Overlooked conduit expansion joints on a long rooftop run... big regret.

The thermal cycling last summer caused a nasty crack in the conduit, leading to water ingress. Always factor in expansion gaps, especially on south-facing exposures, and use flexible couplings at intervals.

4 comments

4 Comments

matthew_thomas4112h ago

Totally agree with that pattern. Skipping expansion joints doesn't just crack conduit, it can lead to full system failures when moisture corrodes connections. Seen it happen on a commercial site where they had to rewire an entire rooftop array after a season of neglect. It's a classic case of penny-wise, pound-foolish, especially with today's material costs.

sarahl6815h ago

This oversight reflects a broader pattern of cutting corners that backfires spectacularly.

benclark15h ago

Backfiring spectacularly? That's a stretch...

sarah46510h ago

Seriously, after hearing about that commercial site where they rewired a whole rooftop array, I can't believe anyone would downplay this. In my experience, even minor thermal expansion without joints can warp conduit runs enough to break seals within a year. Your mileage may vary, but I've seen condensation build-up from compromised conduits lead to arc faults in control panels. It's never just a cosmetic issue.