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Fire Hazards and Solar Panels in Zimbabwe: Can Solar Panels Cause Fires?
Published: Sona Solar Zimbabwe | Category: Solar Safety
More businesses and households in Zimbabwe are shifting to solar power due to erratic ZESA supply. While the benefits of renewable energy are clear, recent events have raised a critical question: Is this alternative source of energy safe from fire hazards?
Urgent Update: Recent investigations into local fires have linked incidents to "Partial Installations" where clients purchased unmatched batteries and inverters separately. Sona Solar advises against DIY or mixed-brand setups.
Do Solar Panels Pose a Fire Hazard?
Although extremely rare, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels can cause a fire if mismanaged. However, systems are extremely safe under normal conditions if installed by professionals. International data records fewer than 1 incident per 10,000 installations.
The Reality: A properly installed panel will not spontaneously catch fire. Fires are almost always caused by system malfunctions, poor wiring, or mismatched components (like the recent "patchwork" installation fires).
Technical Causes of Solar Fires
Most fires start at connection points, not the panels themselves.
A solar system must be balanced. If a client buys a cheap inverter and connects it to a powerful battery without checking compatibility, communication errors occur. This can lead to overcharging and thermal runaway (fire), as seen in recent incidents involving client-supplied equipment.
Solar PV systems contain live wires. Wrongly sized cables, loose connections, or arc faults can create "hotspots" that ignite nearby flammable material. This is why Sona Solar insists on full protection kits with DC breakers.
If solar panels produce more voltage than the inverter can handle, or if a ZESA surge hits an unprotected system, components can blow up. This is a common cause of fire in systems that lack proper Surge Protection Devices (SPDs).
Environmental Risks
Zimbabwe experiences severe thunderstorms. Direct strikes can melt panels, while indirect strikes induce high voltages that break down insulation, causing dangerous sparking. A proper earthing system is your first line of defense.
Rats and other gnawing animals can chew through cables, causing electrical shorting which leads to fires. Ensuring your cables are in trunking and maintaining pest control is vital.
How to Reduce Fire Risks
Avoid "patchwork" jobs. Using a certified installer like Sona Solar eliminates mismatched components. We design sturdy systems using matched inverters and batteries to prevent communication failures.
Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) and DC Breakers are mandatory. They should be installed on both the solar panel inputs and battery lines to cut power instantly if a fault is detected.
Solar systems need checkups. A certified technician should check for loose connections, voltage drops (indicating hotspots), and cable damage annually to ensure the system remains safe.
Conclusion: While solar fires are rare, they are preventable. Poor design, mismatched client-supplied batteries, and lack of protection are the main culprits. Sona Solar Zimbabwe designs, installs, and maintains systems that perform safely for decades.
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David (Sales)