Position of rails/clamps

[wstevew]

Do you think the where the panels are clamped is ok, They are Suntech so ok clamped on the short side, but I refer to the overhang, as you can see there is some slight movement between the 2 rows on each array.

 

[petex2416]

Love to see the wind calcs on this. Clamps too far from the outer edge and panels look too close to the roof edge as well....

 

[wstevew]

Front View

 

[petex2416]

Just goes to show how deceiving a photo can be!!

Still really needs the clamps closer to the outer edge though. however looking at the chimney, gap to the gutter, rail/hook positioning you probably couldn't. Cross braced framing to allow long edge clamping maybe?

 

[JulianC]

Yup, the top and bottom rails need moving up and down a course respectively. See this quite often with seemingly no logic behind it (ie. no reason not to do it properly in the first place)

 

[moggy1968]

yep, totally unacceptable, far too much overhang.
Are they one of those companies that says they can fit panels in 3-4 hours? :smilewinkgrin:

 

[1shortcircuit]

Why have they only had the front of the house rendered????

 

[wstevew]

yep, totally unacceptable, far too much overhang.
Are they one of those companies that says they can fit panels in 3-4 hours? :smilewinkgrin:

Funny you should say that, It was started on a Friday at 8:30am and they left about 13:40pm, 2 Roofers & 1 Spark.

 

[Gavin A]

that installation voids the manufacturers warrantee by a long way. For mounting on the short side with Suntech it should be no more than 1/4 of the distance from the edge + 50mm, whereas that top panel looks like the top rail is about at the half way point.

I'd get them back to sort it out. Apart from anything else, it might teach them to do it right first time every time, as there's no excuse for this sort of sloppyness - really IMO it's down to poor training and quality control from the company.

With those tiles you'd need 2 tiles between the rails for each panel, then single tile between the top rail on the bottom panel, and bottom rail on the top panel. We also always carry both U and L shaped brackets to give more flexibility on the mounting position, with the U brackets putting the rail 10cm further up the roof than the L.

also, not having the panels lining up properly is pretty shoddy, no excuse on a roof like that other than poor workmanship.

installation manual is here http://eu.suntech-power.com/images/...2_installation manual_global_final_en_web.pdf

 

[SolarCity]

What Suntech model are they? Not all Suntechs can be mounted on the short sides....

 

[wstevew]

They are STP240S-20/Wd. Manual above says they can be landscape mounted but not with the clamps where they are.

Looking at the manual it says:

Modules can be installed on the frame using mounting holes, clamps* or an
insertion system. Modules must be installed according to the following examples. Not
mounting the modules according to these instructions may void the warranty.

* The minimum recommended length for each clamp is 50 mm.

• Inappropriate transport and installation may break the module and void the
warranty.


Im not sure those clamps are 50mm wide

 

[Gavin A]

[minor tangent]
On that installation diagram in the manual it has an option for mounting in areas with high snow loads, which has mounting both on the short side, and in the centre of the long side. I've just confuddled myself trying to sus out how that could work in practice, as with cruciform mounting one rail would always be low than the other.

Not that I'm planning on doing any alpine work, but we do sometimes install up in Scotland, so it could come up.
[/minor tangent]

 

[SolarCity]

[minor tangent]
On that installation diagram in the manual it has an option for mounting in areas with high snow loads, which has mounting both on the short side, and in the centre of the long side. I've just confuddled myself trying to sus out how that could work in practice, as with cruciform mounting one rail would always be low than the other.

Not that I'm planning on doing any alpine work, but we do sometimes install up in Scotland, so it could come up.
[/minor tangent]

I've seen this before. I've never understood it either. Unless some tiny rails are installed in between - not likely.

 

[wstevew]

Thanks everyone,

I have emailed my supplier with the photo's, manual and pointing out their installation instructions.

I also have the supplier visiting tomorrow anyway due to random 601 errors (that don't affect generation) on the Inverter.

 

[Earthstore]

[minor tangent]
On that installation diagram in the manual it has an option for mounting in areas with high snow loads, which has mounting both on the short side, and in the centre of the long side. I've just confuddled myself trying to sus out how that could work in practice, as with cruciform mounting one rail would always be low than the other.

Not that I'm planning on doing any alpine work, but we do sometimes install up in Scotland, so it could come up.
[/minor tangent]

If you used a cruciform mounting, could you not just use a packer/spacer to overcome the difference in frame height at the mounting point?

Just a thought.