Solar install turning out really bad - looking for some help/advice please.

[Alisobob]

My installer had to move a few attic vents... I asked him today what he used...

StealthLowProfileAttic-Vent.gif

http://www.awardmetals.com/StealthLowProfileVent.htm

Its a very low profile attic vent.

Maybe this might help you with your install....

[silversaver]

My installer had to move a few attic vents... I asked him today what he used...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5465[/ATTACH]

http://www.awardmetals.com/StealthLowProfileVent.htm

Its a very low profile attic vent.

Maybe this might help you with your install....

His roof is already with low profile vents. BTW, looks like your mounting system were Tile Trac from Prosolar.

[HX_Guy]

Well would you look at that! Just got an email from the installer, saying he is out of town until Sunday but they will be back out on Monday to install the solar panels. I'll believe that when I see it.

[Living Large]

Well would you look at that! Just got an email from the installer, saying he is out of town until Sunday but they will be back out on Monday to install the solar panels. I'll believe that when I see it.

Is he bringing the rest of the mounting rails with him? I saw some pigs flying today, and they told me they were headed in your direction. If he's been kept in the loop, he probably realizes you are very highly motivated at this point, and it might be to his benefit to put in a half day or so. Good luck, but be prepared to ride solo.

[HX_Guy]

Yes! I sent him pictures of the current status and told him we need more railing and L feet and he said he will have them with him. I'm tired of being semi-passive as I was in the past with him though, so im going to be up there supervising the whole thing. At this point it's practically done except for about $800 worth of railings and wiring, so I don't have a lot on the line. I'm going to make sure he is doing everything as it should be and as it says on the permit.

[Living Large]

Yes! I sent him pictures of the current status and told him we need more railing and L feet and he said he will have them with him. I'm tired of being semi-passive as I was in the past with him though, so im going to be up there supervising the whole thing. At this point it's practically done except for about $800 worth of railings and wiring, so I don't have a lot on the line. I'm going to make sure he is doing everything as it should be and as it says on the permit.

Sounds like your schedule allows a lot of flexibility, which is good in a case like this - contractor's worst nightmare. This project must be close to completion at this point.

[HX_Guy]

Worked a bit more on the project this morning, did as much as I could given I'm out of railing...would have been nice if I had all the railing, could have gotten everything to a point of just the panels being put in place.

Started out with replacing the installers crappy $2 zip-ties with what you're supposed to use, aluminum wire clips...





Then I installed grounding jumpers between spliced rails (original installed apparently had no plan of doing this?).





And finally put in Weeb grounding lugs to run the bare copper wiring through and connect/ground all the rails together.

[Living Large]

Worked a bit more on the project this morning, did as much as I could given I'm out of railing...would have been nice if I had all the railing, could have gotten everything to a point of just the panels being put in place.

Started out with replacing the installers crappy $2 zip-ties with what you're supposed to use, aluminum wire clips...{snip}

Those black straps may be perfectly acceptable functionally, and may not look so bad with properly dressed wires, though the metal clips create a clean look.

Looks like you are still getting sun. Here we had 14 straight cloudy days, which started making me feel crazy for wanting to go to an off grid house.

[HX_Guy]

I've been told by several locals that the black zip ties last maybe a few years out here in Phoenix.

[Volusiano]

Those black straps may be perfectly acceptable functionally, and may not look so bad with properly dressed wires, though the metal clips create a clean look.

Looks like you are still getting sun. Here we had 14 straight cloudy days, which started making me feel crazy for wanting to go to an off grid house.

Those zip ties probably won't last very long in AZ weather. It's too hot and dry here that I can see them plastic zip ties get brittle and break over the years, especially sitting on the hot roof top years in and out.

We actually have had very cloudy days in the last couple of weeks over the holidays. It's only gotten sunny again recently. My production number for December was a little bit lower than the PV estimate. The December before was a little bit over the PV estimate.

[foo1bar]

Those zip ties probably won't last very long in AZ weather. It's too hot and dry here that I can see them plastic zip ties get brittle and break over the years, especially sitting on the hot roof top years in and out.

The bigger problem for them is UV, not heat and dryness.

But if they're under the panels, they should get very little UV, and should last quite a few years. (My guess would be >10 years; probably >20 since they wouldn't have any vibration or oils/other chemicals getting on them.)

[Volusiano]

The bigger problem for them is UV, not heat and dryness.

But if they're under the panels, they should get very little UV, and should last quite a few years. (My guess would be >10 years; probably >20 since they wouldn't have any vibration or oils/other chemicals getting on them.)

Yep, I agree that the bigger problem would be UV like you said. But also like you said, they're not greatly exposed to UV under the panels, so that's why I didn't account the UV into the deterioration. Still not convinced they'd last >20 years like you think.

I think the OP did the right thing by replacing them with the metal brackets while he still has easy access to them up front before the panels go on.

[HX_Guy]

Here is what an AZ installer had to say about the zip ties...


"Plastic ZIP ties - the hallmark of a crappy installer. Even the "good" UV stabilized black ties last about 2 years max in the Arizona heat. Even though they may be out of the sun/in the shade - the plastic resins still dry out and the they fall apart. Don't plan on those rubber standoff boots lasting 25 years either. Also, make sure you don't have any of the wiring exposed to the sun."

[Living Large]

I've been told by several locals that the black zip ties last maybe a few years out here in Phoenix.

I'm old enough to admit I may have been wrong. While black is more resistant to UV, it doesn't mean it will withstand roof use. I have those ties around my service entrance pipe - to hold cable and telephone cables. But that is ground level - not a hot roof. Good job identifying this weakness and replacing them.

[HX_Guy]

So of course my installer did not show up today as promised, and no call either. Call him before noon, no answer, sent a text, no reply.

Finally heard back by text just now, 4 hours later...


"We will not make it today. I apologize. Too many things I had to deal with today from being gone for the last couple weeks. However will be there tomorrow morning between 89 to wrap everything up"

LOL @ wrapping everything up in one day.

I replied...

"There is no way this can be wrapped up tomorrow. There is a lot of racking to do and all the electrical needs to be redone, we are not accepting the half-assed flexible tubing and conduit curved around the eve like you did it. It needs to be fed into the wall and through the attic like I’ve seen on every single other solar install.

If you guys do not come tomorrow morning and also finish by the end of the week, we are canceling the project and having the funds reversed."