Troubleshooting failed solar - Water in your junction box
So, my renogy solar panels stopped working. After some digging, I found a small amount of water in my junction box on the roof. I think some snow and ice created havoc up there and some how leaked into my junction box. I thought I had sealed it pretty good, but apparently not.
I am not certain if the panels are actually bad or not now. I am a novice electrical person. the fuse between the panels and junction box didn't blow. That seemed odd. Its a 20A fuse.
I tested continuity also between pos and pos above the fuse to the junction box, and same for neg to neg.
No voltage in the battery compartment before or after fuse in that area.
With the controller disconnected, and a fuse from the junction box to controller also removed, I began testing for voltage on the roof area. At the junction box, no voltage coming in. What is weird, is my voltmeter jumps seems to jump to around 18V very quickly, then goes to 1. I assume its error'ing something. Does that mean there is a short upstream?
I get similar behavior if I remove the Y connector that joins the panels and test each panel separately. I am not sure if its the leads/probes not making good contact, or if I have blown the panels. I believe I was making contact ok inside the MC4 connectors, but the fact that I get similar jumps/errors inside the junction box, leads me to believe its in my panels. What do you all think? The fact that it flashes quickly what seems to be about the right voltage 17-18, confuses me, whether its the panels, a short or bridged system in the box inside the panels, etc. Its not my voltmeter. If I test it against my batteries themselves, it works fine.
It a major undertaking to remove the panels. SO I am hoping to be 100% sure before ripping them off. The panels are nearly permanent. Not much clearance to remove them without taking the brackets off too, and the brackets have RV grade caulking over them. Plus the roof is weak i used spring wing nuts. If I remove the panels, its unlikely I will be able to re-use the same holes for the panels. So, I would prefer to leave the brackets in place unless the panels are actually bad. If the panels are bad, I think I will leave the brackets in place, drill into the framing of the panels so I can get a wrench on top and bottom of the bolt. Ya, I know, I wasn't thinking when I installed these. I just thought it would be permanent.
Thank you in advance.
I am not certain if the panels are actually bad or not now. I am a novice electrical person. the fuse between the panels and junction box didn't blow. That seemed odd. Its a 20A fuse.
I tested continuity also between pos and pos above the fuse to the junction box, and same for neg to neg.
No voltage in the battery compartment before or after fuse in that area.
With the controller disconnected, and a fuse from the junction box to controller also removed, I began testing for voltage on the roof area. At the junction box, no voltage coming in. What is weird, is my voltmeter jumps seems to jump to around 18V very quickly, then goes to 1. I assume its error'ing something. Does that mean there is a short upstream?
I get similar behavior if I remove the Y connector that joins the panels and test each panel separately. I am not sure if its the leads/probes not making good contact, or if I have blown the panels. I believe I was making contact ok inside the MC4 connectors, but the fact that I get similar jumps/errors inside the junction box, leads me to believe its in my panels. What do you all think? The fact that it flashes quickly what seems to be about the right voltage 17-18, confuses me, whether its the panels, a short or bridged system in the box inside the panels, etc. Its not my voltmeter. If I test it against my batteries themselves, it works fine.
It a major undertaking to remove the panels. SO I am hoping to be 100% sure before ripping them off. The panels are nearly permanent. Not much clearance to remove them without taking the brackets off too, and the brackets have RV grade caulking over them. Plus the roof is weak i used spring wing nuts. If I remove the panels, its unlikely I will be able to re-use the same holes for the panels. So, I would prefer to leave the brackets in place unless the panels are actually bad. If the panels are bad, I think I will leave the brackets in place, drill into the framing of the panels so I can get a wrench on top and bottom of the bolt. Ya, I know, I wasn't thinking when I installed these. I just thought it would be permanent.
Thank you in advance.
