A number of structural elements affect the long-term stability of a rooftop photo voltaic racking system. On this episode of The Pitch, we zoom in on SunModo’s method to rooftop rail-based mounting and wire administration, particularly its SMR system, and canopy some latest system updates, with newly appointed CEO Steve Mumma.
Right here’s a part of the transcript regarding wire administration greatest practices. You’ll want to watch the 10-min overview above.
Crowell: Wire administration can usually be an annoying a part of the job, to get completed proper at the least. … What are some points that you simply hear from installers in the case of wire administration?
Mumma: Traditionally, for residential racking, there haven’t been nice options for wire administration. The market’s been hungry for it. Lots of people simply do zip ties or one thing like that, and there’s been racking corporations which have the open channel within the rail for wire administration. There’s considerably of a development with some racking corporations transferring that path, however there’s numerous drawbacks from that.
As quickly as you’ve got that open channel, it makes the rail weaker. … From a code standpoint, you aren’t allowed to have MC4 connectors inside an open channel, so technically it’s essential to have them pulled out, however that’s a element that’s tough for installers to get to. And when you don’t pull them out, you get some water in there and also you get shorts. Additionally with the open channels, if it’s important to return and repair a system, all your wires are trapped beneath the modules.
We’re profiting from the flexibility of our SMR rail system to have options that permit us to simply snap issues on, and we have now a small plastic wire administration clip that simply snaps onto the highest of the rail. It’s straightforward on, straightforward off, after which included in that clip are all kinds of various dimension openings in order that it might accommodate dwelling run, trunk cable, Enphase wires, PV wire, even a spot to place a floor wire on there when you want it. The sweetness is that it’s quick and straightforward as a result of it’s only a easy snap onto the rail however then all of the wires are simply properly contained proper there within the aspect of the rail, they usually’re gripped so it’s not like with a zipper tie the place sure you’re holding the wire however you’re not likely grabbing it, so you may nonetheless have droops which causes you to fail inspections.
Crowell: Staying on the SMR rooftop system, that has been a fairly profitable system for you because you debuted it. What are another points which have led to it resonating together with your clients?
Mumma: It form of all will get again to the rail. The rail is the foundational a part of rail-based racking system. It’s the most costly half after which all the pieces a technique or one other attaches to the rail, so all of it comes again to the rail.
All the things snaps onto the SMR rail, in order that it’s safe however it’s additionally quick for the installer. The opposite place we had been in a position to optimize is from a design standpoint, we had been in a position to have the rail that’s the lightest weight rail by a considerable quantity available on the market, however it’s additionally the strongest rail by a considerable quantity available on the market. SMR rail can be in a position for use as much as 90 psf snow with one rail that’s lighter than all people else’s, however will be mainly used wherever within the nation.
Crowell: Have you ever made every other tweaks or updates because you’ve launched it?
Mumma: We’ve had some minor tweaks. Anytime, you’ve obtained a brand new product, as soon as it hits the market, and also you get numerous suggestions. So, we’ve made some minor tweaks and changes to the clamps and splices and a few numerous different factor. We’re a really responsive firm and we hear.
Crowell: You talked about rolling out [products] market by market, and it looks as if you’re perhaps beginning to enter some newer markets? I noticed some new regional hires introduced.
Mumma: We’re. Large new targets for this yr are the Southwest — we simply introduced on a brand new regional supervisor within the Southwest so we’re going to be aggressively focusing on Arizona, New Mexico, Las Vegas Southern California. We’re additionally going to be seeking to make a a lot stronger push into New England and the Mid-Atlantic. We’ve had a presence in New England for some time however it’s been primarily ground-mount.
Decide up the chat proper right here, the place we focus on another rooftop mounting choices and get a sneak peek at what’s subsequent (trace: it’s steel rooftop mounts).
Source link
