Just put new solar panels on my boat about 3 months ago (2 - 125 watt panels mounted together). They are mounted on top of my dingy davits. One of the neighbors on the dock started talking about how the panels are flexing while at dock "The only thing that is moving on the panels is the mount, The panels aren't flexing at all". So, this guy decides that he wants to come up and show me something. Well, before I knew it he had his hands on my solar panels and flexed the hell out of them (about 4 inches up on the corner of the panel). I could hear cracking but wasn't sure if it was the frame making the noise. The glass is still ok. Within minuets I started to check the output. I put the panels in direct sun light and the panels only put out 3.9 amps. They usually put out 12-14 amps. It was a windy day and I'm thinking that the dust in the air might have had something to do with the low output. I'm not going back down to the boat for another 2 weeks and it has been bugging me ever since I left the boat. Do you thing this guy cracked the crystals in the panels? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
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Some neighbor!!
It sounds likely that your "neighbor" did damage your panels. Ask him to pony up the repair cash...before you engage in bodily harm.
It sounds likely that your "neighbor" did damage your panels. Ask him to pony up the repair cash...before you engage in bodily harm.
Neighbor should get the bill...
I am not an expert , but, I think he broke the panels....A windy day would not cause the drop in output unless it was extremely cloudy. The panels are not meant to be twisted like he did. Check thru your manual to see if it has any comments on handling and what not to do. Don't wait too long till you confront him. The longer you wait, the harder it maybe to prove it was his actions that caused the damage. Being the panels are only three months old and worked fine before the neighborly flexing....I would say it is pretty clear what happened.
I am not an expert , but, I think he broke the panels....A windy day would not cause the drop in output unless it was extremely cloudy. The panels are not meant to be twisted like he did. Check thru your manual to see if it has any comments on handling and what not to do. Don't wait too long till you confront him. The longer you wait, the harder it maybe to prove it was his actions that caused the damage. Being the panels are only three months old and worked fine before the neighborly flexing....I would say it is pretty clear what happened.
I have already confronted him...
He doesn't think he did any damage. I'm going to check the output next time I go to the boat and then take them off and send them back to the factory and see if the will warranty them. If not I'll get a report from the factory on what is wrong with them and hand it over to the neighbor. I'm sure he will dispute it. BTW, they were working fine the whole weekend.
He doesn't think he did any damage. I'm going to check the output next time I go to the boat and then take them off and send them back to the factory and see if the will warranty them. If not I'll get a report from the factory on what is wrong with them and hand it over to the neighbor. I'm sure he will dispute it. BTW, they were working fine the whole weekend.
Its a custom built.....(not by him)
Not sure who the designer is. Should I mention he's a licensed shipwright??
Not sure who the designer is. Should I mention he's a licensed shipwright??
I wouldn't be too mad at my neighbor.
125 watt panels should be rugged enough that if he fell on them they shouldn't break. If they seperated and cracked internally, I would exercise my warranty. Call the manufacturer or the dealer that sold the panels and get a refund or replacement. I have had Kyocera panels on two successive boats without any incidents. They have been subjected to being dropped, fallen on and the general winds and weather without failure. Good luck. Jim
125 watt panels should be rugged enough that if he fell on them they shouldn't break. If they seperated and cracked internally, I would exercise my warranty. Call the manufacturer or the dealer that sold the panels and get a refund or replacement. I have had Kyocera panels on two successive boats without any incidents. They have been subjected to being dropped, fallen on and the general winds and weather without failure. Good luck. Jim
Warranty best bet
On one side you have a clear warranty issue with no hassle and no bad feelings among neighbors. Conversely, you could go to court ultimately (only purpose for needing a witness) at great expense to you both with no guarantee of the outcome being in your favor and lots of bad feelings. Or, just return it to the merchant for a replacement. Seems like a simple choice....
On one side you have a clear warranty issue with no hassle and no bad feelings among neighbors. Conversely, you could go to court ultimately (only purpose for needing a witness) at great expense to you both with no guarantee of the outcome being in your favor and lots of bad feelings. Or, just return it to the merchant for a replacement. Seems like a simple choice....
Agree with Jentine....what kind of panels are t
they that can be so easily broken. Sounds like these panels would have broken just the same in 30 knott winds, 6-7 foot swells pounding on the boat. He did you a favor, he broke it for you while under warranty.
they that can be so easily broken. Sounds like these panels would have broken just the same in 30 knott winds, 6-7 foot swells pounding on the boat. He did you a favor, he broke it for you while under warranty.
PLEEEEASE!
Try to get warrenty to replace them. The marina, at least for me, is the 1 place in the world to go be happy. If my nieghbor sank my boat by accident he would be forgiven. If someone was distructive to drum up business...that's another story. Is there any remote motivation for intentionally busting you stuff?
Try to get warrenty to replace them. The marina, at least for me, is the 1 place in the world to go be happy. If my nieghbor sank my boat by accident he would be forgiven. If someone was distructive to drum up business...that's another story. Is there any remote motivation for intentionally busting you stuff?
Win the battle, lose the war....
Keep in mind, lots of sick minded people out there. Pick a fight, bad things might happen to your boat even if your right... not worth it. Thank him for showing you the poor design of the panels, get the company to give you your money back...or get better panels.
Keep in mind, lots of sick minded people out there. Pick a fight, bad things might happen to your boat even if your right... not worth it. Thank him for showing you the poor design of the panels, get the company to give you your money back...or get better panels.
Brand?
What make of solar panel? Been thru hurricanes down here where panels have been shattered by crashing into other boats, yet they still work fine. I'm using one with a crushed corner, still doing well. I agree with other posters that the panel should not fail with a bit of bending. Wind and waves would do that anyway. Contact the manufacturer!
What make of solar panel? Been thru hurricanes down here where panels have been shattered by crashing into other boats, yet they still work fine. I'm using one with a crushed corner, still doing well. I agree with other posters that the panel should not fail with a bit of bending. Wind and waves would do that anyway. Contact the manufacturer!
Why would you stand by and let someone break your
How could you just stand by and let someone break you boat? That's stupid. The world is full of maniacs, smart is not to bring them aboard.
How could you just stand by and let someone break you boat? That's stupid. The world is full of maniacs, smart is not to bring them aboard.
interesting replies
Custom panels? How so? Yet you say there is a factory, and they are warrented. If so, send them back under warrenty. Problem solved, so far, assuming they replace them. If they don't resolve the issue, your next recourse is the neighbor. Was he acting as a neighbor or shipwright working at the marina the time of the incident? If just a neighbor, you can sue him in small claims court. If a marina shipwright, you can sue the marina in small claims court. But make sure the panels don't work! To do that you will need expert testimony. You could send them to the factory and have them analyse them. Probably cost you a small pittance for the service, but their writtnen prognosis should be good in court. In any case, a case study could be made to help us all with two items. One is the resolve of the legal aspects, the other is the panels themselves. Who is the manufacturer? What is the reference number of the panels so we can view them and read up on them? Are they sold over the counter or only thorough shipwrights or repair people? What are they made of that caused the problem? How are they made that caused the problem? What could be done differently in the installation or manufacturing of them to limit the damage (aside from not having the neighbor torque them out of existance)? An example: I am looking for a cameras. By luck, I bought my daughter a $150 Konica Minolta Dimage x10. The value I saw was four batteries vs. two and 8x optical zoom on a 3.2 MP frame. Looking at forums, I find many people saying "They eat batteries don't they" to every digital camera. Sounds like from Cap't Ron "they use a lot of oil, don't they?" The point is, all digital cameras eat batteries, so why not buy one with twice the battery capacity? What I gave up was slim design. In this case, the damage is done, apparently. You still don't know for sure, but should be able to test it. My guess would be with a million watt flashlight, or some large light array. The panel works on photons. Lights gots photons. I just tested mine, a small Solorex unit and under the sun it registered 3.2 and in the kitchen light 4.0. My guess is the panels are ok and only the frame cracked. HOWEVER, it should still be under warrenty, so have them replaced, if possible, and relax.
Custom panels? How so? Yet you say there is a factory, and they are warrented. If so, send them back under warrenty. Problem solved, so far, assuming they replace them. If they don't resolve the issue, your next recourse is the neighbor. Was he acting as a neighbor or shipwright working at the marina the time of the incident? If just a neighbor, you can sue him in small claims court. If a marina shipwright, you can sue the marina in small claims court. But make sure the panels don't work! To do that you will need expert testimony. You could send them to the factory and have them analyse them. Probably cost you a small pittance for the service, but their writtnen prognosis should be good in court. In any case, a case study could be made to help us all with two items. One is the resolve of the legal aspects, the other is the panels themselves. Who is the manufacturer? What is the reference number of the panels so we can view them and read up on them? Are they sold over the counter or only thorough shipwrights or repair people? What are they made of that caused the problem? How are they made that caused the problem? What could be done differently in the installation or manufacturing of them to limit the damage (aside from not having the neighbor torque them out of existance)? An example: I am looking for a cameras. By luck, I bought my daughter a $150 Konica Minolta Dimage x10. The value I saw was four batteries vs. two and 8x optical zoom on a 3.2 MP frame. Looking at forums, I find many people saying "They eat batteries don't they" to every digital camera. Sounds like from Cap't Ron "they use a lot of oil, don't they?" The point is, all digital cameras eat batteries, so why not buy one with twice the battery capacity? What I gave up was slim design. In this case, the damage is done, apparently. You still don't know for sure, but should be able to test it. My guess would be with a million watt flashlight, or some large light array. The panel works on photons. Lights gots photons. I just tested mine, a small Solorex unit and under the sun it registered 3.2 and in the kitchen light 4.0. My guess is the panels are ok and only the frame cracked. HOWEVER, it should still be under warrenty, so have them replaced, if possible, and relax.
Court is a Rediculous Option
Court is a rediculous option. I hate to disillusion all the 'lawyers' here but all the other guy has to do is lie and say you asked him for help. End of story. My thinking is that if it worked before he messed with it and didnt work afterward, then it must have been something he did, OR this is a case of one of the rare instances of coincidence which have been known to happen. My money says he messed it up.. What to do about it?....hope for warranty. In the future, keep in mind that the world is full of well meaning "Bozo's" Tony B
Court is a rediculous option. I hate to disillusion all the 'lawyers' here but all the other guy has to do is lie and say you asked him for help. End of story. My thinking is that if it worked before he messed with it and didnt work afterward, then it must have been something he did, OR this is a case of one of the rare instances of coincidence which have been known to happen. My money says he messed it up.. What to do about it?....hope for warranty. In the future, keep in mind that the world is full of well meaning "Bozo's" Tony B
wow!
You watched him do this and didn't say anything? What was he trying to demonstrate to you. what did he have to gain by breaking your rig? I doubt anything, therefore you need to forgive him. And if it was that easy to break, it might have failed under way. I'd rectify it, and make it clear that your stuff is your stuff. But lawsuits and being unneighborly wil cause you way more damage than 1500 bucks. IMHO. Take Care Steve
You watched him do this and didn't say anything? What was he trying to demonstrate to you. what did he have to gain by breaking your rig? I doubt anything, therefore you need to forgive him. And if it was that easy to break, it might have failed under way. I'd rectify it, and make it clear that your stuff is your stuff. But lawsuits and being unneighborly wil cause you way more damage than 1500 bucks. IMHO. Take Care Steve
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