Feb 27, 2001

My two Siemens 75W solar panels on a Stekel regulator helped a lot to maintain refrigeration without overusing the engine. I might consider 55W if redoing, in order to locate and move/orient them more easily at sea and in harbor, on a space limited Seawind II 32ft ketch (25.6 ft at waterline).

Sent: 6/3/01 7:05 PM

Gentlemen: Arthur Rudin was of good help in helping me to reach a decision to buy two SP75 panels from your distributor Penobscot Solar in Maine, almost 2 years ago.

They served well around the Atlantic and back via Caribbean. However, at commissioning, I measured their output, and one SP 75 shows only 9.9 volts, instead of 19-20 v as usual and on the other panel.

Daryl DeJoy of Penobscot Solar thinks there is a failed diode in the connection box underneath the panel. He suggests I contact you at 805 482 6800 for the right reference, if you cannot send me a replacement.

Please note that this may be due to a leaking contact box. During commissioning and before I measured outputs, that panel was left momentarily on deck with its cristal face down, and it rained briefly on it. When I straightened it after the rain, the box leaked briefly, may be o.25 cc, at the cable entry.

Besides a new diode, or reference thereof, if you agree this is the problem, please advise the best way to restore the integrity of the cable entry seal in that connection box, and how to check the other panel's..

Thanks in advance, I try email first as it should be cheaper for all and more efficient timewise.

Kind regards,

Bert de Frondeville, 19 Hook Rd, Rye NY 10580, Tel/Fx 914 967 4970,

Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2001 10:43 PM

Dear Bert,

I suspect that one of the bypass diodes in the module is in a short cicuit condition. I suggest that we send you a new diode to replace the shorted part. We can send it to your NY address. I need to understand what wire entry point you used in the junction box, if it was the foam seals, we will send you new ones.

Best regards,

Arthur Rudin

June 04, 2001

Dear Arthur: Thank you so much for your prompt faithfulness! (neither "sales", nor "customer.service", were accepted by your postmaster, fortunately I had kept on file your useful 1998 email). I repeat my address:

B. de Frondeville, 19 Hook road, Rye NY 10560, Tel/Fax 914 967 4970.

There is only one entry point I can see, where the cable goes into the P75 panel's black junction box (from the wall plug in the cabin, near the STECA regulator). It is about 1" in diameter, with slots on a cover ring allowing to squeeze the gasket/seal whatever it is.

Is the diode replacement simple (instructions by email + sketch by fax

as necessary?), or should it be done by an electronic technician? I am an engineer, but not an "electronician", and have not soldered since engineering academies (Naval Architecture in Paris, then Nuclear engineering at Berkeley...).

Kind and thankful regards, Bert de F,

June 03, 2001

Dear Bert,

I suspect that one of the bypass diodes in the module is in a short cicuit condition. I suggest that we send you a new diode to replace the shorted part. We can send it to your NY address. I need to understand what wire entry point you used in the junction box, if it was the foam seals, we will send you new ones.

Best regards,

Arthur Rudin

June 06, 2001

Dear Bert,

We will send you 2 diodes & the foam inserts. Also enclosed will be the instructions for the installation of the diodes.

Best regards,

Arthur Rudin

Manager Product Marketing and Training

Siemens Solar Industries

Camarillo, CA, USA

Tel: 805-388-6525

Fax: 805-388-6395

Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2001 4:40 PM

Dear Arthur: I repeat, just to make sure it has your atention, as my refrigeration depends on these two panels if I don't run the engine once a day. Please let me know when you send the diode (2 if that is a typical failure and not expensive, since I have two panels?), and if you can fax or send along the dismounting and remounting, replacement instructions.

Kind regards and thanks in advance, Bert dF

Jun 6, 2001

Thank you very much, please advise how I may best recognize the classy customer support I receive from you (once I receive the spares), besides writing to Practical Sailor about it?

Kind regards, Bert dF

August 15, 2001

I have 2x200Ah AGM batteries as house bank and an Optima for starting battery, protected from the former by a simple solenoid. I monitor this dual system through an E-mon from Ample Power, and have upgraded my alternator to an Ample Power 100A. No generator, only two Siemens SP-75 solar panels with a Steca regulator, which allow refrigeration without having to run the engine every day.

Oct 18, 2001

We have two banks of golf cart batteries under the locker on the starboard side of the cockpit. They are kept charged by a 60 watt solar panel mounted on the bimini.

We believe in multiple ways to generate power and therefor have not ever been without adequate power. I might add that our refrigeration unit draws 27 amps per hour.

We also believe in simple systems, because once outside the U.S. in many areas of the world even getting parts for the simple systems can be difficult if not impossible.

We also believe that if you have a system on board you should have the skills necessary to remove the unit, dis-assemble it, repair it, and re-assemble it to a like new operating condition. This limits us to simple technology as I'm not of the genius catagory.