The biggest challenges of our time include climate protection and the energy transition. Utility scale PV systems are a step in the right direction here. That is why we support the expansion of high-performance and cost-effective photovoltaic power.
Our product range offers reliable connectivity, system protection, monitoring solutions and bespoke power and communications switchboards. In addition, we offer specific tests in accredited laboratories (ISO 17025), bespoke software solutions for plant monitoring, and on-site or remote commissioning. This allows you to reduce the workload, ensure compliance with standards and operate your PV systems efficiently and in a future-proof manner.
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Weidmüller PV String Monitoring System & Weather Stations
A reliable, high-quality partner, we've been active in the quickly growing international market for more than 15 years. This makes us the perfect contact partner for utility scale photovoltaics. With an extended standard warranty of 5 years, we guarantee the best possible quality in our installations. Our extensive portfolio contains all the components you need, so you're sure to find the product that meets your requirements. Our solutions for large-scale photovoltaics are customer-specific, and our global assembly and service locations enable project localisation. Benefit from our full offering for utility scale photovoltaic systems.
Our solutions for utility scale photovoltaic systems enable the connection and combination of PV strings or groups of strings from the field.
Our full product range for utility scale photovoltaics offers top protection against voltage surges and contact.
Monitor the string performance and component status of your large-scale PV plant.
Trust in the quality of our products for utility scale PV systems with our extended standard warranty of five years.
We stand out thanks to our sustainable commitment and many years of experience in the sector.
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Tested & proven
Our extensive product range contains everything you need for the safe installation and regular maintenance of your utility scale photovoltaics. Our individual modules and products complement each other to provide you with an efficient overall solution. We can offer the right tools to enable a reliable and effortless installation of your photovoltaic plant. Or perhaps you're looking for lightning/voltage surge protection devices for PV applications? Our devices protect your PV plants against all kinds of environmental influences and the resulting voltage surges. Our perfect complements for your utility scale photovoltaic systems – for extra safety and efficiency!
Our past projects show that our large-scale photovoltaics products are really successful in the real world. For example, we've already been able to participate in the installation of a floating solar photovoltaic plant in the Netherlands. Our solutions for floating PV projects have been tested and meet all electronic safety requirements. This helps to ensure that the PV farm will withstand harsh ambient conditions and achieve the long desired lifetime. Because the project has been so successful already, it is planned to increase the number of islands in the future.
Our satisfied customers are the best proof of the quality of our solutions. Here you will find examples of successfully implemented projects.
The basic structure of a PV ground-mounted system, whether with a central inverter or string inverter, is the same for all of them. In a central inverter system, the solar panels are connected to each other as a string, which in turn is connected to the PV DC combiner boxes. All these combiner boxes are connected to a central inverter, which then converts the direct current into alternating current. The only difference with the string inverter system is that the strings are connected directly to the string inverter input.
To learn more about the specific differences between central inverters and string inverters in a ground-mounted PV system and whether DC combiner boxes can also be used with 1 MPPT string inverters, please read the fact sheet .
For the PV DC combiner boxes for ground-mounted PV systems we have developed a wide variety of models with special features, this was done in order to meet the demands of today's market. Among the speacial features we have the following:
In this fact sheet , we inform you about additional features of the PV DC combiner boxes.
The PV AC combiner box for ground-mounted PV systems is need to use after the string inverters in a string inverter plant. The PV AC combiner boxes have special features, among them we can highlight the following:
Our PV DC floating combiner boxes have the same quality and adaptability as normal combiner boxes, with the added benefit of being able to withstand salt water splashes, climatic changes and prolonged exposure to sunlight without compromising their performance or components. The additional benefits are:
For more detailed information about our PV DC floating combiner boxes, please read this fact sheet .
In total, there are three different types of surge protection device (SPD): Type 1 is specifically recommended for service and industrial buildings, type 2 is the main protection system for all low-voltage electrical installations and the type 3 surge protection device has a low discharge capacity and must therefore be used as a mandatory supplement to type 2.
Weidmüller DC combiner boxes commonly has Type 2 SPD, that is the standard in the PV industry. However, it is possible to change this SPD for another one that adapts more to a particular circunstance.
To select the correct surge protection device, we recommend that you take the previous information into account and take a look at the table in this fact sheet , which lists all the surge protection devices (DC and AC) that Weidmüller has in its catalogue.
The implementation of a string monitoring system in a ground-mounted photovoltaic system can offer significant advantages, as problems can be detected and remedied in time , such as: shading, interconnection, temperature and production problems.
For more detailed information on the advantages of our string monitoring system in a ground-mounted photovoltaic system, please refer to the fact sheet .
When a combiner box has a power supply and is connected to the network, it is not possible to open any fuse holder. Doing this would create an electrical arc which could damage the combiner box and the person handling it. It is important to highlight that the fuse holder does not have any electric arc dissipation function , this function is fulfilled by the switch-disconnector, which disconnects the combiner box from the network making its manipulation possible.
You can find more detailed information of the Fuse Holder in our fact sheet .
The PV combiner boxes from Weidmüller have a Class II protection system. This system includes additional protective insulation that supplements the functional insulation. This ensures that no live metallic parts are accessible in the event of a failure of the first insulation.
For more important information about our PV combiner box enclosures, please refer to the fact sheet .
The PV floating combiner boxes are specially designed for use in floating PV systems on freshwater surfaces. They can be installed in both salt and freshwater environments as the housing material is made of glass fibre reinforced polyester (GPR). The boxes are equipped with central inverters, comply with the IEC 61439-2 standard and are designed to withstand high humidity, corrosive atmospheres and intense sunlight. The protection class of the enclosures is IP65, which cannot be increased.
Fore more information about the PV floating combiner boxes, please see the following fact sheet .
The DAE is a pressure compensation element. A vacuum is regularly created in the enclosure at the combiner box by the air and moisture can penetrate the enclosure through the seal as a result of cooling, so that the IP protection is no longer guaranteed. The DAE compensates for these temperature differences.
Further information on the DAE can be found in this fact sheet .
The PV DC combiner box for ground-mounted PV systems can be mounted in different ways. However, it is important to follow some recommendations during installation, such as installing as close as possible to the strings. The location must be easily accessible for installation and maintenance work and must not be close to highly flammable materials, gases and vapours.
To protect the PV DC combiner box against direct sunlight and rain, Weidmüller strongly it shall be installed under the photovoltaic modules or a protective canopy or sunshade. This is the most common installation of a PV DC combiner box, and it can be mounted directly to the structure of the solar panels or on a pedestal.
Get more information about some of the Weidmüller accessories that are supplied with the PV DC combiner box by reading this fact sheet .
The PV string monitoring system doesn't has an earthing point but it is possible to connect the PV string monitoring system to a protective earth. However, it can only connect the Controller of the PV string monitoring system and no others. The correct way to connect a PV string monitoring system to a protective earth is to connect the C-terminal to the protective earth on the RS-485 Leader end.
For more detailed information about the PV string monitoring system, please refer to thi fact sheet .
It is possible to connect a terminal lug with a bigger hole than the switch-disconnectors has, and it works with any brand that Weidmüller uses in its PV combiner boxes. For this it’s important to remember the composition of the elements that will be needed for its properly connection: 1 screw, 2 washer and 1 nut.
For more information about the maximum cable size that you can use with the switch-disconnector or if its possible to connect the cable to the switch-disconnector with a terminal made of aluminium, please read this fact sheet .
Adam Bakewell
Business Development Manager - Renewable Energy
