EEVblog #1217 - My Home Solar Power System FAILED!

After 6 years my home solar power installation failed!
But *what* component failed? let's find out..

FYI: The isolator is a Bendict LS25 PFLH4

#SolarPower #FAIL

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[EEVblog]

I kinda predicted this back in a previous video when I noted the wear on the box

[twocvbloke]

And that's why BigClive says to drill holes in the bottom, if seals fail, at least water can escape through the holes before it does damage... :)

[intillex]

"Check out the sludge on my tip!"
Might want to see a doctor.

[gregadams]

Isolator did it's job. It isolated your panels.

[MMMRCHPCTB]

"Look at the sludge on my tip!"

[CathyInBlue]

"And the seal couldn't keep the water out."
Seems to have done a reasonable job of keeping it in, though.

[dogwalker]

Bloody stupid place to put a plastic isolator box fully exposed on its side on the roof it would not have lasted 5 mins in our weather

[brettcashmore]

The isolator on the roof is a requirement in Australia. Yes, they fail all the time.

[toddberg]

Perhaps adding a UV stabilized shroud (open on the bottom) to protect the next switch?

[xjet]

Geez, a $5 metal shade cover to protect the plastic from direct sunlight would have saved a heap of frustration and cost eh?

[p_mouse]

Fail? That's just called a bad designed box for a switch.
Even the position and angle is wrong, asking for problems.
I have one on my roof for very close to 9 years no, not even a little bit of dirt in it.

[TheMFrelly]

That's why we now put them under a stainless steel cover now ...

[chuckpatten]

The switch box should have been protected by a small roof against the elements.

[KriLL]

As BigClive says water always gets in no matter what you do, it's better to have small drain holes on the bottom of enclosures like that, probably shouldn't have been plastic in the first place but I guess metal has short/ground complications instead.

[Direkin]

The seals failed? I dunno, it seemed pretty good at keeping that water in ;)

[stuartmcconnachie]

If it doesn’t turn on, take it apart!

5:20 “Check out the sludge on my tip!” - You should get some cream for that.

[mozismobile]

yes, the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) mandates a roof mounted isolator and they are a significant source of failures. The idea is allegedly being reviewed. One thing you can do is put a metal sheild over the roof box to shade it. Some installers do that for you, sometimes you have to find a sheet of aluminium or stainless and mount it yourself. The stupidest idea is to put the isolator under a panel, because when the isolator catches fire you destroy the panel. Sorry, I mean "in the unlikely event that...". Ahem.

[FinderTRE]

Leaving plastic in a direct sunlight. You're gonna have a bad time.

[peut]

I live in the Netherlands. No DC isolator switch afaik. Painting plastic is not a bad idea.

[lindafoxwood]

Nice video! I bought my inverter in 2000 - a 5K - 24v to 120 AC. I designed and installed the entire system myself at my house. I do not have a DC switch thing you have. I used a controller for the batteries; also from 2000. Hope you well.
My system after 20 years has degraded a lot: 10 panels = 1200 watts - 2 panels broke/failed - the remaining 8 panels after 20 years make: This is: 8 120 Watts panels that are 20 years old: they make: maybe total of 600?? The Great news is that new panels are 70% less: I upgraded this year by adding 5 300 watts of panels. Now my system gets me 8 K watts a day if I run the AC.