[RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

[Jason Szumlanski]

It does sound like a very plausible cause and a reasonable response, but
doesn't replacing the connectors void the module warranty? You might want
to get in contact with Canadian Solar before doing that.



On Tue, Jun 7, 2016 at 1:30 PM, Bill Brooks <billbrooks7 at sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

> Kirk,
>
> I ran into a very similar problem with a system where the connectors were
> left unmated for a period of time. Salts got into the connectors and
> whenever the humidity was high, the salt would track current through the
> connector seals. Replace all the connectors first before trying anything
> else.
>
> Bill.
>
> Sent from my awesomely huge iPhone 6+
>
> On Jun 7, 2016, at 9:56 AM, August Goers <august at luminalt.com> wrote:
>
> Kirk,
>
>
>
> It sounds like you might have a bonafide ground fault somewhere, possibly
> at a location other than the module lead connections. I’ve seen current
> leakage cause all kinds of strange corrosion problems. Maybe there is a
> pinched or cracked module lead or homerun? It might even be possible that
> the wire in the conduit going to the inverters has a minor ground fault
> that gets compounded by moisture and low resistance up around the array.
> Make sure the array equipment grounding is solid too. Keep us posted on
> what you find!
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
>
>
> August
>
>
>
> *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Kirk Herander
> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 07, 2016 7:15 AM
> *To:* 'RE-wrenches'
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine
> environment
>
>
>
> Hi,
>
> For clarity, corrosion was found on various module interconnects between
> panels, not where a string end mates to a field installed home-run
> connector. So I would hope Canadian Solar would use identical connectors on
> all their modules. They all certainly looked like MC4 connectors to me.
>
>
>
> *Kirk Herander*
>
> *Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC *
>
> *Celebrating our 25th Anniversary 1991-2016*
>
> *www.vermontsolarnow.com <http://www.vermontsolarnow.com>*
>
> dba Vermont Solar Engineering
>
> NABCEPTM  2003 Inaugural Certificant
>
> VT RE Incentive Program Partner
>
> 802.863.1202
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of *jay
> *Sent:* Monday, June 06, 2016 11:15 PM
> *To:* RE-wrenches
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine
> environment
>
>
>
> Hi Kirk,
>
> the connectors if done correctly are water tight.
>
> There are few thoughts as to issues.
>
>
>
> wrong sized gland nut
>
> incorrectly tightened
>
> if double jacketed wire, the outer layer could have come lose allowing
> water in.
>
> are they real MC-4?
>
>
>
> debris during installation allowing damaged O rings
>
>
>
> Can’t think of much else. but way to many of them out there for it to be a
> OEM problem.
>
>
>
> jay
>
> peltz power
>
> On Jun 6, 2016, at 2:28 PM, Kirk Herander <vtsolar at icloud.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hello,
>
>
>
> I am debugging a Florida ocean-side 35 kw array using 4 year old Canadian
> Solar panels, which I’ve never had a high opinion of, installed by others.
>
> I’ve discovered several not-so-good problems, such as low insulation
> resistance through the panels, ONLY when raining, early to mid-morning
> condensation, or by using the last resort of spraying the panels with a
> garden house and watching the SMA inverters shut down due to failing their
> self “Riso” (that’s the IRT) test creating a ground fault error.
>
> That aside, what’s just as interesting is that about 8 or 9 of the module
> interconnections were basically oozing the aqua-blue copper tarnish. I’ve
> never seen this in any installation before. Either the MC4s weren’t crimped
> and tightened at the factory well, or the connectors were seated poorly,
> although that doesn’t seem to be the case. BTW, I replaced all these
> dubious MC4 connectors and the ground faults still occur when the panels
> are wet.
>
> The bigger issue is the panel warranty, but is there anything on the
> market which could seal these connections, perhaps a type of “clamshell” to
> provide an extra layer of protection, which is removable if need be?
> There’s always glue-filled heat shrink, but ideally I don’t want anything
> permanent surrounding the connectors.
>
> Has anyone ever seen what I’m describing in a marine environment?
>
>
>
> *Kirk Herander*
>
> *Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC *
>
> *Celebrating our 25th Anniversary 1991-2016*
>
> *www.vermontsolarnow.com*
>
> dba Vermont Solar Engineering
>
> NABCEPTM  2003 Inaugural Certificant
>
> VT RE Incentive Program Partner
>
> 802.863.1202
>
>
>
>
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