Solar Panels and electric shock

[Not so swift]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone out there has expertise in DC solar panels and the associated dangers in a structure fire?

There is a LOT of misinformation out there and I was hoping to get in contact with someone who actually knew about them.

[Fozzy]

I'm doing a course on this exact thing next month I'm a volunteer firefighter haha..

Basically though unless they are completely covered in something that doesn't allow uv light through they have the potential to produce current/spark. That's my understanding currently..

[ZAK]

Unfortunately as long as they are exposed to light there is voltage present. Turning off the inverter and isolators adjacent to it will only stop the power from feeding into the rest of your house and/or backfeeding into the grid. There will always be voltage from the panels to the isolators (upto 600V DC for residential and 1000V DC for commercial).
As of Jan 2013 (I think) all systems are required to have roof-top isolators to stop a constant "live" feed going through the roof structure. But in the case of a fire it's not practical to get onto the roof and turn the isolator/s off (they're often under the panels too).
As Fozzy said, unless the panels are completely covered they will produce voltage, even in moonlight you can measure a voltage off them - not enough to harm you though.
I've signed off on literally 1000's of installs as a designer and 100's as an installer so feel free to ask me any question's.

[deeman111]

Yup, solar panels are a bitch. I just finished the last firefghter school and the general consensus is to isolate everything you can and then chuck a salvage sheet on the roof and cover them. Some do have isolation switches right next to the panels, but the main issue there is you are climbing onto the roof of a building on fire which isnt a good thing unless you are certain the roof isnt compromised

If you can isolate the panels from the grid and rest of house (at the inverter, and at the meter box) then it makes the rest of the house more safe to spray water around, but you still need to be aware of the live feed in the roof space. Same as some older houses with the meter box the other side of the house to the main feed, or houses with growrooms who bypass the meter.

[66 coupe]

I've signed off on literally 1000's of installs as a designer and 100's as an installer so feel free to ask me any question's.

what about a roof mounted contactor which is driven off the inverter,
so if the interters off, then the panels are isolated at the top.

...maybe something to investigate?