Why solar connectors? Because connectors usually don’t get the attention they deserve. They are a key component of a solar system and hold an important function: to provide a low-resistance connection between solar modules and other components while maintaining their integrity under extreme weather conditions for more than 25 years. Crazy, right? A piece of…

We do a lot of solar PV and renewable energy asset inspections here at HelioVolta and SolarGrade! Every time we visit a site, we use the SolarGrade platform to guide our workflow and document our findings. Here are 17 things we look for every time we approach a combiner box: 1. Missing/Improper LabelImproper labeling can…

Cross-Mating & Compatibility This is a huge problem in the industry. Since the MC4 type connection became the standard, lots of competitors created an “MC4 compatible” connector. For some years, the rules of compatibility were not fully clear or understood by the masses, and even today, not everyone is clear about it. Connectors get tested…

Helping solar project stakeholders understand the root causes of PV system fires and prevent thermal events. Fires in PV systems are rare, but they have severe consequences for safety and property damage. When videos of fires go viral, like one shown here, they damage solar power’s reputation. They’re a threat to our clean energy transition.It’s…

Solar PV system fires are rare, dangerous incidents with severe consequences. Regulations that reduce the risk of thermal events obviously make sense. But what if they have unintended consequences? The HelioVolta team has the combined experience of >500 PV system inspections and dozens of root cause analyses on thermal events. Based on our professional field observations, we…