Series Fuse Rating Solar Panels

If a fault occurs in one string would there be a need for each string in the system to be fused in order to protect the circuit.

Series fuse rating solar panels. For example if you have four 100w panels connected in series each producing 20 volts and 5 amps the total output would be 80 volts and 5 amps. We then take the total amperage and multiply it by a safety factor of 25 5a x 1 25 giving us the fuse rating of 6 25a or 10a if we round up. If you want to compare your own solar panels you can find all the different ratings on their specification sheet a k a. Commercially made solar panels over 50 watts have 10 gauge wires capable of handling up to 30 amps of current flow.

If up to two solar panels or solar strings are connected in parallel and the cable is rated below 1 56 isc a fuse connected in series to the panel must be installed. So you could safely wire 12 8 amps of modules together in parallel. 8 87a x 2 strings x 1 25 22 18a 15a fail. Kauaisolarman s hit 190 pvs have an isc rating of 3 75 a and a stated maximum series fuse rating of 15 a.

Fusing solar panel arrays wired in parallel. In this case the battery wires and ac dc inverter will be safely disabled by the fuse. Spec sheet so here we go the different categories of solar panel ratings. When we talk about solar panel ratings we most often talk about wattage.

As i read it a 15 a dc breaker would be safe and the minimum size would be 6 a 3 75 x 1 56 and rounded up. Mnepv breakers are available in a 6 a rating and that size breaker should not be subject to nuisance tripping. If a module s series fuse rating is 20 amps then you divide that by the combined safety factor of 1 56. If you connect these panels in series there will be no increase in current flow so fusing is not required for this string.

If each module s short circuit current is 4 2 amps then you could parallel 3 modules. Now in the case of 3 panels in series and 4 strings in parallel if one string shorts the max amperage to short is 39 12 which exceeds the 30 amp max current rating of the 10 awg wire.