[RE-wrenches] Panel Fire

[Bill Brooks]

Wrenches,

 

After looking more closely at the pictures, it appears that they may not be
glass-covered modules. Given the poor manufacturing practices, this was a
fire waiting to happen the moment they turned it on.

 

The amazing thing is that the installer is going to reinstall the module-and
burn the house down this time. Notice the fire made it through the roofing
in the middle.

 

Bill.

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of William
Miller
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 12:57 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Panel Fire

 

Dear Wind-Sun:

The incident described on your forum is very Interesting and scary.  It is
impossible to make any definitive conclusions from the vague information
provided, but here are a few things that got my attention:

--If I could detect, from the before photos provided, a first rate
installation, I would suspect defective modules.  The before photo shows
some very non-standard, low quality racking, obviously slapped together from
hardware store angle stock.  The angles are installed across the roof pitch,
catching leaves and rain water.  This makes me wonder how poorly the rest of
the wiring could have been and suspect that  poor workmanship may be to
blame.

--The homeowner claims the modules are un-stickered (no specifications,
manufacturer or listing).  The entire package begins to appear to be a real
bargain basement 
system.  The fact that this system caught fire seems to make sense.

We replaced a module today that had heat damaged connection points.  It
appears one of my employees did not tighten a screw terminal on an old style
module and the connections got hot.  The J-box cover was melted.  This
module had been removed and reinstalled for a re-roof.  I know stainless
fasteners are not conducive to repeated loosening and re-tightening, so
maybe the connector screw was galled and could not be tightened. properly.

I have often predicted it is only a matter of time until our industry kills
someone.  My bet is on electrocution of a minor due to abraded PV cables.
Maybe I'm wrong and it will be in a house fire.  All I can say is that I am
doing everything in my power to prevent it from being on one of my jobs and
to spread the gospel of protected wiring.

William Miller


At 10:42 PM 2/10/2009, you wrote:



In view of the recent discussion here about fires and PV systems, you might
all want to take a look at this post that someone just posted on our forum

http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/showthread.php?t=4524

I never heard of this happening before.

............................................................................
......................
Northern Arizona Wind & Sun - Electricity From The Sun
Solar Discussion Forum: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/
............................................................................
......................

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20090211/54ab383d/attachment-0003.html>