Creating a Universal PV Plug and Socket Standard
Conference
·
OSTI ID:2404302
Photovoltaic connectors are designed to be quick and easy to install. Current connector qualification standards, such as UL 6703 and IEC 62852, are only intended to evaluate connectors from the same manufacturer and were recently changed to explicitly proscribe the mating of connectors from different manufacturers. Unfortunately, the industry has chosen to design connectors that will commonly connect together with those from other manufacturers. This is done to simplify installation avoiding the situations such as when the connectors on a microinverter, or other module level power electronics, do not match the connectors on the modules in the system. This rampant violation of electrical codes worldwide indicates that there is a strong desire and need to develop a universal connector standard. Here we present the initial approach and philosophy behind the formation of an IEC subgroup under TC82 WG2 looking at this problem. We intend to develop a standard where the materials and geometry of construction are specified to ensure compatibility and the design is intended to be of the highest quality. We expect that this connector will be more costly but especially in rooftop installations where power electronics requires matching components from several manufacturers, that this may still result in a net cost savings. These connectors must be of the highest quality because we wouldn’t want to develop a connector that precluded the manufacturing of a higher quality product, and because these will most commonly be used on rooftop installations where safety is more of a concern. Additionally, because we do not know which brands of connectors will be used together, we cannot simply rely on test results to ensure safety but must create a design that is as inherently safe as possible.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 2404302
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/PO-5K00-88801; MainId:89580; UUID:a62250e1-58b6-417d-b0fa-70099bd52a17; MainAdminId:73105
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Examination of a Standardized Test for Evaluating the Degree of Cure of EVA Encapsulation: Preprint
Examination of a Standardized Test for Evaluating the Degree of Cure of EVA Encapsulation (Presentation)
Special Testing for Modules Deployed in Hot Use Environments - Are We Doing This in a Low-Cost Way?
Conference
·
Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013
·
OSTI ID:1113594
Examination of a Standardized Test for Evaluating the Degree of Cure of EVA Encapsulation (Presentation)
Conference
·
Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013
·
OSTI ID:1114074
Special Testing for Modules Deployed in Hot Use Environments - Are We Doing This in a Low-Cost Way?
Conference
·
Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 EDT 2016
·
OSTI ID:1331055