Looking for advice on a solar installation issue.
When I was deciding on which company to go with, one of the final two companies said that they would not like to put the panels on tilts due to the location of our house/roof on the side of a hill (approx 50metres AGL). The other company said that tilts would be fine and the best option to receive maximum power returns. We went with the company with the tilt option as they seemed very good and the price was $2k cheaper for the same components. I asked that company on two occasions what sort of wind rating do they have and they said it would take a hurricane to blow them off. They were installed 2 months ago. The installation was great, no complaints in any way.
I have a 24 panel split system, with one 12 panel section of my panels on a flat roof (steel framed house) in two rows of six panels. The front row is tilted at 25deg and the back row tilted at around 45deg due to the width of the roof. They originally quoted the job at a 25deg angle for all panels, then on the installation day realised the back row wouldn't fit at that angle, so mounted them at a higher angle so they would fit. I never knew this until after the job was done and I thought it looked a little strange from the front of the house, but what the heck, at least we'd get the best solar power returns.
Last weekend when we had a storm pass through Brisbane City, one of my solar panels ended up a few blocks away and four other panels were also ripped from their mounts but stayed on the roof wedged under the panels in front of them. The tilt racks were fine and remain fixed/undamaged to the roof, but apparently the screw heads which hold C clamps to the tilt racks had failed - the flat top sides of the screw had bent back/snapped off. No other damage occurred to my building or any other building/trees/etc in the street.
I rang the solar company as there were exposed wires and they sent out someone that afternoon, who refitted the 4 panels that had dislodged so the system could be back operational with just the one shattered panel missing. They said that they would be discussing the issue with the boss on Monday. They also said that those four panels had some sort of minor damage and probably should be replaced as well.
I hadn't heard from the solar company for a few days and then received a bill for about $250 for the call out on the weekend.
Since the panels were only put up two months ago and I have been overseas for 4 weeks of that time, I hadn't contacted my insurance company to advise that I had put a 6KW solar system on my roof and don't think they will cover the damage.
Should the company foot the bill, replace the damaged panels, lower the panels?
Should the system be lowered or flat mounted? How do I find this out?
What are my options?
Solar panels blown off in high winds
(7 posts) (4 voices)-
Zagami
MemberPosted Saturday 24 Nov 2012 @ 4:06:26 am from IP # -
Your installer. As they should have been installed in accordance to engineered design, suitable for the area.
Most large companies sub-contract out their installations. And therefor the installers are not in charge of what equipment they are given for the job.
Call the place you bought it from.
Posted Saturday 24 Nov 2012 @ 10:23:38 am from IP # -
cool at home
MemberA somewhat side issue, if you have a single inverter, all panels need to be on the same axis, including tilt. Without this you may be getting considerably less return on your investment than you could.
Re insurance, if no other damage was incurred to yours or other buildings in your street, regardless of the damage done elsewhere by that same storm, I would think you have a strong case for saying the panel installation was "not fit for purpose", and so the responsibility of the supplier. If the whole street had been laid low, things might be different.
Posted Sunday 25 Nov 2012 @ 2:12:10 am from IP # -
Zagami
MemberThe company I dealt with was a large electrical company that branched out into solar panels several years ago. They have employees/installers who are electricians who have done the solar installation training required. Because they are an electrical company, they used top quality wiring, etc in the installation. It just seems to me that they got the tilt angle wrong for my situation/location.
My system is 6kw of LG panels with a Sunnyboy 5kw inverter. Apparently it can handle an equal split system mounting. It seemed to be working fine just before the storm damage, generating over 38kw in a day when I happened to check the inverter readings on a sunny day. All the panels are on the same axis, but the tilt of 6 of the panels is different.
Re no other damage from the storm in the street - that's what I was thinking also. The wind gusts did seem strong on that day, but it seemed weird that there was no other structual damage in the street.Posted Sunday 25 Nov 2012 @ 6:28:54 pm from IP # -
decerebrated
MemberAs Natimuk said it is your installers problem.
Their are Australian design rules to which the the panels should have been installed to. The ADR's include wind loadings that specify what winds the mounts should have been designed to cope with.
As there was no other storm damage in the street, the installer must have done a faulty install and is liable for any repairs damage etc.Posted Monday 26 Nov 2012 @ 9:46:10 am from IP # -
Zagami
MemberI rang the installer today and they said that they accept no responsibility as it was just a freak storm event. They said that there was some major damage in other suburbs of Brisbane, even though I said there was no other damage in my street and surrounding areas.
I found out that the Australian Standards state that the wind rating for solar panels installations in the Brisbane area should be 220 km/hr. This is quite a bit higher than the weather reports that the storm winds were up to 90 km/hr on the day on question.
So I contacted the company that makes the tilt rail systems and they seemed surprised that the panels came off the roof as this has never happened before. He said he would come out and inspect the installation in the next few days to see if it was installed in accordance with the manufacturers specifications.
If it's not installed correctly, then I can submit a complaint to the Clean Energy Council.Posted Monday 26 Nov 2012 @ 11:04:23 am from IP # -
cool at home
MemberTime to get a bit "tasty" with your installer, I'd say - although report from tilt rail company should help. A formal complaint in writing, including lack of damage elsewhere in your street with a closing statement that you will go public about this issue if not resolved within a short period, cc to the industry council/association in your state, and a solicitors letter if you must. Theirs sounds like a glib and rehearsed line, not one based on legal or insurance company advice.
It's easy for them to say the storm was "freakish"
But do they really want a story in the paper high-lighting that there product was alone in being damaged in your street and actual wind speeds?? I suspect not. I wonder too if BOM might we able to give you better data on wind speeds in your area on that date??Good luck.
Posted Tuesday 27 Nov 2012 @ 8:56:11 pm from IP #
