Hey everyone! I've got two solar systems—my main one for the house and a backup with a 460-watt panel and a 2kW power station. This morning, the battery started beeping like it does when I'm connecting or disconnecting the inverter or panel. When I checked, the battery was indicating that the panel was being connected and disconnected repeatedly. I measured the voltage with a multimeter, and it showed 38V, while the short circuit current was 0.5 amps. I went up to check the panel and the fuse, which I placed under the panel (maybe a mistake?). The panel was extremely hot, like I could cook an egg on it, and the fuse had melted, along with the cable connector. The fuse was a 20-amp, 1kV type. The solar panel is a Longi LR7-54HTH 455-465, and the emergency battery is a Solarplay Q2501, which I confirmed works with a portable panel. My questions are: could the fuse have melted because of its placement under the panel, or is it more likely the panel shorted somehow? I'm really worried about the extreme heat!
1 Answer
First off, a melted connector usually points to a poorly installed connector or one that isn't high quality. If you have a bad crimp or a loose fit on your PV connectors, it can cause arcing, leading to overheating and melting. I also agree—having that fuse under the panel isn't the best idea. It's best positioned closer to your power station to prevent issues like this from happening.
I hear you on the connectors! Maybe remaking the crimp connections will help. As for the fuse placement, moving it closer to the power station might actually be a safer option! Plus, it means you can monitor any potential issues without risking the panel.