Solar panel system fires
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Sep-04-2022 07:11 PM
https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/amazon-temporarily-shuts-down-solar-rooftops-facilities-fires
I happen to love solar.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Dec-08-2022 05:07 AM
2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • <\br >Toys:
- 18 Can Am Maverick x3
- 05 Yamaha WR450
- 07 Honda CRF250X
- 05 Honda CRF230
- 06 Honda CRF230
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Dec-08-2022 01:24 AM
Your “reasonable person” definition is not in “the four corners of the page”. There is the clear, specific contract exclusion: “you must, without limitation:
a. exercise due diligence to properly maintain the vehicle;
b. comply with all federal safety standards and provisions; and
c. follow all customary and manufacturer-recommended maintenance guidelines.”
Does your reasonable person also know “ALL federal safety standards and provisions” as the contract requires?
Your claim that RV owners are those “reasonable people were assumed to be fools” is quite a defamation of Good Sam members. As a 30+ year RV owner and Good Sam member, I find this forum to be a wealth of excellent information from reasonable people.
Back to the topic, there is a way to prevent solar panel system fires. You exercise due diligence before altering the life and safety components of your RV. Starting a topic in this forum “solar panel system fires” and learning that there is a national life safety standard that prescribes a method to prevent the specific concern is one form of due diligence. You then follow that consensus, best engineering practice as you properly maintain your vehicle.
No need to bump this topic further.
73/gus
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Dec-07-2022 08:23 PM
I think your interpretation is a stretch. There's no interpretation that would mean that a "reasonable person" would know what "NFPA 1192" is. Ever.
2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • <\br >Toys:
- 18 Can Am Maverick x3
- 05 Yamaha WR450
- 07 Honda CRF250X
- 05 Honda CRF230
- 06 Honda CRF230
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Dec-07-2022 04:47 PM
On the insurance, the Progressive Texas Travel Trailer Policy is pretty clear. Under Exclusions, “17. that occurs because a covered vehicle has not been properly maintained and kept in reasonable condition.”
The “reasonable condition” definition, is: “ Reasonable condition” means fit to withstand the foreseeable and expected conditions of weather, wind, precipitation, and the rigors of normal and foreseeable use, including travel on public roads. For a vehicle to be considered in reasonable condition, you must, without limitation:
a. exercise due diligence to properly maintain the vehicle;
b. comply with all federal safety standards and provisions; and
c. follow all customary and manufacturer-recommended maintenance guidelines.”
If you choose to maintain your RV in such a manner that it is no longer in compliance with NFPA 1192, such as not complying with propane or electrical safety standards, are you exercising due diligence? Note the “You must without limitation”. Example might include,
- using a fuse larger than the manufacturer’s recommendation,
- removing or disabling smoke, CO, and propane detectors,
- modifying your braking system’s electrical connections to effectively disable the break away switch,
- using water plumbing parts on the propane system,
- removing the GFCI protection on certain outlets.
Is this what you are looking for?
73/gus
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Dec-07-2022 03:43 PM
gklott wrote:
Most RV insurance companies require owners to comply with standards and industry best practice on modifications that may effect safety.
Hello Gklott - Welcome to the forum. I see that this is your first post. I need to point out to you that we discourage adding posts to threads that are more than a few weeks old. We call this "bumping" and it's kind of an unnatural way to resume the conversation after the responses have died down. It's better to start a new thread.
It's not a rule, but kind of a custom. No big deal though. Anyway, welcome to the forum.
As far as your statement about insurance companies requiring compliance, I'll push back on that and say that I've never seen that in a policy before. Your insurance is tightly governed by the contract that you have with your carrier (the policy). They have to abide by this contract and they aren't permitted to make up other requirements outside the four corners of the page. If you have different verbiage in your policy though, by all means share it with us.
Again, welcome aboard. We'll see you around.
2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • <\br >Toys:
- 18 Can Am Maverick x3
- 05 Yamaha WR450
- 07 Honda CRF250X
- 05 Honda CRF230
- 06 Honda CRF230
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Dec-07-2022 07:09 AM
RVIA and QAI (Canada) specify following the National Electric Code (NEC - NFPA 70) in all RVs. Most RV insurance companies require owners to comply with standards and industry best practice on modifications that may effect safety.
The 2017 National Electric Code (and 2020,2023 editions) have this requirement: "§690.41.(B). Ground-fault protection. PV DC circuits that exceed 30V or 8 amperes shall be provided with dc ground fault detection meeting the requirements of 690.41(B)(1) and (B)(2) to reduce fire hazards.
Solidly grounded PV source circuits with not more than two modules in parallel and not on or in buildings shall be permitted without ground fault protection."
My Escape Trailer Industries optional OEM configuration has two modules in parallel (GoPower BF-190M). The charge controller (GoPower or Victron) provides grounding between the - PV terminal, - battery, and chassis. This meets the RVIA and QAI requirements.
I placed a 30A MaxiFuse and a disconnect switch before the charge controller. I have a 60A MaxiFuse between the + solar charger and the + main bus.
73/gus
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Sep-05-2022 06:49 PM
NamMedevac 70 wrote:2oldman wrote:
I've had panel failures from the thin connnecting strips under the glass. They turn brown then burn out. Gets hot up there, which is why I would never put a flexible panel directly on my roof.
That is very useful info for new RVers to know. Thanks
X 2, I’ll now be checking my 8 Rv panels…
3 tons, with few opinions…
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Sep-05-2022 01:35 PM
2oldman wrote:
I've had panel failures from the thin connnecting strips under the glass. They turn brown then burn out. Gets hot up there, which is why I would never put a flexible panel directly on my roof.
That is very useful info for new RVers to know. Thanks
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Sep-05-2022 01:12 PM
Those commercial installations have panels wired in series so that the output is 1000volts, the 4 panels on your RV 70volts on a bright sunny day?
2018 Adventurer 21RBS 7700 GVWR.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Sep-05-2022 12:59 PM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Sep-05-2022 11:46 AM
Tom_M wrote:Last I read fire was due to some optimizers that connected the strings of panels before going to the inverter. RVs don't use this system or equipment. Most residential also does not use this equipment.NamMedevac 70 wrote:Unless I missed it, there was nothing said about what failed.
So what. May be important news for first time RV solar panel users including DIY dudes. Over the years I have read several tragic stories of RV fires due to DIY electrical modifications. Some bright folks have to tinker with everything till they burn the house down. Cheers to those with common sense
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Sep-05-2022 11:37 AM
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Sep-05-2022 10:58 AM
They got free 2 day shipping.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Sep-05-2022 08:46 AM
PButler96 wrote:NamMedevac 70 wrote:
Over the years I have read several tragic stories of RV fires due to DIY electrical modifications. Some bright folks have to tinker with everything till they burn the house down. Cheers to those with common sense
So what? Over the years I have read several tragic stories of house fires where one would have to assume most of the houses were wired by electrical professionals. I know this, I trust my own electrical skills more than I trust some unknown RV tech at an RV dealer who may be the best ever, or might have been picking his nose while salting fries at BK last week.
Making a lot of "assumptions"?
A lot can happen well after a "professional electrician" leaves the finished job..
Things like stapled extension cords, undersized extension cords for the load.. It is common for folks to grab a 6ft or longer 18 ga extension cord and plug a 1500W load into it..
As far as the solar panel fires goes, well, it is rare that anyone FUSES the panels and with large scale solar they will be wiring the panels in a much higher DC voltage than 12V.. High voltage DC is a hole nuther animal to tame once it starts arcing.. Which is why it is often preferred for arc welding purposes over AC arc welding..