Help - It's raining Solar Panels!

[starkllr]

This is a new one for me. Up until now I haven't had problems with solar panels - I've mounted them to the sides of my ships, and I mounted 3 in a row on a strut as part of a space station, and they survived launch and orbital maneuvering with no difficulty.

But I'm building a new, bigger space station, and last night I tried to launch a component - 5 of the long trusses connected together, with a row of 9 solar panels mounted on the truss. About two seconds after liftoff, I saw a shower of black solar-panel material raining down. All the panels broke on lift-off. They're still stuck on the trusses, but now they're listed as "broken". I've never seen that before, and it's the same rocket I used to launch previous missions with the same panels mounted on the side.

Any ideas or advice?

[Tex_NL]

Some more info and screen shots could be useful.

Which panels are you using? Do you deploy them before launch? Are your panels touching something?

[starkllr]

I'll check when I get home.

They weren't deployed, and they're not touching anything - they're lined up in a row on the truss. I'll put up a screencap tonight, thanks!

[MBobrik]

Maybe you accidentally deployed them, placed them in the wrong action group ( I accidentally placed stuff in the 'staging' group once, but, fortunately, I noticed it, otherwise I would be in for a nasty surprise after decoupling the first stage )

[Tex_NL]

Wrong action groups, oh how I know that feeling. It is very easy to accidentally set them to the staging group and deploying them as soon as you try to lift off.

[starkllr]

That may be it. I put them in an action group - I stuck them in Custom 1 - at least, I thought I did, but maybe I put them in staging exactly like you said. That would certainly explain it. I hope so, because Space Station Babel needs those panels, and soon!

Edited June 10, 2013 by starkllr

[MBobrik]

Custom 1 is OK, Check whether they are not accidentally in one of the pre-defined action groups above Custom 1 - If they are, especially in the topmost group named 'staging' or 'stage', can't remember, ( one item can be in more action groups at once ), the source of your problem has been found.

[UNSC]

Well, you do have to remember that it was kerbals who programed the launch computer. XD

[starkllr]

That was it - they were in the Staging group. Thanks - I would never have figured that out on my own!