Homemade panel fire

[Scraniel]

Huh?! What kind of answer is that?

What is the point of having a forum on a topic if the participants aren't going to give straight answers on that topic?

Is there anyone who can answer my questions above please?

[Sunking]

So what is the exact reason why a DIY panel may catch fire? Does this happen immediately ( a short time into the life of the panel) or as a result of continuous heat? I live in a very hot and humid climate. What effects does humidity have on possible DIY panel fires?

Does it really matter? All you need to know is your insurance company is going to tell you: "Sorry Your House Burnt Down, But You Are Not Covered. Have A Nice Day".

[Scraniel]

So what is the exact reason why a DIY panel may catch fire? Does this happen immediately ( a short time into the life of the panel) or as a result of continuous heat? I live in a very hot and humid climate. What effects does humidity have on possible DIY panel fires?

[Mike90250]

just had a solar panel catch on fire on our roof; Can anyone tell me what Sylgard is, and if that would have prevented the fire?

That's a bummer ! I hope everything is OK.

But, if you have photos, and any report about what the panel construction was, I'm sure we'd all like to hear about it.

Sylguard: (is not fireporof, from MSDS)
Hazardous Decomposition Products
Thermal breakdown of this product during fire or very high heat conditions may evolve the following decomposition products: Carbon oxides and traces of incompletely burned carbon compounds. Silicon dioxide. Hydrogen. Formaldehyde.

[SolarTekkie]

What kind of temperatures and conditions do you have? what was the panel made out of? Was there major damage done?

I'm interested to know the variables, if you don't mind.

[Kathryn Griffin]

solar panel fire

just had a solar panel catch on fire on our roof; Can anyone tell me what Sylgard is, and if that would have prevented the fire?

[SolarTekkie]

Fair enough... it's kind of irrelevant due to the UL listing thing, I wish I had known that before I started. It was a fun project for a few days at least.

[Mike90250]

If poly-carb is flammable, it's not good

[SolarTekkie]

So polycarbonate front is no good?

[Sunking]

What burns is the material adjacent to the panel - a roof perhaps.

Or possible the wiring, batteries, ect... There are many things that can go wrong. If the Electrical Code is followed, quality listed materials suitable for the purpose, and proper workmanship executed then the risk are very small. Problem for DIY stuff, is the DIY's do not even know what questions to ask.

[russ]

What burns is the material adjacent to the panel - a roof perhaps.

The potential problem with a panel is the high current and heat generated - unlike what a homemade PC or car radio would have. A panel located 150mm (6 inches) off a roof is not far at all in the event of a short circuit.

Many of the people asking about and interested in DIY are not like yourself or RifRaf who have the necessary skills.

[martinjsto]

The see issue is not the home made solar panels, it could of been his home made computer or light switch he wired himself or even his car radio he put in. the point is it the method and failsafe systems incorporated in the design and his knowledge and skills that determineds if the end result will burn down his house or not. he obviously only researched the methods for a short time and followed bad advice and did not use common sence and had limited skills. to attempt to build a solar panel is an advanced DIY not for the handyman or weekend warier.

I cannot believe people pay for a panel made of wood and think it will last and be safe,
however panels being made with alluminium frame, glass top, Sylgard 184 encapsulant, have nothing to burn. see

http://cses.anu.edu.au/files/Ketola08_silicones_for_pv_encapsulation.pdf

this of course leaves the wiring, and i think there is more potential for death or fire from shoddy wiring than from panels.

[SpaceOddacy]

Anyone bring the marshmallows?

[juice]

It must take a lot of guts to get instructions for assembling your own sun collector on the roof of your house from the internet. Next week's project? Home brew fission reactors in five easy steps!

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dad jokes

[Sunking]

are solar panel fires an issue with UL listed or certified panels?

Not near as much as DIY panels, but the difference is using a UL panel installed by licensed contractor, inspected by the local authority in a insured structure gets your house rebuilt. You have lots of people with deep pockets to fund it and are liable for any damages and injury: Manufacture, city code agency, bonded contractor, and home owner insurance carrier. With a DIY panel you get to keep making house payments for a pile of ashes and liable for all damages and injuries.