My solar panels almost caught fire and I'm glad I was home

I was in my backyard in Phoenix last July, trimming a tree branch that I thought was far enough from the panels. Turns out the branch was rubbing against a loose wire on the roof, and I actually smelled burning plastic before I saw a little puff of smoke near the inverter. I threw a bucket of sand on it (not water, don't panic) and called an electrician friend who said the wiring had been frayed for months. Has anyone else dealt with a close call like this from their own solar setup? I'm now wondering how many people just assume their panels are safe.

3 comments

3 Comments

joel_jones26d ago

...and that's why I keep telling my neighbor his "set it and forget it" approach to solar is a ticking time bomb. I mean, come on, you're basically putting a mini power plant on your roof and hoping for the best. I've seen more frayed wiring from DIY solar installs than I care to count, usually because people think "close enough" is good enough for branch clearance. Your mileage may vary but I'd bet half the panels out there have some kind of hidden issue just waiting for a hot Phoenix summer to make it obvious. The fact you smelled burning plastic is honestly a best case scenario compared to what could have happened.

karenh5626d ago

Totally agree with @joel_jones on this one. Ive seen way too many people treat solar like its just slapping some glass on the roof and forgetting about it. Those diy jobs are scary, especially when people use crap wire or dont check the inverter placement. Hot summers here in AZ just bake everything and thats when loose connections really show up. Smelling burning plastic is a lucky warning honestly, couldve been a full on fire if nobody was home. Even legit installs need a quick look once a year, you cant just set it and hope for the best.

marywilson26d ago

Hmm, I mean I get where you're coming from but I see it a little differently. I've got panels on my roof going on six years now and I barely touch them besides hosing off the dust a couple times a year. No issues so far. I think the real problem isn't solar itself but the DIY stuff from people who watch a YouTube video and think they're electricians. If you get a legit installer who pulls permits and does the math on your roof load and wiring, it's not really any different than having an AC unit or a water heater sitting up there. That burning plastic smell the guy mentioned could just as easily be a loose connection on a regular appliance cord. Maybe it's just me but I feel like we're painting with a pretty broad brush here.