DC-83-16-3 -- Suggested Improvements to Solar System Maintenance Based on Field Experience PDF

Field experience has shown that maintenance is a critical factor in determining the overall success of a solar system. This paper summarizes the field experience with the maintenance of over 30 solar installations, three of which contain more than 500 individual solar systems for residential housing. The field results show several severe problems, and an analysis indicates that a number of improvements can be made to help avoid them. These include (1) improving solar designs, (2) producing service documents, and (3) providing training for maintenance personnel. Specific technical improvements to solar designs are presented in this paper, the number and content of service documents are outlined, and suggestions for training of maintenance personnel are presented.