Should I say Anything?

[martinj]

Agree with Fen

 

[Steveremf]

This is a bit like the dilemma with general electrical work, I have lost count how many times I have seen shoddy work installed by fellow NICEIC contractors. If you point it out to the client you feel like you are trying to make work and, believe me, the NICIEC are not overly interested in whistle blowers.
On the subject of orientation of panels, we sometimes put panels in landscape (especially on very tight roofs)., Schletter even do a clip to facilitate this. I have spoken at length to two frame companies and there really doesn't seem to be an awful lot in it. If the frame is properly installed (correctly spaced in relation to the panels) we are only talking an extra 300mm each side between portrait and landscape. I know the panel manufacturers don't like it but are we likely to see failures because of it. I would be more worried about overhanging systems, not enough anchors, badly fixed anchors, poor electrical methods etc, etc.
This is the first post on here, and all I'm looking for is the opinion of others, I am in no way putting previous opinions down.

 

[dingledong]

earthstore as i said i have never run away i'v stuck my oar in for the underdog time and time again but with the electrical suppliers you cant beat them .when i was told by the electricity board " we could of had a man there within an hour but to teach you a lesson we cant get any one out till 7 pm so you'll have to wait " and guess what all calls are recorded but on that day there was something wrong so they weren.t
a landlord knicking electric from a shop for the flat above visited the shop 8 or 9 times a phone call from the landlord threatening of course and another arguement with electric provider as there was nothing they can do
i have took up the cause for many but get a thanks if i'm luckyor i and up doing it all and spending hours on the phone
i was jusr giving my advice from what has happened to me .if you dont want to get dragged into it as some one pointed out , but if you do knock and give them a card explain exactly whats wrong and take it from there

 

[SRE]

On the subject of orientation of panels, we sometimes put panels in landscape (especially on very tight roofs)., Schletter even do a clip to facilitate this. I have spoken at length to two frame companies and there really doesn't seem to be an awful lot in it. If the frame is properly installed (correctly spaced in relation to the panels) we are only talking an extra 300mm each side between portrait and landscape. I know the panel manufacturers don't like it but are we likely to see failures because of it. I would be more worried about overhanging systems, not enough anchors, badly fixed anchors, poor electrical methods etc, etc.
This is the first post on here, and all I'm looking for is the opinion of others, I am in no way putting previous opinions down.

It's not the fact that they are landscape (unless they really are Sanyo as I said I couldn't see properly because the roof was so steep) we do loads of landscape with the correct fixings and the correct panels - it's the placing of the roof fixings and the possibility that the panels may be Sanyo which can't be fitted on the short side (unless they are the new 247's).

All it needs is someone to go back to the installers and to get them to fix the rail in the correct position and confirm the panels can be fitted on the short side. If they are a half decent firm then it shouldn't be a problem to resolve a rogue install. I'm thinking I might knock on the door as a neighbour. Our village is so small that they will probably find out quickly who it was and I don't want to create any bad feeling.

Maybe if we'd advertised locally they would have known to come to us

 

[whlphil]

Put it another way, you dont tell them about it then at some point in the future whilst kids are walking past on their way to school a gust of wind rips of the panel lands it on a kid and kills them how would you feel now?

I'd tell them but thats just me, if someone calls me a prat for bringing it up I can live with that.

 

[SolarCity]

To be fair, I don't really see the 'gust of wind, decapitated child' scenario as being that realistic. The panel isn't going to blow off the roof - at least not without half the roof and the rest of the panels with it.

Sanyos mounted on the short side is a very bad idea though. The warranty is already void. I wonder if the customer has been made aware of that.....

 

[MCS Renewables]

Evil prospers when good men do nothing - John Curran 1783

 

[whlphil]

To be fair, I don't really see the 'gust of wind, decapitated child' scenario as being that realistic. The panel isn't going to blow off the roof - at least not without half the roof and the rest of the panels with it.

Sanyos mounted on the short side is a very bad idea though. The warranty is already void. I wonder if the customer has been made aware of that.....

The Japanese also said they had thought of every scenario for a Nuclear power plant built on a fault line!

Safe rather than sorry for me!

 

[SolarCity]

That's true!

There has to be a limit to our worries though. Otherwise we'd have a nervous breakdown before long, worrying about dustbin lids being hurled through the hair on freak gusts, cleaving pensioners skulls open etc.

We have talked a lot about the dangers of poorly installed systems on site. Unless the system has been diabolically installed then the worst situation I can see occuring is panels slipping (gradually) or a section of the array becoming loose. Of course, there is always a risk of danger to the property itself but then this danger is always there regardless of a PV installation. Get a wind strong enough and it'll damage any property.

 

[whlphil]

Yep dont agree with drawing the line at something sensible but I would say that one is pretty wrong.

I think the point with that one tho is that the support is so far from the end of the panel that it will be imparting a significant moment onto the roof hook bracket and also will suffer from excessive vibration which may well loosen the clamps over time, 25 years is a long time..

 

[moggy1968]

sorry, missread the post!! The new Samsung 247s can be mounted on the short side, not sanyo!!!

 

[SRE]

I thought Sanyo 247 was a bit odd but there's so much new stuff out I just thought I'd missed it!