Solar PV fault

swishy6

swishy6

Joined
11 Mar 2014
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Keighley
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United Kingdom
Hi, I had my system installed 3 years ago with Sunpower panels, I wanted decent quality up there on the roof. Fronius inverter is throwing up error state 447 which I read in the PDF manual as:

Solar module ground, insulation error (connection between solar module and ground)

It's three levels up to my roof :eek: More like 2 1/2 maybe. I have a basement, house being built into a hillside.

I think that's where someone needs to go. Water in a junction box perhaps? I think I'm legally covered in insisting the installer comes out to repair as it's a grid tied system so the company was MCS registered. I'm about to read the blurb they left anyway.

Advice welcome. Will I be pretty certain to be covered for the repair?
 
Read what your agreement with the installer was. Also check if you bought the extended Fronius warranty. I doubt if the installer will do anything for free, even if they are still in business. But the extended Fronius warranty would at least cover you for the worst expenses.
 
Could be a number of things from a damaged cable to faulty connector. It might even be a faulty panel(s) water getting between glass and frame.

I think I'm legally covered in insisting the installer comes out to repair as it's a grid tied system so the company was MCS registered. I'm about to read the blurb they left anyway.
Click to expand...

Are they still in business? most aren't. How long was the warranty.
 
System started generating again towards the end of a long sunny day today which is a relief. Perhaps there was a little moisture affecting the panels, did have high winds an heavy rain recently after all. I measured just under 700v DC from the panels this morning despite the inverter showing a fault. That's about usual I think for my system, I have a 3.6Kw rig (could only fit 11 panels on roof instead of 12). Not sure I can measure ohms between DC and ground while the panels are generating. How would you test from the inverter for solar module insulation faults?

As said above, I think I'm covered for an inverter fault or for actual panel faults but I can't see how you would be able to diagnose a faulty panel without getting onto the roof and testing. Just have to hope it settles down and works particularly through the summer months when there's a long term investment to try and recoup.
 
swishy6 said:
Perhaps there was a little moisture affecting the panels
Click to expand...
If water is getting in anywhere it needs to be located and repaired now - leaving it will just ensure that every time it rains, more and more damage is done until something fails permanently, possibly causing further damage when it does.
 
flameport said:
If water is getting in anywhere it needs to be located and repaired now - leaving it will just ensure that every time it rains, more and more damage is done until something fails permanently, possibly causing further damage when it does.
Click to expand...

I managed to grow a pair today and climb up to the roof (y) One of the solar module connectors has been lying inside the guttering so I guess that explains the fault. Hopefully peace and reliability from now.
 
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