[RE-wrenches] J-Box Damage

[Jeff Irish]

I’ve seen similar damage from a nearby lightning strike, on two rural ground mounts, although the damage looks a little more severe in your photo.

Jeff Irish
Hudson Solar

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Corey Shalanski
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 4:39 PM
To: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] J-Box Damage

Wrenches,

I have a bit of a CSI-challenge for the group. Please see attached photo.

These are the details as provided to me:
The junction box shown in the photo is from a set of 18 modules that were installed (for about 3-4 years) and then removed for re-roofing purposes. Our company did not install the original array; we were called in for the reinstallation. As soon as our technicians removed the modules from their storage container and exposed them to sunlight, they started smelling burning electronics. They opened at least one other junction box and found similarly charred components. They measured zero voltage on these and at least "a half dozen more". Some of the modules from this set had no intact MC4 connectors; apparently they had been cut off to make removing the modules easier (?!)

The project integrator is seeking a *plausible* explanation so that he can decide how to move forward - essentially, what could have caused this?

Thank you for any ideas the group can offer :)

--
Corey Shalanski
Joule Energy
New Orleans, LA
[Image removed by sender.]ᐧ
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