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09-13-13, 08:05 AM | #1 |
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Rooftop solar panels become new enemy of U.S. firefighters
Here is an interesting article about the dangers of solar panels. Rooftop solar panels become new enemy of U.S. firefighters
Loved by the green movement, solar panels pose a growing threat to firefighters, who may suffer electrical shocks from panels that typically cannot be turned off, said John Drengenberg, consumer safety director for Underwriters Laboratories. |
09-13-13, 01:27 PM | #3 |
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I do not get an "anti-solar" vibe from the article.
I read it as information about firefighters having to deal with something that is becoming more common. |
09-13-13, 06:33 PM | #4 |
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How many million candlepower are you bringing with the fire brigade that they can electrify a firefighter by shining light on the panels? Panel output is related to the intensity of the illumination directly on the panel.
I did the experiment last week after the fire took place: 0.02A at 16V per panel (from a 235W monocrystalline panel) with a 50W light located an average of 7 feet from the panel. Any panel not being equally illuminated begins to act as a resistor when wired in a series string of panels... "It took 29 hours to put out the blaze". I guarantee some of that time was between sunset and sunrise, so the only source of light would have been from the responders themselves. You want to fight a fire on a roof with panels during the daylight. Foam the panels. That's right, spray that same foamy stuff they spray on a chemical fire on the panels. I'm sure the output from the panels will drop dramatically even on a clear day! The output from my panels drops like a rock when I get a passing rain cloud. Even overcast days drops my panel output dramatically. |
09-13-13, 06:49 PM | #5 |
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09-14-13, 12:47 PM | #6 |
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This is FUD. It may have happened once, but I fail to see how PV panels are causing fires. In fact, they could prevent fires by being heat shields to a fire in the nearby building, or wildfire.
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09-14-13, 01:50 PM | #7 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
__________________________ I think a major problem is not that they cause any problems related to the fire itself, but more of an issue should a FF accidentally step on one with it's relatively smooth facade. I think that in the future, there would be laws & codes to balance FF access and solar access. Something like having a "walkway" of a certain size (say 2 feet) between strings. |
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09-14-13, 07:38 PM | #8 |
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09-14-13, 08:18 PM | #9 |
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Actually, one thing they could do right away is make it mandatory that a grounding rod is installed at all fire hydrants and make it mandatory that the hoses have a grounding wire throughout their length that is attached to it. Of course that would work most for firefighters working from the ground. But it would be a start, along with fire fighters having rubber boots and gloves at solar sights.
Edit: Another thought. For those working on the roof it would be good to have an electrically conductive head to toe suit, if that's possible. Make sure it is connected directly to ground at all times either through the hose, or back at the hydrant. The key in all cases would be extensive training for the fire fighters on how electricity works when there is both hot voltage as well as a hot fire. Last edited by Exeric; 09-14-13 at 09:05 PM.. |
09-17-13, 04:40 PM | #10 |
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Rubbish!
A new technology comes along and that industry has to educate the Fire Department?
OK, let's go back a hundred years when George Westinghouse was running wires across this country for the NEW electric grid. The individuals fighting the fire had to LEARN how to address electricity the same way they had to learn how to address, new chemicals, new building materials, new house designs, high rise building, etc., etc. It's the job of the fire departments to train their FF for new technologies, not the PV industry to train them. Did the automobile companies teach fire fighters how to fight auto fires? No, so why should the PV industry have the responsibility for teaching the fire departments a new technology? They shouldn't! More rubbish, probably from people who would love to dump on Alternate Energy. That's my 4 cents. (adjusted for inflation) Rob Last edited by Robaroni; 09-17-13 at 05:51 PM.. |
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