Pramac LUCE MCPH P7 User manual

PRAMAC
LUCE MCPH P7
MICROMORPH® PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE
USER MANUAL
photovoltaikforum.com

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CA10500TD01
CA11500TD01
CA12500TD01
The original document is written in Italian.
It is strictly forbidden the use and handling of the product or any part of it unless these
instructions have been previously read and understood.
These instructions shall always be provided with the product.
Edition: October 2010
Revision: 4.5
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No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted to third parties, in
any form whatsoever or by any means, without the authorisation of PRAMAC SWISS S.A.
PRAMAC SWISS S.A. reserves the right to modify and upgrade its products, at any time and without
advance notice, for the purpose of continuous quality enhancement. Hence, subsequent editions of this
document may be subject to revision or change.
© Copyright PRAMAC SWISS S.A. – All rights reserved.
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ENGLISH 4
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Contents
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Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................5
GeneralInformation..........................................................................................................................................7
GeneralSafetyInformation...............................................................................................................................8
InstallationInstructions...................................................................................................................................10
Preliminaryoperations................................................................................................................................10
InstructionsforMechanicalInstallation......................................................................................................13
InstructionsforElectricalInstallation...........................................................................................................18
MaintenanceInstructions................................................................................................................................22
ProductDisposal.............................................................................................................................................23
Appendix1–Technicaldataanddimensions
.................................................................................................24
Appendix2–Listofrecommendedinverters.................................................................................................26
Appendix3–Drawingsoffixingparts...........................................................................................................28
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ENGLISH 5
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Introduction
Beforeproductinstallation,useandmaintenance,readcarefullytheseinstructionsand
scrupulouslycomplywithallthesafetyprecautionshereinprescribed.Theseinstructionsprovideall
theinformationrequiredtoguaranteecorrectinstallationanduseoftheproduct,ensuringuser
safetyaswell.Compliancewiththeprovisionssetforthinthisdocumentwillalsoensureoptimal
productperformanceandguaranteethisperformanceovertimebyfollowingsimpleperiodical
maintenanceprocedures.
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GeneralPrecautions
Productinstallationmustbecarriedoutexclusivelybyqualifiedoperators,withappropriate
technicalpreparationandfamiliaritywithcommonmechanicaltools.Incaseofdoubtsor
difficultiesinunderstandingtheseinstructions,orifassistanceisrequired,pleasecontactthe
productretailer.Themajorityofaccidentsoccurringduringequipmentinstallation,useor
maintenancederivefromfailuretocomplybasicsafetyregulationsandfromunderestimatingthe
potentialriskassociatedtoagivensituation.Theownerandtheinstallermustpayextreme
attentiontoallpotentiallyhazardouscircumstances.
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Improperuseoftheproductorfailuretocomplywiththeprovisionscontainedinthisdocument
mayleadtoseriousinjurytopersonsand/oranimals,and/ordamagetoproperty.
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Themanufacturercannotforeseeallthepossiblesituationsthatmayentailrisksintheeffective
conditionsofuseoftheproduct.Hence,thewarningshereincontainedcannotbeconsidered
comprehensiveofallpossible,potentiallyhazardousconditions.Duringthevariousoperations,
wheneverprocedures,equipmentandmethodsnotexpresslyrecommendedbythemanufacturer
areused,itisindispensabletoascertainthattheworkiscarriedoutwithinsafetylimitsforboth
personnelinvolvedintheoperationsandforanyotherpeople.Furthermore,itisnecessaryto
verifythattheproductisnotdamagedormadeunsafeasaresultoftheinstallation,useor
maintenanceproceduresadoptedattheuser’sdiscretion.Thebasicsafetymeasurestobe
adoptedaredescribedinthe“GeneralSafetyInformation”sectionofthisinstructionmanual.
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ENGLISH 6
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SafetySymbols
Theseinstructionscontainwarningsaccompaniedbythreesymbols,describedhereafter.
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DANGER
Thewarningsprecededbythissymbolspecificallyrefertosituationsofimpending
danger,withthepossibilityofseriousphysicalinjurytopersonsorriskofdeath.
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RISK
Thewarningsprecededbythissymbolspecificallyrefertorisksituations,withthe
possibilityofseriousphysicalinjurytopersonsanddamagetotheproduct,
resultinginlossofsafetyconditions.
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NOTE
Thewarningsprecededbythissymbolservetofocusattentiononimportant
information,mainlyofatechnicalnature.
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Additionalinformationisprovided,asrequired,inthedescriptionoftheoperationswhichmay
engenderspecificrisks.
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ENGLISH 7
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GeneralInformation
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Thecommercialdenominationoftheproductis:PRAMACLUCEMCPHP7.
PRAMACLUCEMICROMORPH®MCPHP7modulesaremanufacturedusingsiliconThinFilm
TandemJunctiontechnology.Thisprocesscombinesanamorphoussilicontoplayerovera
microcrystallinesiliconlayer.Thetopcellabsorbsandconvertthevisibleradiationsofthesolar
spectrum,whilethebottomoneissensitivetonearinfraredwavelengths.Thisisthereasonwhy
Micromorph®panelsareevenmoreefficient.Moreover,thankstotheframelessdesign,theyare
perfectlysuitableforarchitecturalintegrations.
TheMicromorph®technologyprovidesgreaterefficiencyandafasterreturnoninvestment:
doublejunctionmodulesconvertawiderspectrumofsolarradiation.
Themoduleiscertifiedaccordingto:IEC61646(moduleperformancetest),IEC61730(module
safetytest),IEC61701(saltmistcorrosiontest).
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Mainfeatures
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HighefficiencyMicromorph®ThinFilmtechnology;
Hightransmittancefrontglass;
Heatstrengthenedbackglass;
Multi‐Contact®connectorsMC4(Ø4mm,IP67);
Multi‐Contact®PV‐JB‐LCjunctionboxwithby‐passdiode(IP65;TÜVRheinlandcertified)
Longlifetime:25yearsguaranteefor85%oftheinitialoutputpower.
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ENGLISH 8
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GeneralSafetyInformation
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Alloweduse
Thephotovoltaicmodule,usedaloneorincombinationwithoneormoremodulesofthesame
type,isdesignedforthepurposeofproducingelectricenergywhenexposedtosunlight.
Themoduleisdesignedtobeconnectedinseriesand/orinparalleltootherspanelsonlymadeby
thesametechnologyandtogetherconnectedtoaDC/ACconverter(inverter).
Anyotheruseisstrictlyforbiddenandcouldengenderrisksforusersafetyanddamagetothe
product.
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Improperuse
Improperusemeansanyuseotherthanthoseallowed(forwhichthephotovoltaicmoduleis
designed),oruseinwaysthatarenotexpectedorareexplicitlyforbidden.
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DANGER
Improperuseoftheproductistobeconsidereddangerous.Themanufacturer
declinesallresponsibilityfordamagetopropertyand/orinjurytopersonsand/or
animalscausedbyimproperuseoftheproduct.
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Qualificationsofoperatorsdesignatedtotheproductinstallation
Themodulehastobeconnectedtothemainelectricsystemswitchboardoftheinstallationsite
throughacertifiedenergymeter.Theoperationsrequiredforthistypeofinstallationmustbe
performedbyqualifiedoperatorshavingappropriatetechnicaltraining.Furthermore,operators
mustreadandfullyunderstandthismanual.
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ENGLISH 9
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DANGER
Productinstallationcarriedoutbyunqualifiedpersonnelisexplicitlyforbidden.
Themanufacturerdeclinesanyresponsibilityforinjurytopersonsand/oranimals
and/ordamagetopropertycausedbyimproperinstallationoftheproduct.
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Installationprecautions
Properinstallationrequirestheknowledgeoftheoveralldimensionsoftheproducttoguarantee
correctinstallationandleavesufficientclearancespaceforstandardproductuse.Pleaseuseonly
toolsingoodconditionsanduseallpersonalprotectionequipmentrequiredbylocalregulations.If
modulesareinstalledabovegroundlevel,wearasafetybeltandprotectiongloveswheninstalling
themodulestopreventtheriskoffallingandelectricshock.
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DANGER
Electriccurrentmaycauseseriouspersonalinjury.Ifthefrontorbackglassis
broke,aswellasthej‐Box,thecontactwithanypartofthemodulemayresultin
electrocution.
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Precautionsforuse
• Avoidliveflamesorsparksinproximityoftheproduct.
• Donotuseliveflamesasasourceoflighttoinspecttheproduct.
• Neverusegasoline,solventsorotherinflammablefluidstoclean
theproduct.Useonlynon‐inflammableandnon‐toxicsolvents.
• Donotusewatertoextinguishfirescausedbyshortcircuitsor
otherelectricalorigin.
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ENGLISH 10
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InstallationInstructions
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Preliminaryoperations
Checkpackaging!Pleasecheckcontentsifboxisvisiblydamaged.Checkcables,connectors
andthemoduleonbothsidesfordamages.Donotinstalldamagedmodules.
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Maximumcaremustbeusedduringproducttransportation,storageandunpacking.Ifthe
modulesmustbetemporarilystored,keeptheminadryandventilatedenvironment.
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Theinstallerorpurchaserareresponsibleforchoosingthelocationwherethestructure
andsupportsaretobemountedandforpreparingtherelativelayout.
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Duringmoduleinstallation,pleaserespectalllocal,regionalandnationalapplicablesafety
regulations,includingconstructioncodesandregulations,whererequired.
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Useappropriatesafetyequipment(insulatedtools,insulatedgloves,etc.),approvedforuse
onelectricequipmentandsystems.
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Pleasefollowallinstructionsandcomplywithallsafetyprecautionsprescribedforallother
componentsusedinthesystem.
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Onlyuseequipment,connectors,cablesandassemblysuitedforaphotovoltaicsystem.
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ENGLISH 11
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Importantnotice
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RISK
Donotpaintorapplyadhesivestothemodules(especiallyonthefrontglass).
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RISK
Eachmodulemaygeneratevoltageinexcessof100VDConceexposedtoasource
ofdirectorindirectlight.Becarefulduringmodulehandlingorwiringifthe
modulesareexposedtosunlight.Donotwearringsormetalobjectsduringpanel
installationormaintenance.
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RISK
Donotusemirrorsorotherartificialmethodsaimedatamplifyingand
concentratinglightonthemodules.
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RISK
Donotwalkonthesurfaceofthemodule.
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RISK
Modulesmustalwaysbehandledby2persons.Inappropriate
handlingmaydamagetheproduct,mainlytheglasssurface.
Neverliftthemodulepullingthewires.Donotinstallorhandle
moduleswhentheyarewet,noronextremelywindydays.
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RISK
Do not rest heavy objects on the surface of the module. The
maximum load that modules may bear is 2400 Pa (about 250
kg/m2).
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ENGLISH 12
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RISK
Absolutelyavoiddroppingthemoduleorbumpingitduring
handlingandassembly.Donotputmodulesdownonedges
unprotected.Donotassembledamagedmodules.
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RISK
Donotsubmergethemoduleinwaternorsubjectthemoduletoaconstant
streamofwater.
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photovoltaikforum.com

ENGLISH 13
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InstructionsforMechanicalInstallation
PVmodulesareexposedtoawiderangeofmechanicalconditions,sothatsurfacestressmay
appear.Duetothedifferentthermalcoefficientsofglassandmetalstructures,thermalstresscan
occurasaresultofthemoduleoutdoorexposure.NationalCodesStandards(EuroCodeEN1991,
DIN1055,etc.)setbasicsrulestobefollowedfortheplanningofastructuralframeworkandthe
buildingofstructures.
Modulesmustbesecurelyfixedandshouldnotbeindirectcontactwithmetalparts.Alldirect
contactsofthemoduleswithmetalpartsofthesubstructuremustbeprevented.Rubber(or
alternativeisolatingmaterial)isrequiredbetweenthesubstructuresandthemodules.The
suggestedmaterialisEthylene‐Propylene‐Diene‐Monomerrubber(EPDM)foritsreliabilityand
longlifetime.
Modulesneedtobefixedontheloweredgeandmustbefastenedlinearlyalongbothvertical
sidesinaccordancewiththesupportstructure.Anhorizontalmiddlesupportisplacedtoenable
thecenterfasteningandtopreventnon‐admissiblebendingofthemodules.Thehorizontally
positionedclampsinsurethatthemodulesresisttohighwindloads.Fixingclampsalsohavetobe
rubberized.
Therewillbesomeunavoidablebendingofmodules,butdonotforcethemtoadjust,asitmay
causebreaksorweakeningofthestructure,makingmoduleslessresistanttoadditional
mechanicalloads.
Waterheapsonthemodulesglassmustbeprevented;thesemightcausecorrosionofthepanels
andoftheadhesivebonding(laminationfoil)betweenfrontandbackglassandmaycauselossof
glasstransparency(glassblinding)andimpairmentoftheadhesivebonding.
ThismoduleisclassifiedaccordingtoClassCfireratingandmustbeinstalledoveraroofof
appropriatefireresistance.Consultyourlocalbuildingdepartmenttodetermineapprovedroofing
materialsandprocedures.Donotinstallthismoduleasanintegralpartofarooforwallofa
livablestructurewithoutapprovalofyourlocaladministrativeauthorities.

NOTE
Photovoltaicpanelsachievemaximumoutputefficiencywhenthey
arepositionedperpendicularlytothesourceoflight.Panel
orientationandangleofinclinationmayconsiderablyinfluence
annualelectricalpoweroutput.Thesupportstructureprovidedby
theinstallationdesigningengineermusttakeintoaccountthe
insolationofthesitewherethepanelisinstalled.
Theminimumallowedinclinationis10°inordertoguaranteethemodulesself‐
cleaning.
photovoltaikforum.com

ENGLISH 14
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Procedure
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1. Thesupportingstructuremustbecomposedof3lengthwisesectionsatleast6cm
wide.
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2. Thedirectcontactbetweenthemoduleandthemetalsupporthastobeavoided:apply
onthebackrailsalayerofprotectiveEthylene‐Propylene‐Diene‐Monomerrubber
(1100x15x2mmdimensions).
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3. BeforepositioningthePVpanel,fixupthehorizontallowersupportingclampswithout
fixingthemfirmly.
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ENGLISH 15
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4. Leanthemoduleontheframemakingthemoduleslidebehindtheclamps.
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
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5. Proceedaddingtheupperclampsandthelateralfixingbar.Finallyfixupfirmlyallthe
clamps.Verticalfixingbarsarefixedontheframein3points.

NOTE:Tightenthescrewswiththetorqueprovidedbythemanufacturerforthe
hardwareused.Pramacrecommendboltsandnutswithguaranteed
mechanicalcharacteristics,withabolt/nutfrictionfactorconstantand
known.
Ex: BoltsM8‐Class4.8–factor0.20→fricontorque=14.3Nm
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ENGLISH 16
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6. Repeatthesameprocedureforthenextmodules.Forcentralspanels,‘omega’shaped
verticalbarsareavailableallowingthefixingoftwomodulesatthesametime,
reducingconsiderablytheamountofmaterial,thecostandthefixingtime.Forother
kindsofconfigurationsalso‘omega’shapedhorizontalsclampsareavailable.
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photovoltaikforum.com

ENGLISH 17
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RISK
Themodulemustbeinstalledtakingintoaccountitsthermalfeatures.Inorderto
guaranteeairflowaroundthemodule,sufficientroommustbeprovidedbetween
thepanelandthemountingsystem.Thisroomwillallowheatdissipationandwill
limitthecreationofcondensationandhumidity.Furthermore,toavoid
mechanicalfailures,modulesmustbespacedtoallowthermalexpansion.

RISK
Thestructureonwhichthemodules(orasinglemodule)shallbemountedmust
haverestingpointsthatareperfectlycoplanarbetweenthemselves.When
tighteningclampsorboltsforassembly,absolutelyavoidapplyingatorquethat
mayriskbreakingthemodule(seepoint5ofmountingprocedure).

RISK
Partialshadingonmodulesmustbeabsolutely
avoided,inparticularashadingareawhichisparallel
tothecellsmayleadtoanirreversibledamageof
themodule.
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photovoltaikforum.com

ENGLISH 18
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InstructionsforElectricalInstallation
Whendesigningthesystem,avoidgroundloops.Thenegativeeffectsofpartialshadingonpower
generationcanbeminimisedthroughaccurateroutingofeachstring.
Beforeconnectingthestringstotheinverter,makesurethatthewiringhasbeencarriedout
correctly.Iftheopen‐circuitvoltage(Voc)ortheshortcircuitcurrent(Isc)differfromthose
indicatedinthespecifications,donotconnectthesystemandcheckthewiring.
Duringinstallation,rigorouslycheckalltheelectricalconnectionsandtheconnectorsairtightlock.
Electriccablesmustnotbesubjecttostressormechanicalloadsandtheconnectorsmustbeused
onlytoconnecttheelectricalcircuitandneverasswitchestoenableorinterruptpower
generation.Theconnectionsbetweenmodulesandtheconnectionofthemoduletotheinverters
mustbemadeusingtheMulti‐Contactcableswhichareprovidedtogetherwiththejunctionbox.
Thecableshavea2.5mm2sectionandare800mmlong.
Thewiresusedformoduleinstallationmustbesolartypecables,witha2.5mm2diameterand
mustresisttoavoltageof1000Vandatemperatureof90°C.
Iftheinstallationsiteisexposedtoparticularclimaticconditions,useappropriateconduitsin
ordertoprotectcablesagainstdamage.

DANGER
Everymodule,ifexposedtosunlightoranyothersourceoflight,maygenerate
voltagegreaterthan100VDC.Above50VDC,thehumanbodymaybesubjectto
seriousinjurythatmayresultindeath.Toavoidtheriskofelectrocution,cover
themoduleswithanopaquematerialanduseinsulatedtools.
NOTE
Modulesmaygeneratehighercurrentorvoltageundercertainweather
conditionsdifferentfromstandardtestingconditions.Tocalculatecomponent
ratings,multiplytheVocandIscvaluesbyfactor1,25.Hencepleaseoversize
electronicdevicesusinga1,25safetyfactor.
NOTE
MCPHmodulesaresubjecttoreductionofinitialpoweroutputduringthefirst10‐
20daysofoperation.Thevaluesdeclaredinthetechnicalspecificationsreferto
stabilizedoutput;hence,voltageatinstallationmaybeupto10‐15%higherthan
expected,duringthefirsthoursofoperation.Installationsizingmusttakeinto
considerationthispossiblevariation.
photovoltaikforum.com

ENGLISH 19
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Installationlayout:series/parallelconnections
Series
Ifthemodulesareconnectedinseries,theoverallvoltagemayreachhighvalues.When
thistypeoflayoutisused,theequivalentvoltageisthesumofthevoltageofeach
individualpanel.Onlymoduleswithidenticalcurrentcharacteristicsmustbeconnectedin
series.

RISK
Donotdirectlyconnectdifferenttypesofmodulestogetheronthesamestring.
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RISK
Amaximumof6modulesperstringareallowed.Theoverallvoltagemustalways
andinanycasebelessthanthemaximumsystemvoltageandlowerthanthe
invertermaximuminputvoltage.
NOTE
Modulesofastringmusthaveidenticalorientationandinclination.
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ENGLISH 20
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Parallel
Forapplicationswhichrequirehighcurrent,modulescanbeconnectedinparallelandthe
overallcurrentwillbeequaltothesumofthecurrentsofeachpanel.

RISK
Parallelconnectionscanbesetonlyifmodulesvoltagecharacteristicsare
identical.Aparallelconnectionisallowedforupto3stringsasamaximum.Ifthe
installationrequiresahigheramountofparallelconnectedstrings,thena
blockingdiodeevery3stringsisrequired.
NOTE
Modulesofastringmusthaveidenticalorientationandinclination.

Inverters
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Invertersconvertdirectcurrentintoalternatingcurrent.Invertersofthelatestgeneration,thanks
totheMPPT(MaximumPowerPointTracker),optimizetheproduction,eveninsituationsof
weatherchangesorvariablesunlight.Toreducemismatchlossesandoptimizetheperformanceof
thesystem,converterswith2ormoreMPPTarepreferred.
photovoltaikforum.com