volts and i can give him a deal on a Beacon 48 volt grid-tie inverter too. The modules are probably safe at 48 volts. Give him my number. i have a bridge to sell him, too. David David Katz Chief Technical Officer AEE Solar 1155

Re: [RE-wrenches] Lags & Trusses

Friends: Over the years we used all lengths and diameters of lags. We do not use any of these lags anymore, ever since we discovered the Simpson 1/4"X3" hot dip galvanized strong drive lags. They require no pilot hole, drive easily with an impact driver and the inspectors and plan checkers s

Re: [RE-wrenches] FM60/rectifier for gen charging

toddc...@finestplanet.com wrote: Don't you think the transformer is good for isolation? Todd I like transformer isolation, but I suppose as long as the neutral of the generator is tied to ground and battery negative you'll be OK. As far as capacitors go, there is usually plenty of capacitan

Re: [RE-wrenches] E-meter/Link-10 prescaler

Hi Todd, If you get desperate, you can buy them from the company that manufactured them for Xantrex. It is the same company that made the Link meters for them and still sells them in Europe. It is TBS electronics. http://www.tbs-electronics.nl/products_expertpro_15voltageprescalerkit.htm Che

Re: [RE-wrenches] FM60/rectifier for gen charging

Don't you think the transformer is good for isolation? Todd On Tuesday, April 27, 2010 4:26pm, "ryan" said: > I have done this a couple times. I have done this with a MX60 and a > MidNite Classic the beauty with the Classic is you can eliminate the > Transformer. I Simply rectified the 120vac a

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage modules in high voltage applications

Well, the humor IS excellent, but what is at stake here is nipping 'projects' like this in the bud. Solar electric systems, in general, have an excellent safety record, and we do not need some cheap-a$$ outfit (or DIY'ers) doing our industry a misjustice that may be widely publicized. I get reque

[RE-wrenches] E-meter/Link-10 prescaler

I am looking for any old stock or leads for the now discontinued E-meter/Link-10 prescaler. 0-100 volts. Thanks, Todd ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrench

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage modules in high voltage applications

Just thinking out loud here.if we all sort of sit back and wait for the flames, is that where we really want to be? Granted, the party responsible for this debacle has dug their own hole, but I don't relish the thought of the waste of a building, the danger involved in fighting a fire, the poll

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage modules in high voltage applications

Is there any way someone could get a picture of this installation for the "Hall of flame" gallery ? I can just see those separate wires going through the roof, but I can't print it. boB -- My local solar competition and long time

[RE-wrenches] FM60/rectifier for gen charging

I have done this a couple times. I have done this with a MX60 and a MidNite Classic the beauty with the Classic is you can eliminate the Transformer. I Simply rectified the 120vac and fed it into the Classic works like a charm. I ran about 30 to 40 amps output into a 24 volt battery bank. Ther

[RE-wrenches] Need one or two small PV

Greetings ... I need two 35-50 watt 12V PV .. or one 70-100 watt 24V PV for an upcoming series of adult education classes I'm conducting. Moderately negotiable on wattage. Mono or poly preferred. Leaded or j-box doesn't matter. Brand not a concern as long as they're identical models, intact

Re: [RE-wrenches] Lags & Trusses

Hi Drake and all, We have had both engineers and inspectors question the use of a 3/8" 4" lag in a 2x4 top chord and I think rightfully so. When we have a chance to spec new construction we have the architect replace the 2x4 top chord with a 2x6. And when we have to go into 2x4's we either

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage modules in high voltage applications

Jeff Yago wrote: First let me say that we almost never work on failed systems, especially when its for somebody that picked our brains on pretense of buying a system, then they went out and bought everything on the internet, and when nothing worked they call us! Also, let me say that the foll

Re: [RE-wrenches] Lags & Trusses

Our Building Dept requires PE sign-off on all roof-mounts, so our engineer has evaluated a few trusses for us, and has never brought up an issue about lags. I'll ask him what he thinks about this. Most trusses are built all of 2x4's but some we've seen have 2x6 top chords, which are reassuring to s

Re: [RE-wrenches] Lags & Trusses

When we talked to a manufacturer they wanted us to put supporting lumber on top of the roof to support the array rather than penetrate the truss with a lag bolt every 4'. We tried to get them to accept a "drill through" and a bolt with a fender washer. We abandoned the project. Max Balchows

Re: [RE-wrenches] Volcanos, reduced solar production and kWh performance warr...

Pat, At what point (kW or cost) does a weather station with online monitoring make sense? I like to put a weather station on all commercial PV systems and upscale residential systems unless the client does not want it or will not pay for it. I like to measure irradiance, wind speed and directi

Re: [RE-wrenches] Fwd: low voltage modules in high voltage applications

I hate to up you guys on this but you know the emails we get from our friends over there in PV, China?? They had 159,354 solar powered calculators that the "+" button didn't work. OOOHH, what a deal we got on those little amorphous cells for the system we're installing at the local Building De

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage modules in high voltage applications

It's a damn shame we're not derivatives traders or we could "sell short" the guys house and make a bundle. As just working stiffs, that's against the law... Bob-O On Apr 27, 2010, at 8:59 AM, Chris Worcester wrote: I got my tickets on Ticketmaster! Flying in a day earlier to get front row seats

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage modules in high voltage applications

I got my tickets on Ticketmaster! Flying in a day earlier to get front row seats, welding helmet’s packed, can’t wait! Sincerely, Chris Worcester Solar Wind Works NABCEP Certified PV Installer Phone: 530-582-4503 Fax: 530-582-4603 www.solarwindworks.com

[RE-wrenches] Fwd: low voltage modules in high voltage applications

We have been working on a similar project - we picked up 10,000 solar pathway lights on the cheap and have removed the little modules. been a bit tedious, but should be well worth the savings John McNicholas NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer ™ Key Power Services, Inc. Begin forwarded

Re: [RE-wrenches] Lags & Trusses

Wow, this could be a hairball. Needless to say, we've all probably already done this, more than a few times. Butas a former carpenter though claiming no expert truss knowledge, my sense is that the top chord of the trusses should be in compression. Therefore, a 3/8" diameter lag, for instan

[RE-wrenches] Lags & Trusses

Hello Wrenches, I just talked to a carpenter, who we are installing an array for. He is putting a new roof on the building and was talking to the manufacturer of the trusses. He mentioned that he was having an array installed on the roof. The truss manufacturer said there were problems wit

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage modules in high voltage applications

I second Mike's suggestion for sunglasses on startup. Wait, better go for welding helmets. Those DC arcs are bright. And I bet they didn't use listed electrical tape either! :-) Thanks for sharing this one. Dick Ratico Solarwind Electric --- You wrote: Typically those types of modules a

Re: [RE-wrenches] FM60/rectifier for gen charging

Hi what you are referring to is sometimes called the DT Kluge. I have used it in a couple of ways. The original reason was to use a small, 120 volt, low quality generator to act as an emergency charging scheme for an Outback Bimodal system. (Grid tied where they were having frequent outages an

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage modules in high voltage applications

Typically those types of modules are rated for 30V. Most 12v amorphous modules under 40 watts are rated for that. I would recommend sunglasses for startup. Mike m...@powerupco.com From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage modules in high voltage applications

First let me say that we almost never work on failed systems, especially when its for somebody that picked our brains on pretense of buying a system, then they went out and bought everything on the internet, and when nothing worked they call us!Also, let me say that the following project has nothin

Re: [RE-wrenches] FM60/rectifier for gen charging

Ahh, the old "DT kludge". I have done this here at my home because the GFX only has one AC input... grr... so this is a good workaround. As long as you take the 120 or 240 down to ~ 60 volts, you will be fine. My 3 kW xmfr (got used online - very heavy and expensive) has a 240 volt input/outputs