So, we had a decent storm through last night. Heaps of close lightning (started a dozen bushfires around us, but the fire fighters were straight onto them and got them out quickly). A lot of strong, gusty wind....
Well, I'd been offsite until about 2pm today, when I got home I found the batteries had been charging far slower than they should have. A quick look at the logs and I could see arrays 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 were all nominal but array 5 was dead.
Went up top and....
That's not what I expected, for sure!!
The missing panel wasn't too far away, in a fence... not seriously damaged, fortunately. But this was a worry!
On closer inspection, three of the 4 cap-screws and nylock nuts that held it on were COMPLETELY MISSING.
Nylock nuts do NOT just shake off. Ever.
More curious again, the panel beside this one had TWO if its FOUR nuts also MISSING.
Every other nut and bolt on the array were tight. Also odd that the ziplock cable ties were completely missing.
I reckon some scumbag had tried to steal a couple of panels, been interrupted and not been back to finish the job, then the gusty wind of the storm last night just finished the deal off...
(All fixed and back in production now, fortunately)
Razor wire? Isolate them from ground and leave 'em at 120V DC live?