Solar collectors are big, heavy pieces of equipment which are both very tough and very fragile at the same time. They weigh 85-140 pounds per collector (38-64 kilos) and are usually shipped on a pallet carried by a big rig truck. There are two or three parts to the shipping process.

From supplier to destination

The first leg is from the supplier to the destination, whether that's direct to the installation site or to storage. This bit's the easiest because the shipping company's insurance covers the delivery. Your job as the person accepting the shipment is to check that the collectors are undamaged (see the final stage for pointers).

If the shipment is delivered to your home or installation site, you will need people to unload the equipment. Most truck drivers are helpful, but they're also on a schedule and don't want to spend ages messing around, so make sure you have a couple of friends available to unload. You can usually get the shipping company to provide an accurate arrival time and get organized beforehand.

You'll ideally need an unloading dock and a forklift to unload, but failing that you could back a pickup up to the tailgate of the semitrailer. If it's a big shipment, you might want to open the crates inside the trailer and unload the contents. You'll need some tin snips and a crowbar to open the crates, whether it's to check for damage or to unload the contents.

A better option is often to have the shipment delivered to storage. It'll cost more but it has many advantages: the storage company is responsible for unloading and checking for damage, they have trained professionals to do the work, they have equipment like loading docks and forklifts and you don't have to be around when the delivery arrives. That's a lot of benefits for a little extra cost.

From storage to site (optional)

If you have the collectors delivered to storage, you'll need to transport them to the installation site using a truck or trailer. Make sure you handle the collectors properly: always use gloves and only carry them by the frame.

You can place two or three uncrated collectors side by side on a truck, glass side up, and tie them down securely to avoid any damage from shifting. If you need to stack them, make sure you place piled cardboard or two-by-fours between the collectors for protection and tie them so they can't slide against each other.

From crate to destination

Unpacking collectors is not difficult, but you do need to be careful. They're tough and will sit on your roof in all weather conditions, but their individual parts can be damaged by bad handling. You must check for damage before accepting any delivery, so make sure you are aware of potential problems.

• Broken glazing, which is usually obvious. Evacuated-tube collectors can have breaks in individual tubes, spotted by sight or by a fogging of the "getter".
• Dented frame or back, which may be a sign of bad packing, loading or transit – check closely for