Made it up to the roof of a local solar install. Been drizzle for the last two days, so everything is soaking wet. Didn't spend a lot of time and sure wasn't going to be poking around in that weather.
Looks like a pretty clean install. I couldn't find any major faults. The panels are just above the roof, bolted to metal racking. There is a slight tilt to them, but 3-5" off the roofing material. All the wiring is under the panels, didn't spot any of it laying on the roof. Where its connecting between rows, the wiring is in a split loom and neatly tied to the racking.
![](https://buildingsys.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Roof-Solar.jpg)
Where there is an interconnection between panels of any distance, its in EMT conduit. Looked like the ends of all these runs have a bonding bushing with a 12AWG wire tied to the racking.
![](https://buildingsys.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Panel-Interconnect.jpg)
![](https://buildingsys.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Conduit-Bonding.jpg)
There must be a fair number of panels grouped together with a single disconnect. Didn't count them all, but there was probably half dozen of these disconnects connecting these groups to the main wiring feeding to the inverters. This main wiring is in a metal trough winding through the install. Sun doesn't look to be doing that plastic disconnect handle much good. Install is ~6yr old.
![](https://buildingsys.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Solar-Disconnect.jpg)
Only real damage I could see was some of the covers on the wiring trough was bent up. Not sure how that happened. Hard to imagine water getting trapped in and freezing causing that.
![](https://buildingsys.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Roof-Solar-Wiring-Trough.jpg)
The number of disconnects seems pretty sparse for this many panels. Guessing if a group of panels decide to go up, your letting the fire department deal with it. Access isn't that great with all the panels, wiring and gas lines running all over.
If its dry next time I'm out there will have to see if I can see how things are ran under the panels. Suspect its pretty neat and tidy.