solar problems/need guidance

[tim a]

bcroe you are correct with your advice and I thank you for it. i as far as thr gfi fault i followed it, that's how i found the 3 problems so far.have worked on dc power plants from -48v, +24v, up to 10,000 amps for last 37 years. I might not know the system but I do know caution. i found 3 faults so far, one bad connector and looks like some animal ate the insulation off the other 2. and that's only after going through 20% I'm thinking about a cage around all the panels to stop the critters

[bcroe]

can amps be measured on a single solar panel disconnected? using an amp meter connecting the amp meter to the + and - on the panel I thought I would get a short circuit reading. I am reading 0.0 or should I just worry about the volts?

You are working on a potentially very dangerous system. If you don't understand the basic
steps, perhaps a repair service should be brought in. You already have a known (GFI) fault
which I told you how to approach, and you ignored that. Bruce Roe

[max2k]

can amps be measured on a single solar panel disconnected?

of course- you just connect amperemeter to it (or multimeter in amperemeter mode) with sufficient range. Since this is DC there will be a little arching from single panel so try not to play with this for too long and connect/disconnect quickly. Modern >300W panel in full sun can produce up to 10A current. Please don't try to do this for more than single panel- while current will be the same arching due to higher voltage will damage connectors.

[tim a]

thanks for that info JSchnee21

[tim a]

Welcome @tim a,

Here in NJ, Green Power Energy is a very reputable dealer that is both Sun Power certified and services a lot of pre-existing systems from other vendors that have gone under. I'm sure there are other fine vendors in NJ as well, but I had a very positive experience with GPE for my newly installed system.

If you're interested, I'd suggest reaching out to Tim below, he's very responsive.

Tim DeSevo / Vice President of Residential Sales
tdesevo@greenpowerenergy.com / 908.692.0615

Green Power Energy
Office: 908.713.9055 / Fax: 908.713.4718
47 East Street
Annandale, NJ 08801

https://www.GreenPowerEnergy.com

Good luck,
Jonathan

ill keep them in mind. thanks

[tim a]

can amps be measured on a single solar panel disconnected? using an amp meter connecting the amp meter to the + and - on the panel I thought I would get a short circuit reading. I am reading 0.0 or should I just worry about the volts?

[JSchnee21]

Welcome @tim a,

Here in NJ, Green Power Energy is a very reputable dealer that is both Sun Power certified and services a lot of pre-existing systems from other vendors that have gone under. I'm sure there are other fine vendors in NJ as well, but I had a very positive experience with GPE for my newly installed system.

If you're interested, I'd suggest reaching out to Tim below, he's very responsive.

Tim DeSevo / Vice President of Residential Sales
tdesevo@greenpowerenergy.com / 908.692.0615

Green Power Energy
Office: 908.713.9055 / Fax: 908.713.4718
47 East Street
Annandale, NJ 08801

https://www.GreenPowerEnergy.com

Good luck,
Jonathan

[tim a]

i have the Canadian solar panels on my motor home and I think there are great ( 2 years ago 310 watts for $149.00). if I had to replace the system I would go with them and the sma invertors.

[littleharbor]

I've found That Sunpower panels are a hot commodity in the used panel market. That could help finance a new system.

[max2k]

they said if a panel is bad they will warranty it, and said they can change the system over from a positive ground system. they gave me a list of 5 companies.

it would be interesting to see how much one of those 5 companies would quote you as I understand they'd have to charge for labor + inverter + any other thing they need to do to bring it up to the current code. Would this be more than going with non-SP install 'from scratch' given you already have rails and wiring down to inverter.

[tim a]

they said if a panel is bad they will warranty it, and said they can change the system over from a positive ground system. they gave me a list of 5 companies.

[tim a]

they said inverters not covered and are looking into the panels. i'm not holding my breathe

[J.P.M.]

i'm not sure if I am under warranty being the second owner. the house was vacant not sure if old owner purchased the system or defaulted on a contract. all I know is the title was clear.

I'm not either, but my warranty, in effect when I bought my S.P. system, (08/2013) under condition 2 (b.) :

" Warranty claims may only be made by, or on behalf of (i) the original owner or customer, as named in the certificate of guarantee or invoice, as applicable, and (ii) any subsequent title holder of the PV modules upon satisfactory proof of succession or transfer from the original end customer as named in the certificate of guarantee or invoice, as applicable."

It will be interesting to see if the expiration of the 10 yr. warranty on the inverter, as well as any subsequent code requirements making a replacement inverter perhaps incompatible with the existing system will affect how S.P. may look at how such things may impact the suitability under warranty for the modules or the rest of the system, if at all.

Above all, safety first ! I'd stay clear of fooling with the system at all unless you are a licensed electrician knowledgeable in PV system installation and maintenance.


Add to that: Under my warranty from S.P, sec. 3: The Limited Warranty does not apply to any of the following : (a)...."repair or modifications by someone other than an approved service technician of Sunpower"... Call Sunpower and get their response in writing before you act on your own. If you call Larry with a ladder, anything (s)he does without their consent/knowledge may well void any warranty, whatever it may be.

[tim a]

Seriously call Sunpower first. Vendors brag how if they go out of business, the sunpower network will always be around to help. Id start there before I'd touch anything. You have a lot of unsure info, might as well get some confirmations. They may even help you despite if last owner defaulted. Corporate may have been paid, even if the local installer didn't. Not trying to beat ya over the head, but its been suggested here already and sometimes it all works out for the price of a phone call or maybe a service call. If they drop a big dollar estimate on you, at least youll be more informed about your system as you ask them questions.

true enough.

[cebury]

Seriously call Sunpower first. Vendors brag how if they go out of business, the sunpower network will always be around to help. Id start there before I'd touch anything. You have a lot of unsure info, might as well get some confirmations. They may even help you despite if last owner defaulted. Corporate may have been paid, even if the local installer didn't. Not trying to beat ya over the head, but its been suggested here already and sometimes it all works out for the price of a phone call or maybe a service call. If they drop a big dollar estimate on you, at least youll be more informed about your system as you ask them questions.