Importance of Safety in PV Components & Practical Solutions for Solar Systems

Key takeaways:

1. New development of water-proofed solar cable was introduced and production expected to commence by year end at Lapp Korea plant.

2. Understanding how surge protection works in solar system help to eliminate unnecessary assets damages and losses.

3. New string combiner boxes with excellent design and quality were introduced and ready to penetrate into solar market.

4. Phoenix Contact DC string monitoring solution is flexible and easy to deploy.

November 2014

With the results of over-subscribed in both the residential and commercial quota allocated in solar PV system henceforth the importance of safety standards become imperative in the normal operation to prevent unnecessary losses in both properties and humans alike.

Responding to such need in this solar industry, JJ-Lapp Cable (M) in collaboration with Phoenix Contact recently held its first safety seminar to raise the awareness of safety standards in this said industry. The research and development over the past 6(six) months leading to the launch of a German laboratory approved combiner box that set the industry standard for such equipment. More than 50 industry players, namely the system integrators (SI) joined the seminar held at Hilton PJ.

Our German product experts shared their insights on safety standard of PV components and its testing requirement leading to cabling connection protocol, monitoring and eventually protecting the entire PV system.

Mr. Bernd Leushake, Renewable Energy Manager of Lapp Group, APAC region highlighted a few case studies to show some do’s and don’ts for solar cable installation. He also emphasized that the quality of installers, components, maintenance and inspection as well as installation codes and standards are key aspects to ensure a durable PV system. New development of water-proofed solar cable was introduced to the participants for the first time and production expected to commence by year end at our Lapp Korea plant.

Renewable Energy Manager of Lapp Group APAC region, Mr. Bernd Leushake sharing some suggested guides for solar cable installation.

On a separate note, Mr. Torsten Sieker, Manager of Box Solutions from Phoenix Contact Germany shared the importance of surge protection in solar PV application, starting from the fundament to application of T1/T2 and T2 surge voltage protection to the topics on separation distances requirement for internal and external lightning protection, as well as the approved quality through independent authorities.

He moved on to highlight the technology Phoenix Contact research and development in designing the new string combiner box concept which emphasised on excellent heat disperse ideology . On top of that, Mr. Gary Lim, Senior Product Manager of Phoenix Contact Singapore.

Manager of Box Solutions from Phoenix Contact Germany, Mr. Torsten Sieker shared his expertise in PV surge protection and combiner box design and technology.

Product Manager of Phoenix Contact Singapore, Mr. Sim Yun Hao demonstrating a live quality test on combiner box

The perform test on combiner box

Participants having a close look on the live quality test demo

In the last session, Mr. Ho Chin Hui, Solution Marketing Manager of Phoenix Contact emphasized the importance of DC string monitoring and how Phoenix Contact string monitoring solutions play a role in helping customers to maximize the returns of PV system. This coincides with the contemporary new requirement of Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) to include an automated monitoring system into each individual PV systems equivalent or larger than 72 KWp capacity.

“Being in the similar industry, this is a good opportunity for industry players to gain competency in the PV safety standards through sharing of information in such seminar. We hope to have more of such sessions as we strive to remain the market leader of this industry” said General Manager of JJ-Lapp Cable Malaysia, Mr Liew Fook Sin.

For more than 15 years, JJLM has been the main authorised distributor of Phoenix Contact, the Germany-based innovative company specializing in connection technology for all aspects of electrical engineering and automation.