With increasing interest and demand for renewable energy sources, the market has seen a surge in the deployment of solar photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight to electricity. While new technological innovations like micro-inverters promise to change the solar landscape, the majority of installations today utilize long runs of high-voltage DC power that have raised concerns
Reconfigurable DC Arc Detector Alerts System To Avoid Fires
March 19, 2013 : 0 Comments
At the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC), Texas Instruments Incorporated introduced what it says is the industry’s first fully programmable DC arc detect reference solution. The RD-195 makes it faster and easier for designers to address a growing need to safeguard high-power DC photovoltaic units against the catastrophic damage that can result from arc faults.
What Are PV Labeling Requirements?
March 15, 2013 : 0 Comments
As adhesive labels replace plastic engraved plates, PV labeling has become a high interest subject and important consideration within the PV industry. In the past, there has been no universal consensus on the definition of acceptable photovoltaic infrastructure labeling, which has resulted in inconsistent compliance information. But the road to standardization is being paved with
4 Questions: Safety Testing Is Critical For Solar Installations
March 13, 2013 : 0 Comments
Solar Power World caught up with Andrew Upton, vice president of The Seaward Group, which is a manufacturer of electrical safety testing equipment based in Tampa, Fla. Upton says installers need to test the safety of their solar installations every step of the way to ensure the system complies with national, state and local electrical
White Paper: Safety Risks & Solutions in Photovoltaic Systems
August 2, 2012 :
The purpose of this paper is to discuss and categorize the safety issues of photovoltaic systems for firefighters as well as outline how the SolarEdge system can mitigate these safety issues. Firefighting Risk – Electrocution: Firefighters and other first responders called to a blaze commonly cut off power to the burning building as a safety precaution.
Obstruction Lighting Can Be Powered By A Solar Array
July 2, 2012 :
Hughey & Phillips (H&P), a manufacturer of obstruction lighting, offers a new LED-based, obstruction light for longer-lasting, more energy-efficient fixtures. H&P’s new HorizonTM line L-810 low-intensity products are suitable for FAA L-810 steady burning lights and can be powered using a solar array for renewable energy applications. The line of lighting is the next expansion
Satellite Communicator for Remote Solar Project Locations
June 19, 2012 :
The inReach satellite communicator From DeLorme allows cell phone messaging in areas without service. With 90% of the Earth’s surface lacking any cell phone service, inReach is the first affordable communication solution for anyone who works, travels or engages in outdoor activities in off the grid environments. It’s even applicable for techs on wind or solar
Report Recommends Changing Solar Standards for Ground Mounts
May 15, 2012 :
The Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) has released a final report, “Grounding Photovoltaic Modules: Issues and Recommendations,” which draws on feedback from solar industry experts as well as ongoing research at Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) and presents the issues with recommendations for changes to existing standards. The need for this study
Detecting Arc Faults
April 10, 2012 :
SolarBOS says it’s offering the industry’s first working arc-fault and ground-fault detection and interruption combiner box, as well as a ground fault interruption for PV systems. The AFDI combiner allows system integrators to meet the letter of the 2011 National Electric Code in a cost-effective and reliable manner. The combiner box has a module that
System Protects Against Arc Flash
February 8, 2012 :
ABB’s Low Voltage Products division has released TVOC-2, a new generation of its Arc Guard System, which has been used to protect electrical equipment from dangerous arc flashes for the past 35 years. TVOC-2 features upgrades and new functions to detect faults in low and medium-voltage switchgear and disconnect power to the arc within 30
