Solar stopped working.

[underpar12]

Help 4 kW domestic system install two years ago and working fine has stopped .
checked d c voltage on a clear day and no voltage .
think I need scaffold put up to check panels and connections etc .

 

[a1colly]

Yeap sounds like a loose connector which has been blowing around in the wind from where it wasn't supported correctly

 

[whinmoor]

Do you have one or two strings? If two, are both failing to register?

Hope your installer is still around to honour his warranty.

 

[Gary K]

Has it died completely? Could be something as simple as the relay tripping or accidently being turned off at the fuse box.

 

[TJ Anderson]

Has it died completely? Could be something as simple as the relay tripping or accidently being turned off at the fuse box.

That would not affect the DC side.

 

[TJ Anderson]

You may have a single string which has break (or panel failure), or being a 4Kw it maybe a be two string (wired series - parallel) with the break after the Y connectors (if the fault was before this, with balanced strings, you would have full voltage but half the current you usually would). Also, I assume you have tested both sides of DC isolator just incase that is the issue.

 

[underpar12]

Hi sorry for late reply , it's one string, no dc voltage on isolator , do panels fail .?

 

[shanky887614]

Hi sorry for late reply , it's one string, no dc voltage on isolator , do panels fail .?

turn isolator off then unplug each panel and test from the plugs.

it could be a connector has come loose or a broken panel if no v on the dc isolator

 

[SibertSolar]

It's most likely to be a connector that's gone open circuit. It won't be a broken panel, and it's highly unlikely to be all the panels failing at once. Have you tried contacting your installer? Apologies if I missed that bit...

Please be careful when fiddling around with DC cables/connectors....

 

[shanky887614]

remember there is no off switch on the panels so be careful no matter what you do

 

[whinmoor]

What's the arrangement on the roof? Two rows of 8?

If you can work out where the cables enter the loft, you might be able to disconnect a row at either end and put an extension cable across the whole row and test. You might be able to do this without undoing a single clamp. If you get a correct (ish) reading, the fault must lie on the other row. You'll need to make up an 8 or 9m long cable to do this.

 

[whinmoor]

Here's a little diagram of what I mean...

View attachment Underpar Suggestion.pdf

 

[Gavin A]

most likely cause is a faulty connector at one end or other of the cable going out to the roof as those are the ones made up by the installers who may or may not have used the proper crimp tools, and may or may not have tightended the glands properly.

see this fairly regularly, not on our instals mind.

 

[underpar12]

Hi it is one string ,thanks for diagram .