Solar Scrim Product Description
Solar Scrim is a UV resistant, knitted, plastic monofilament fabric, bound on all sides with webbing and optional aluminum grommets. The grommets are distributed every 12 inches, the optimal distance for secure attachment that also enables a speedy installation.
Not to be confused with shade cloth, our material is made to last for years of exposure to the elements. Shade cloth, on the other hand, is woven from plastic ribbon and can’t be expected to last more than a year or two, quickly breaking down due to exposure, wind forces, and other elements.
Installation Basics
Typically, it isn’t necessary to cover the whole array. A bit of planning is needed to ensure the most cost efficient and effective use of Solar Scrim. Solar modules should be installed end-to-end, so that the diode boxes on the back are adjacent to each other. This confines the wiring to the smallest possible area, defined by the central rails. A short run of conduit may still be required for wiring runs between rows or columns and to the inverter.
Equipment such as optimizers and micro-inverters should be installed as close as possible to the diode boxes, in locations which place them inside the central rails as well.
If your system is already wired, or if our recommended wiring technique isn’t possible, covering the entire back of the array may be necessary. Doing so with multiple pieces of Scrim, rather than one large piece, is highly recommended. This allows for a tighter installation, with less chance for sagging and wind buffeting. Typically, a system can be covered with as few as three pieces.
Watch for places where the modules and wiring cantilever past the racking. These may require separate pieces of Solar Scrim to ensure complete protection of the wiring.
Wrapping the ends of the rails/purlins is recommended in instances where there is easy accessibility to conductors. Keep this in mind when taking your measurements.
Attachment
Solar Scrim can be installed either with cable ties or simply screwed in place with self-drilling screws and fender washers (¾ - 1 inch). The grommets are most useful when tying the Scrim in place, but many installers order them when using screws too, as they help ensure an even spread of attachment points. Additional hardware for installation is not included.
Short stretches of conduit are usually necessary, where conductors run between columns or rows.
Solar Scrim is Custom Made to Your Specifications
The material needs to be made to size, because the webbing around the outside gives the material it’s dimensional stability. Cutting the material causes it to curl up and become quite unmanageable. Additionally, providing only what’s necessary for your project (given your measurements) helps to diminish waste
We’d love to be able to provide standard sizes, but there simply isn’t enough standardization within the solar industry to provide such a service.
Turn around time
Turn around time is roughly 2-4 weeks, plus shipping time, depending on current workload. Large orders (15-20 pieces or more) will need additional fabrication time. All orders are processed in the order in which they are received. Rush orders are not accepted.
Product is shipped from northern California.
Not available elsewhere
Solar Scrim is not available through distribution or other parts of the supply chain. Involving third parties welcomes errors and inefficiencies, and we have improved customer service and satisfaction by working with solar industry professionals directly.
Split cell modules, AC modules, and other anomalies
Module designs with the diode box in the middle, or even with two of them, require covering a larger area. Typically you’ll need to span two rail bays instead of just one.
Measuring Your Project
We don’t recommend attempting to cover the entire backside of the array with a single piece of Scrim. It’s usually not necessary and it often leads to an installation that will sag. Using one large piece of Solar Scrim also results in coverage that is more susceptible to wind-related damage. Use the smallest pieces possible, while still covering and limiting access to your conductors and accompanying components.
Our ordering is based on the pieces fabricated, NOT on the overall dimensions of the array. Every system is unique, requiring a bit of measuring and planning prior to ordering. In order to determine your cost, you’ll first need to determine which part of the racking you’ll attach to and what sizes you’ll need to do so.
The distance between the rails/purlins will be your width measurement (as opposed to the width of the array itself, which is your “length” dimension). This dimension rarely appears on engineering documents. It is usually determined in the field, or by the mounting and wind load requirements of the modules. Solar Scrim’s material has an average stretch of about 4%, so some customers factor this into their calculations. However, we don’t recommend doing so with your first order. It’s better to do your first order at exact size, then see how the material responds to your system and technique.
When measuring for screw attachment, we recommend measuring the distance from outside-to-outside on your rails. Then, add enough to give you some wrap around. It’s much easier to attach to the edge of one rail, and then to the side of the next, rather than trying to target two skinny edges.
When measuring for cable tie attachment, measure inside the rails and subtract about an inch to an inch and one half. This allows for some stretch, while still ensuring a tight installation.
Panel orientation
Solar scrim can be used with either portrait or landscape panel orientations. While portrait orientation requires covering an area the length of the back of the array, the inverse simply uses multiple vertical strips. For example, with an even number of columns to the array, there will be half that number of covering strips, installed vertically, only the rails that support diode boxed ends of the panels where they are placed end-to-end.
How to purchase
To obtain a quote, send the measurements of the covering pieces needed to the email address on the bottom of our order form. We’ll reply with an emailed quote within 48 hours. Approval is also done by email. We’ll respond to your approval with an emailed invoice, including a payment link.
Turn time is roughly 7-10 BUSINESS DAYS, sometimes longer depending on current workload. Larger sized orders take longer. Product is shipped from northern California.
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As of April 1, 2020, in response to economic impacts of the Coronivirus pandemic, Spiffy Solar requires full payment on all orders before sending them into production.