Hello Jon. Another thought……Was the site using the SMA combiner boxes with the 3 SMA Tripower 15000TL-US -10? We have had ground faults occur there internally. If it has a green test button inside the combiner box unit (polarity tester) …. replace the combiner with a different manufactures equipment. I believe the model is called SMA 1000-US-11 String Combiner w/ Disconnect.
Thomas Hall Solar Specialty Group INC C-33998 dba Specialty Group Electric 808-854-9539<tel:808-854-9539> thomash...@solarspecialtygroup.com<mailto:thomash...@solarspecialtygroup.com> www.solarspecialtygroup.com<http://www.solarspecialtygroup.com> Certified Thermographer NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional ® 031310-92 From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org> on behalf of Jon Dixon via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 12:04 PM To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Cc: Jon Dixon <j...@dixonpowersystems.com> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Module snail trails Thanks Bryan, I do not know the PV connector types for the modules or extension cables we have not started working on it. I need to put a plan together for the customer first. Good to know about the Amphenol H4 issues. Thank You Jonathan Dixon Dixon Power Systems 3250 N 20th St Ste 1 Lincoln, NE 68521 402-467-3240 j...@dixonpowersystems.com > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2024 16:44:51 +0000 > From: Bryan Norkunas <br...@pv-cables.com> > To: "re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" > <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>, "j...@dixonpowersystems.com" > <j...@dixonpowersystems.com> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Module snail trails > Message-ID: > > <dm6pr06mb509799a96435ce8318649e11e2...@dm6pr06mb5097.namprd06.prod.outlook.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > Jon, > > Do you recall which PV connectors were on the modules and what they used for > extension cables? > > Around that time, Amphenol H4 connectors had issues due to the plastic > housings failing and allowing water into the connections. > > > > Bryan Norkunas > > PV-Cables Inc. > > 989 Milton Ave Ste 1D > > Ferndale CA 95536 > > (707) 923-3000 office > > www.pv-cables.com<http://www.pv-cables.com/> > > [cid:aa320544-f89d-44fc-a3e9-bb468c2d9953] > > > > [cid:867e1cba-ab13-4a98-9ecf-200189c32b6d] Please print only if necessary. > > > > NOTE: This email message and any attachments are for the sole use of the > intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged > information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is > prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender > by replying to this email, and destroy all copies of the original message. > > > > ________________________________ > From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org> on behalf of > Jon Dixon via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> > Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2024 9:07 AM > To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> > Cc: Jon Dixon <j...@dixonpowersystems.com> > Subject: [RE-wrenches] Module snail trails > > Hello All, > > I have a local utility with a 50Kw array installed in 2015 consisting of 200 > ReneSola 250w modules and 3 SMA Tripower 15000TL-US -10. They are having Arc > fault code on two of the inverters. This has been going on for a few years > now. It happens a couple times a year generally after a large rain. They just > reset the code and it comes back to life. > > They gave me a walk through and we noticed that a number of modules have > snail trails. I have attached a closeup picture I took and IR views of > affected module and non affected. It was a 90 deg day when the utility took > the IR pictures. > > Causes for snail trails that I found: > > * The difference in chemical properties of EVA foils and the silver > contacts > * The degradation extent of the EVA material > * Water vapor permeability of the solar panel?s backsheet material > > I did find that if you have snail trails you will have micro fractures. I did > see some info that micro fractures could cause arc faults. > > Finally my question is can snail trails cause arc faults also? > > > Thanks Jon > > -- > Jonathan Dixon > Dixon Power Systems > 3250 N 20th St Ste 1 > Lincoln, NE 68521 > 402-467-3240 > j...@dixonpowersystems.com<mailto:j...@dixonpowersystems.com> > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20241023/268e3836/attachment-0001.htm> > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: Outlook-znsett2t.png > Type: image/png > Size: 78625 bytes > Desc: Outlook-znsett2t.png > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20241023/268e3836/attachment-0002.png> > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: Outlook-jqwvacbt.png > Type: image/png > Size: 2978 bytes > Desc: Outlook-jqwvacbt.png > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20241023/268e3836/attachment-0003.png> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:09:53 +0000 > From: Bryan Norkunas <br...@pv-cables.com> > To: "re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" > <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>, "j...@dixonpowersystems.com" > <j...@dixonpowersystems.com> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Module snail trails > Message-ID: > > <dm6pr06mb50977334c1aa938f24f80930e2...@dm6pr06mb5097.namprd06.prod.outlook.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > Looking at the pictures again, I wonder if there might be a pinhole in the > back lamination that is allowing water into the module. > > > > > Bryan Norkunas > > PV-Cables Inc. > > 989 Milton Ave Ste 1D > > Ferndale CA 95536 > > (707) 923-3000 office > > www.pv-cables.com<http://www.pv-cables.com/> > > [cid:8b840384-c5f3-42a6-b643-c70a0c8359f7] > > > > [cid:359044c7-87e0-453e-8b12-d03863f07a98] Please print only if necessary. > > > > NOTE: This email message and any attachments are for the sole use of the > intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged > information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is > prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender > by replying to this email, and destroy all copies of the original message. > > > > ________________________________ > From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org> on behalf of > Jon Dixon via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> > Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2024 9:07 AM > To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> > Cc: Jon Dixon <j...@dixonpowersystems.com> > Subject: [RE-wrenches] Module snail trails > > Hello All, > > I have a local utility with a 50Kw array installed in 2015 consisting of 200 > ReneSola 250w modules and 3 SMA Tripower 15000TL-US -10. They are having Arc > fault code on two of the inverters. This has been going on for a few years > now. It happens a couple times a year generally after a large rain. They just > reset the code and it comes back to life. > > They gave me a walk through and we noticed that a number of modules have > snail trails. I have attached a closeup picture I took and IR views of > affected module and non affected. It was a 90 deg day when the utility took > the IR pictures. > > Causes for snail trails that I found: > > * The difference in chemical properties of EVA foils and the silver > contacts > * The degradation extent of the EVA material > * Water vapor permeability of the solar panel?s backsheet material > > I did find that if you have snail trails you will have micro fractures. I did > see some info that micro fractures could cause arc faults. > > Finally my question is can snail trails cause arc faults also? > > > Thanks Jon > > -- > Jonathan Dixon > Dixon Power Systems > 3250 N 20th St Ste 1 > Lincoln, NE 68521 > 402-467-3240 > j...@dixonpowersystems.com<mailto:j...@dixonpowersystems.com> > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20241023/42e299f6/attachment.htm> > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: Outlook-wabazobn.png > Type: image/png > Size: 78625 bytes > Desc: Outlook-wabazobn.png > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20241023/42e299f6/attachment.png> > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: Outlook-qs0datbf.png > Type: image/png > Size: 2978 bytes > Desc: Outlook-qs0datbf.png > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20241023/42e299f6/attachment-0001.png> > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > ------------------------------ > > End of RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 17, Issue 319 > ******************************************** > > _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. 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