🔥 Suddenly the solar system caught fire... 🔥
The cause?
A small, invisible defect – an overheated plug connector – had developed into a dangerous weak point over a period of months. Not visible to the naked eye. But when it was too late, the overheating caused a fire that destroyed the entire system.
But connectors are not the only danger. Hotspots, defective junction boxes with corroded or loose contacts, defective bypass diodes or faulty cabling can also lead to fires – often completely unnoticed. Particularly problematic are
- Incorrectly crimped plugs,
- Porosity due to UV light,
- Mechanical damage or corrosion of the metal contacts,
- Faulty wiring,
all of which can cause a plug to heat up, short-circuit or form an arc.
‘With the help of thermography, you can also specifically detect hotspots above 100° - a decisive factor in fire prevention.’
How drone thermography makes hidden dangers visible
With a regular thermographic inspection, hidden sources of danger can be recognised before they become critical, for example:
- Defective connectors: Overheated connectors show up as thermal anomalies, which are often difficult to see in a rooftop system
- Hotspots: Micro-cracks, shading or material defects that are not visible to the naked eye.
- Overheated junction boxes & faulty connections: Localised temperature deviations are easily identified by thermography.
The result:
✅ Small defects do not escalate into major damage.
✅ Protection of human life – Early detection of danger spots protects operators, inspectors and residents from potential fire risks.
✅ Cost savings – Early maintenance is cheaper than expensive repairs.
✅ Greater operational safety – operators are supported in fulfilling legal regulations and insurance guidelines.
✅ Longer service life of the PV system – Regular inspections ensure that the system remains efficient in the long term.
📢 More interesting Insights?
🔗 Subscribe to the Photovoltaik Vision WhatsApp channel & newsletter!
Author and expert: Jan Wannenwetsch