Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Module 1: Solar Power System Components
Training Module #1 — Solar Power System Components
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Grid-Tied Solar Power Systems
Panels make DC power; the inverter changes it to AC for the building.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
System Components
Five main parts: panels, racking, inverters, monitoring, and balance of system.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Solar Panels (Modules)
Power = voltage x current. A module makes about 30-42 V DC and 8-13 Amps.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Connecting Modules
Canadian Electrical Code: voltage cannot exceed 600 V in a single residential circuit.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Module Temperature Coefficient
Cold raises voltage, heat lowers it — factor this in when sizing a string.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Module Temperature Coefficient (Spec Sheet)
Find Voc and the temperature coefficient on the spec sheet — both are used to size strings safely.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Module Temperature Coefficient (Calculation)
Always temperature-correct string length — skipping it can push voltage past the 600V limit.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Strings Wired into a Combiner Box
In parallel, join all + to + and all - to - to add string currents; DC breakers or fuses protect the wiring.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Solar Mounting Equipment (Racking)
Mounts and flashings anchor the array to the rafters; a grounding wire connects to each rail and module.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Module Clamps
Follow manufacturer torque specs when tightening end and mid clamps.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Mounting Options - Shingled Roof
Slide flashing under the shingle before mounting L brackets to keep the roof watertight.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Mounting Options - Steel Roof
Clamps like Coro-Slides need no roof penetrations and no rails.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Flat Roof Mount
General rule: 3 feet of row spacing for every foot of height.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Pole Mount / Trackers
Single axis moves east-west; dual axis also moves north-south.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Pole Mount / Trackers - How They Track
Tracking uses GPS software based on latitude, longitude, date, and time.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Is a Tracker Worth It?
Tracker about $8,000 vs more panels about $3,000; trackers also need maintenance.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Ground Mount
Follow manufacturer footing specs and local building codes.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Seasonal Tilt Angle of Array
Match tilt to your latitude. Add 15 degrees in winter, subtract 15 degrees in summer.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Wire Management - Clips
Use proper clips to secure wires. Loose wires can be damaged and cause fires.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Rodent Protection
Chewed wires are a serious hazard. A protective screen must be attached.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
System Grounding
Always check with the local ESA inspector for grounding guidance when pulling a permit.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Inverters
The inverter converts DC to AC, matches the grid, tracks max power, and provides anti-islanding.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Maximum Power Point Tracking
MPPT finds the sweet spot where volts times amps gives the most power.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Anti-Islanding
Anti-islanding stops power production during an outage to keep line workers safe.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Grid-tied Inverter Types
Hybrid inverters can support batteries and off-grid operation.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Central Inverters
A central inverter is one central point of failure for the whole site.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
String Inverters
Production is based on the lowest producing panel in each string.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Microinverters
No single point of failure, but about 30% more expensive.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Power Optimizers
Power optimizers still need an inverter to make AC power.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Hybrid Inverters
A hybrid inverter manages the battery, grid, and loads together.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
DC-to-AC Ratio (Overbuild)
Example: 12 kW of modules with a 10 kW inverter is a 120% ratio.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Monitoring Systems
Monitoring can email error messages so problems are caught early.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Monitoring Systems (Dashboards)
Dashboards let owners see production and spot issues at a glance.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Balance of System
Balance of system is everything besides the modules and inverter.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Fuses and Breakers
The fuse or breaker rating must be below the wire's limit.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Balance of System Components
DC connectors are 'MC-4': red is positive, black is negative.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Disconnects and System Labels
Check with the ESA inspector for the proper label wording.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Rapid Shutdown
Power is cut from the array, but modules are still live.
Module 1 · Solar Power System Components
Thanks
Thanks! Questions? Contact jon@jazzsolar.com or asenia@jazzsolar.com.