Solar install turning out really bad - looking for some help/advice please.

[HX_Guy]

Just got off the phone with the installer (called him). Asked him what is going on with the project, he said he is picking up the permit (he thought I had it for some reason, I told him previously I had a copy of it from the city) and fixing what they asked for on the permit. I asked if he is redoing the permit vs changing the wiring, and he said he is doing both because the inspector noted that the PV meter socket model is not specified on the permit and to either specify it on the permit or get a letter of clarification form the design company. I don't know why he is electing to resubmit the permit vs the letter...to buy time I can only assume?

He acknowledged that he received my email and he said "I'm going to get what the inspector requested fixed and I'm going to get the city inspection passed and the APS inspection passed and be done with this. If you want to go about talking to the city, and to the inspector and all that, you go ahead but you're not going to tell me how to run my company, I'm going to run my company. This is the worst job I've ever had in my life. If you want to report me to the registrar of contractors and not pay me and hire an attorney, fine do what you need to do."

I told him this wouldn't have been the worst job of his life if he would have just done it properly from the start. I asked what kind of timeframe are we looking at and he said he is going to resubmit with the city tomorrow and when it's approved he is going to come out and redo the wiring.

Again to me it sounds like he's trying to buy some time, there is no reason to resubmit the permit especially that I told him I already received something from the designer to clarify the PV meter socket model. I think to that again he said he is going to do it how he wants to do it and he is going to run his business, not me.

[HX_Guy]

Put together a timeline of everything based on emails, text messages and posts on here. May come in useful in the future.
Unbelievable how long I've been dealing with this.

[Alisobob]

That connection is really bad news; High resistance connections literally burn up,

Yup.....

fire_solar.jpg

I'm not kidding around with this photo.... your install issues just got very serious.

[Living Large]

I find the fact the installer did shoddy electrical work absolutely shocking, considering the outstanding work he did attaching the rails to the roof.

[HX_Guy]

Thanks Bruce. I can confirm that at least one other, besides the one in the picture, was also loose. The other 4 I checked at the combiner were snug.

Luckily all the connectors he constructed are pretty easily accessible if I remember correctly so it shouldn't be too difficult to redo them all, which I think is important to do even if they feel snug. I think there are only 6 other connectors throughout the array (aside from the ones right at the combiner).

[bcroe]

Are you kidding me??

I was up on the roof making a change to the DC combiner box and while working on it, by accident I notice...WTF did that wire just move? Oh yea...a freaking wire that's supposed to be crimped tight just slid right out of the connector! A wire that has up to 500V going through it. This is a connector that the genius installer crimped together with a plier, instead of the proper MC4 connector crimper that costs a whopping $35 on Amazon! How the hell is this guy licensed and in business?!?

That connection is really bad news; I'm in agreement, every one the installer did needs to
be checked. I'm not sure, if the MC4s can be taken apart once the contacts are snapped
in place. Probably I'd do them all over. At the very least, note the position of every wire
and give it a good yank. After a high power interval, I sometimes check for any warm
MC4s, conduits, boxes, etc. An infrared temp gauge checks big critical connections.

Crimping has to be done exactly right, with the right tool, or there is no knowing what will
happen in the future. High resistance connections literally burn up, broken connections
create hazards. I crimp mine too, but then I solder each one. Probably not code, but I am
very good at soldering.

With your non isolated (I'm told) inverter, the DC input would need to track your line voltage
in operation. In a high voltage low current system like this, voltage drop in connectors isn't
going to affect operation till there is a failure. 20 volts lost through a connector at 5A will
probably be enough power to smoke it.

Be sure not to leave MC4s out exposed to the weather; corrosion may start and set up an
early failure (ask me how I know). Panels come with the leads loose; if they aren't
immediately used, short them together to keep the weather out. Bruce Roe

[sdold]

I think it might be good to buy an hour or two with an attorney that handles contract disputes or whatever makes the most sense, to keep yourself from sabotaging any case you have, if you haven't already done so by working on "his" job.

[Alisobob]

Maybe I should report him to the AZ Registrar of Contractors and having his license revoked?

I suggested this, along with contacting a construction savvy lawyer about 30 pages ago.

Now its to the point , where he really is going to burn your house down.

Tell him he's fired, hire a real electrician to come out and inspect / correct everything, and pay the new electrician with the funds Mr. Jackass was supposed to get.

If the new electrician wants more to correct things than you have left in your budget, sue the original installer for the difference.

I've told you before, once a job starts going sideways, there is a 99% chance it will continue to do so.

To hope it will straighten out is doubtful at best.. foolish at worst.

If anything good is to come out of this... its that no other board member will ever have to go through, what you have gone through.

Man... what a fiasco.

[HX_Guy]

I think Im going to finish it up with this and see wtf happens tomorrow.

"I am done waiting and having everything done and redone incorrectly. Someone needs to come out tomorrow (Tuesday 01/20/15) to correctly fix all the issues specified by the inspector and the inspection passed at first availability from the City of Peoria or I am contacting the Arizona Registrar of Contractors about your license, Value Card about reversing all payments made to you and an attorney if needed."

[inetdog]

Maybe I should threaten him with contacting his previous customers about having their systems throughly checked (am I even allowed to do that..or is that slandering?) Or reporting him to the AZ Registrar of Contractors and having his license revoked?

This forum probably does not have the best legal expertise to advise you on that decision, but we will help you rant and rave!

[Alisobob]

At this point, it wouldn't surprise me if he was actively sabotaging the install. Don't let him do anything more.

I was thinking the same thing..... when the panels were all installed willy-nilly, and the clamps were improperly installed.

Nobody could do such a poor job ....without trying to.

I feel for your situation.

[HX_Guy]

Maybe I should threaten him with contacting his previous customers about having their systems throughly checked (am I even allowed to do that..or is that slandering?) Or reporting him to the AZ Registrar of Contractors and having his license revoked?

[Ben25]

I would definitely threaten legal action and cancel payments if possible. Maybe have a lawyer write something up.

[Ian S]

At this point, it wouldn't surprise me if he was actively sabotaging the install. Don't let him do anything more.

[HX_Guy]

You might remember me suggesting you never let this guy touch your house again......

This is exactly why...

I'm trying to come up with a letter to write this guy and can't even think straight Im so frustrated and pissed.

I don't even know what the hell to threaten him with. An attorney? Canceling all payments??

This is what I've written so far...I don't even know if there's even a reason to send it, do I even want this guy on my property again? Any suggestions?

I am at my wits end with this project. I have never seen such incompetence from any company in my life.
This project has dragged on for months, the permit was submitted 5 months ago and approved 2 months ago and the install is still not complete. I pleaded multiple times to JUST FOLLOW THE PERMIT, both over text and in person and you constantly either ignored me or said “it’ll be fine”. Why was it so difficult to just look at the permit and do what is specified?

I question the complete safety and integrity of the install. Just earlier today I was working on reconfiguring the combiner box (both DC+ and DC- require fusing per the permit) and one of the wires you crimped to the MC4 connector just slid out with almost zero pressure on it. How do I trust that the rest of the connectors are solid?