Second Hand PV Rails.

[TonyT]

Just acquired a second hand set of panels and rails, wools like to clean the rails up a bit before installing on my garage, anyone offer advice on the best way to clean aluminium rails?

 

Cheers!

[MikeSharp01]

Jet washer - Steer clear of abrasives as you can take anodizing off, assuming it has any, if you are not careful. If not anodized then you can be harsher.

[Onoff]

Try white vinegar and a plastic scourer?

[SteamyTea]

Paint then black, and get black framed modules.

 

I would have liked to have been at the meeting where someone suggested that natural aluminium frames was a good idea.  I could have used my favourite letter word.

[ProDave]

NOTHING.

 

Almost none of the rails will be visible with the panels on, just a tiny bit at the ends.  Don't worry or do anything.

[TonyT]

 

torn between doing nothing and jet wash..

 

vinegar seems too much of a big task..

 

appreciate the info

 

[Brickie]

Where did you get them from & how much? (If that’s not too nosey!)

[TonyT]

Ebay 

£500 for 10off 245 Watt panels plus rails.

[TonyT]

I have looked for a few days but not come across a match, does anyone recognise this end profile?

 

possibly the original install was about 10 years ago, just before I decide to go down a different route.

 

cheers

 

[SteamyTea]

[TonyT]

Cheers appreciate you looking but no match.

 

plan b 

 

 

[Onoff]

I asked a PV guru on another forum:

 

"never seen that one before. Some times the panel clips are marked with a makers name, but even if they are, there was a lot of Chinese and other makes of roof rails on the market during the height of PV installations for which getting spare parts is nigh on impossible now. If you're lucky, you may find someone clearing out spares on eBay. It's easier just to replace the lot with Renusol or Schletter gear". 

[TonyT]

Ok for closure the name is clickfit and are available on solartradesales.

 

cheers