Generac PWRCell System/SnapRS Investigation

Kershaw Talley Barlow (“KTB”) is investigating potential claims against Generac Power Systems, Inc. (“Generac”) involving Generac’s allegedly defective and dangerous shutdown devices – called “SnapRS” components – in home solar energy systems.  Consumers have reported that Generac’s SnapRS units fail at a high rate, including by overheating, melting, bulging and separating, exploding, bubbling, and burning.  These alleged defects have resulted in and present an ongoing danger of home fires, risks of serious injury or death, and property damage or destruction.   

Generac’s SnapRS connector devices are installed between home solar panels to rapidly disconnect and shut down power to individual solar panels to protect against events such as lightning strikes and other electrical surges.  These shutoff devices are also important for preventing electric shock, electrocution, injury, and death where emergency responders or other professionals have to access residential roofs equipped with solar energy systems.  They also help prevent equipment damage and other property damage.  When activated, the SnapRS unit breaks the photovoltaic (“PV”) circuit and reduces PV output voltage to safe levels (under 80 volts) in a matter of seconds.

However, Generac’s SnapRS units are allegedly defective and dangerous to consumers and their homes.  Consumers and technicians report that these devices become overactive by malfunctioning and turning on and off repeatedly, causing them to overheat and burn, resulting in charring and home fires.  Generac attempted an internet-based “firmware update” in or around August 2021, but it was not provided to all customers (e.g., for customers whose solar energy systems were not connected to the internet) and allegedly ineffective even for those who received it.  Consumers reported that the firmware update resulted in loss of energy production for their solar energy systems by shutting down entire panels for prolonged periods of time.  Consumers also experienced complete shutdowns of their entire system. As a result of these alleged shutdowns and losses of energy production, consumers failed to achieve their usual or expected savings on monthly energy bills.     

The SnapRS malfunctions are coded on Generac’s inverters (which convert the direct current (“DC”) electricity generated by solar panels into alternating current (“AC”) electricity used by the electrical grid) as “PVRSS Lockout” system errors.  A PVRSSS Lockout occurs when the inverter detects a malfunctioning or overheating of SnapRSs in the solar panels.  When this happens, all of the solar panels go into “lockout mode” and no solar energy is generated until the lockout is cleared by a service technician.  Typically, the failed SnapRS has to be replaced to clear the PVRSS Lockout error.

In late 2002, Generac started to replace its allegedly defective SnapRS 801 units with a second-generation device, called SnapRS 801A.  But consumers and technicians reported the same defects with SnapRS 801A devices, including solar panels going into PVRSS Lockouts where technicians would find burned, charred, exploded, or melted SnapRS 801As.  In May 2022, Generac issued a letter allegedly demonstrating that it was aware of SnapRS 801 and 801A problems and that it had developed a new SnapRS 802.  However, it has allegedly not been able to supply the market with enough of these new models to replace its allegedly defective and failed units.

Consumers have formed Facebook groups, started threads on Reddit, exchanged information through various social media platforms and complained directly to Generac about the dangerous SnapRS problem, and the resulting breakdowns in their home solar energy systems.  Generac allegedly knew about the SnapRS defect and receives reports of these device failures as well as when PVRSS Lockout system errors are reported through its inverters, as part of its PWRcell system. However, Generac has refused to institute a recall or provide refunds to consumers for its allegedly unsafe and defective SnapRS products. 

If you or someone you know has purchased a Generac PWRcell system and reviewed or been exposed to Generac marketing materials regarding its PWRcell system, please give one of KTB’s attorneys a call at 916-779-7000 or complete our online form.