Even the most experienced professionals make mistakes, and PV systems present many opportunities for errors. In this paper we list some of the more common issues we've seen or heard about often enough to be worth mentioning. … [Read more...]
The hows and whys of higher voltages in solar
Why did the industry move from 600-V to 1000-V solar arrays? The answer is simple: to reduce system costs. The value of increased system voltages is realized in infrastructure savings, reduced installation costs and end-to-end efficiency improvements. That is the same reason the industry is now … [Read more...]
How much granularity is enough?
In the age of data, solar contractors, maintenance crews and system owners can see more system performance details than ever. But collecting and analyzing too much data can be a waste of resources. So what is the ideal granularity for a PV installation? In this whitepaper, HiQ Solar examines a … [Read more...]
Saving Install Cost by Using Connectors as Means of Disconnect
Additional AC and DC disconnects add cost and complexity to PV systems and introduce several points of potential failure, thus reducing reliability. In the US disconnecting means are mandated by the governing electrical code. Several cents/Watt can often be saved in installation cost if separate … [Read more...]
Taking the Nuisance Tripping out of AFCI – Useful Changes to Testing of PV Inverters
The ability of a PV inverter to detect and interrupt series arcs is a useful safety feature. In the US the National Electrical Code requires PV systems to be capable of detecting high voltage DC arcs. However, this has been a controversial topic. We'll take a brief look at the issues with arc … [Read more...]
Clancy Moving Systems Rooftop Installation
The grid-tie 469 kW-DC/392 kW-AC solar PV system on the roof of Clancy Moving Systems represents a unique advance in system design and string inverter installation. To satisfy code requirements, keep costs low, and speed installation, EnterSolar® and Pure Power Engineering devised an innovative … [Read more...]
A Guide for PV System Technicians and Engineers
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are being installed in ever increasing numbers throughout the world, and are expected to safely and reliably produce electrical energy over several decades of operation. However, many systems are not satisfactorily evaluated prior to being placed into service, and … [Read more...]