Celebrate Earth Day by Upgrading Your Solar Installations
On April 22 we celebrate Earth Day, the one day a year we honor the planet and show support for environmental protection.
As part of this day, we acknowledge environmentally friendly things, like the efficiency ratings of the latest PV panels, but often overlook the unglamorous hardware that makes it all possible. While flashy solar panels get all the attention in a solar setup, if the fasteners fail so does every structural and electrical load.
Fasteners are literally responsible for the mechanical integrity of the entire solar installation. They secure panels, racking, and mounting systems while under constant stress. They must also be able to stand firm against wind uplift, vibration, and snow loads.
In essence, a solar array is only as strong as its weakest fastener.
While fasteners are engineered to maintain clamping force for the long-term, resist fatigue from daily temperature expansions, they must also prevent loosening under vibration.
They must be able to do all of this and maintain structural integrity in extreme conditions.
This means that solar hardware stands in a class by itself. Like the superhero of fasteners, they must be able to survive constant UV radiation, temperature swings from the heat of desert days to cold nights, moisture, humidity, corrosion, and - for coastal installation - salt spray.
Upgrades and upkeep
Fortunately, you have several options to ensure your fasteners don’t fall short.
Upgrading to higher-grade aluminum or stainless steel is one way to prolong the life of the setup. Keep in mind that wiring and connectors will most likely need replacing between five and 10 years. Inverters last 12 to 15 years, while panels don’t need replacing for approximately 30 years.
Since fasteners wear out first, use them as a guide for setting your earliest maintenance date.
Twice yearly maintenance of your solar setup should include:
Check wiring and clean panel
Replace or re-torque any loose or damaged fasteners
Check for galling (threads sticking), rust, or failed seals.
Take a proactive approach to the following potential issues by addressing them early.
Also be on the lookout for:
Loose joints: Heat cycles can lead to loosened joints. Daily temperature variations from cool nights to hot afternoons cause metals to expand and contract, which can slowly ease a bolt or screw out of its nut.
Damaged threads: threads that are nicked, flattened, or cross-threaded during installation reduces a fastener’s load capacity. This makes accurate torque impossible. They’re also a common precursor to early loosening or breakage.
Galling (refer to this post for details on galling): Galling occurs when two stainless-steel threads slide under pressure and seize and tear each other apart. It shows up as scored, stuck, or sheared fasteners that won’t tighten or loosen.
Embedment: When a washer, nut, or bolt head sinks into the softer material to which it’s clamping (e.g. wood), it reduces clamping force over time. This can result in panels loosening and shifting.
Popular Melfast solar products
Running a business and keeping up with all the latest and best solar options can be nearly impossible - which is where Melfast comes in. We’re premier distributors of hardware and fasteners specifically engineered for the renewable energy sector, with a primary focus on solar power infrastructure.
As part of this premium commitment to providing the highest quality connectors, we offer high-performance Stäubli solar couplers, fasteners designed to optimize photovoltaic system efficiency. Manufactured using advanced technology to achieve low-contact resistance, these components are engineered to minimize power loss and enhance safety through fire-resistant, high-voltage certifications.
In addition, our diverse product catalog also includes the original MC4 series and large-format connectors, which cater to various environmental demands and large-scale utility needs.
Got questions? We not only offer custom orders and premium solar products, but our 40 years of expertise and guidance ensures we can match your solar assembly with the best fasteners and connectors for your needs.
Call or email us today for a quote or to answer your fastener questions.
