Salt mist testing of solar modules is important for Hawaii installations, but few consumers understand what the tests are and why solar modules must be salt resistant. Pacific Islands Solar believes that the consumer should know the differences, and recent inspections of solar modules confirm that salt is attacking solar modules. There are differences in the levels of salt mist testing that solar modules undergo, and the following will provide details of exactly what those tests entail.

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Level One testing is a minimal testing procedure for corrosion and damage to solar modules. This procedure has the module being sprayed with salt mist for two hours and then stored for seven days at 35 Degrees C and 85 percent humidity. The two hour mist test is repeated four times over the next 28 days. Many manufactures claim that their product has been tested for salt resistance, yet have only passed this minimal test of level one.

Level Three testing includes the same temperature and humidity, but the salt misting is performed more frequently. The salt mist is applied for two hours, stored for 22 hours, repeated a total of four times over four days, and then stored for an additional three days.

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Level Six testing is very difficult to pass and very few manufactures even attempt it. This test uses the Level three test but is performed over 56 days a total of 32 times. Only about five companies produce modules good enough to pass this test with no failure. Kyocera solar module is one, and this is in part why Pacific Islands Solar recommends the product to its customers.

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Why is salt mist testing for solar modules so important in Hawaii?

Salt laden humidity and rain conditions can hurt components such as frames, junction boxes, glass surfaces and interconnectors inside the laminate, reducing performance or life span. Corrosion to components can also cause complications. Making a cheaper solar module at the expense of quality construction just does not meet the needs of Hawaii and its corrosive conditions.

The degradation of the module due to salt is not covered by many warranties. Sales tools used by companies to convey otherwise is not only false, but bad for the consumer. Kyocera, on the other hand, has passed the Level Six testing, making its quality unsurpassed.

Pacific Islands Solar is more than just a solar contractor. It is a roofing contractor and also a general contractor, so the company staff knows how to properly seal your roof. The company also offers a free five year cleaning and maintenance program along with a 10 year system installation warranty. Call 841-7756 to find out more about Kyocera solar modules and how Pacific Islands Solar’s intelligent approach is different than the competition.

PACIFIC ISLANDS SOLAR
contact // 841-7756
web // Pacificislandsconstruction.net

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