mrdavvv
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2020
- Messages
- 404
Hello!
So it was my idea to install some solar panels at my company's warehouse, so im watching the installation, hoping that it goes smooth and hopefully we start to add more arrays.
Im starting to think that we should look for other company for this..... We hired some guys that had some good references and photographic evidence of past works in this kind of installation (Metallic roof warehouse). Unfortunately we didn't did a good check on this and maybe the photos arent even theirs.
From the beginning they didn't gave us a good impression, arrived 3 hours late, in a normal small SUV without any decals, with all the aluminum profiles and panels in the backseats (Wonder how they managed to do that). Next they asked for a stair to go up to the warehouse since they didn't bring one with them...next red flag was seeing them putting all the nuts with an small wrench, not even ratchet, not even an drill or impact gun, a wrench for all the nuts!. So logically, its taking them 3 days instead of the promised 5 hours.
Anyways, we went up to check the the advance of the work:
- They didn't put any braces between the legs of the structure, so after adding the panels, the weight of them twisted the structure, in such a way that the legs in red flexed to the right. That caused the panels to bend and flex as you can see in this photos:
On the top right leg, you can see that they are not aligned, because of the structure deformed by PV weight:
There is some cool systems to attach PV systems to mettalic roofs, not this one... just put a hole, a little aluminum angle and some silicon... doesnt look very safe. If you push the structure everything moves, so we expect the seal to fail after some time from sun, movement and age...
---
As they arrived in a SUV, the aluminum profiles were cut to 2mt, and then braced together, it looks rigid enough but i think it would have been better to just put a single 4mt lengh profile:
:
----
Anyways, what do you think about this installation?.
We are worried for the panels.. i don't know a lot about PV but ive read some datasheets and they emphasize to avoid any deformations, bending or physicall damage while transporting or installing. Its my understanding that putting excesive pressure or deformation can cause microfractures, but not sure if im being paranoid or its this degree of deformation can effectively damage the panels.
Thanks a lot!, im kind of worried of this going south and causing the PV project to be cancelled
So it was my idea to install some solar panels at my company's warehouse, so im watching the installation, hoping that it goes smooth and hopefully we start to add more arrays.
Im starting to think that we should look for other company for this..... We hired some guys that had some good references and photographic evidence of past works in this kind of installation (Metallic roof warehouse). Unfortunately we didn't did a good check on this and maybe the photos arent even theirs.
From the beginning they didn't gave us a good impression, arrived 3 hours late, in a normal small SUV without any decals, with all the aluminum profiles and panels in the backseats (Wonder how they managed to do that). Next they asked for a stair to go up to the warehouse since they didn't bring one with them...next red flag was seeing them putting all the nuts with an small wrench, not even ratchet, not even an drill or impact gun, a wrench for all the nuts!. So logically, its taking them 3 days instead of the promised 5 hours.
Anyways, we went up to check the the advance of the work:
- They didn't put any braces between the legs of the structure, so after adding the panels, the weight of them twisted the structure, in such a way that the legs in red flexed to the right. That caused the panels to bend and flex as you can see in this photos:
On the top right leg, you can see that they are not aligned, because of the structure deformed by PV weight:
There is some cool systems to attach PV systems to mettalic roofs, not this one... just put a hole, a little aluminum angle and some silicon... doesnt look very safe. If you push the structure everything moves, so we expect the seal to fail after some time from sun, movement and age...
---
As they arrived in a SUV, the aluminum profiles were cut to 2mt, and then braced together, it looks rigid enough but i think it would have been better to just put a single 4mt lengh profile:
:
----
Anyways, what do you think about this installation?.
We are worried for the panels.. i don't know a lot about PV but ive read some datasheets and they emphasize to avoid any deformations, bending or physicall damage while transporting or installing. Its my understanding that putting excesive pressure or deformation can cause microfractures, but not sure if im being paranoid or its this degree of deformation can effectively damage the panels.
- So do you see problems with this installation?, what do you think?
- Its possible that the panels were damage for this?
- Should we ask for panel replacement?, as maybe this have some "invisible" damage that can cause problems later?
- Any sources or documentation so we can have some talking point of proof to show to the installer?. They are most likely going to say that everything its OK.
- Any examples of propper mounting in metallic roofs?.
Thanks a lot!, im kind of worried of this going south and causing the PV project to be cancelled
