Energized MPPT PV In Terminal

peteandsun

I recently installed a Sol-Ark 5k-1P inverter replacing an old Trace/Xantrex 4048.  I was able to reconfigure the old array (24 BP 120 watt panels) into 2 strings of 12 panels.  In so doing it was necessary to change out the old breakers in the combiner box that were only rated for 80VDC.  Since the system was up and running, I just thought I could carefully change out the breakers without shutting everything down.  Big mistake.  I was primarily worried about getting zapped from an array wire and was careful with them and wire nutted them once they were removed from their breakers.  But when removing the breakers from the din rail, I inadvertently brushed the bus bar that connected all the breakers at their top terminals against the underside of the combiner box and because the wire going to the inverter was still connected to the lug on the bus bar, I got a loud pop, almost a bang from where the bus bar touched the combiner box and could hear an alarm going off at the inverter 100' away.  I did not think I would be exposed to battery voltage on the PV In side of the internal MPPT controller.  I think the inverter is fried.  Anyway, I just wanted to relay this in case anyone else is as ignorant as I am.