“Brighter Solutions” Solar Product Rang

IMO is at the forefront of control component technology specifically developed for the renewable energy market and in particular solar energy. Whether meeting the demands of safe and efficient DC switching or delivering tracking solutions that help to maximise solar energy conversion rates, you can be sure that IMO products have been developed to meet the highest technical and commercial standards. Leaders in Solar Safety eeping Solar Safe” “

Page IMO Solar Guide - Abbreviations Ordering Variations Part Number Configuration Switching Configurations Technical Data Ordering Variations Part Number Configuration Switching Configurations Technical Data Handle Options Distribution/String Boxes Solar Tracker & Measurement Controller

IMO Solar Guide - Abbreviations AC Alternating Current Direct Current Rated Operational Current Short-Circuit Current Thermal Current Maximum Power Point Tracking Open-Circuit Voltage Requirements for Electrical Installations Low-voltage electrical installations. Part 7-712: Requirements for special installations or locations. Photovoltaic (PV) power systems Specification for degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code) Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear. Part 1: General rules Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear. Part 3: Switches, disconnectors, switch-disconnectors and fuse-combination...

Introduction to PV design A Photovoltaic (PV) power system primarily converts sunlight directly into electricity using a photovoltaic cell array. The conversion of the solar radiation into electric current is carried out using the photoelectric effect found when some semiconductors that are suitably “doped” generate electricity when exposed to solar radiation. As an individual PV-cell gives a relatively low output, a number of PV-cells are connected in series to supply higher voltages and connected in parallel in order to offer higher current capability. These cell arrays are referred to as PV-panels,...

Utilisation Categories Utilisation Categories as are covered in the European Standards EN 60947-1 & EN60947-3 and define an equipment’s intended application. The list of both AC and DC categories for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear are stated in EN 60947-1 Annex A along with the relevant product standards. Manufacturers of both switchgear and controlgear should include in their technical product data all the operational ratings for the utilisation categories for which a product is designed and as such this should remove the confusion for users and designers in their selection of the correct...

PV Installation Isolation PV installations consist of the DC side, the Inverter and the AC side with isolation required for both the PV-array to the inverter and for the AC supply from the load, particularly where the system is connected to the Distributed Network, this is a stipulation in G83/1. In some instances the “Guide to Installation of PV Systems” allows inverter and DC string isolation to be provided by the same device, for example the PV plug and socket connectors, but this is only deemed suitable for smaller systems and the connectors must be labelled appropriately. Generally IMO would...

Many alternative solutions, particularly those based upon an AC isolator designs which use bridge contacts, have been modified and rated for DC operation. These types of product have a switching speed that is directly linked to operator speed therefore, slow operation of the handle results in slow contact separation of the contacts which can produce arcing times of 100ms or more. Also in these switches the contact surface is also the surface upon which arcs tend to form; therefore, any surface damage or sooting caused by the arcing is likely to have a detrimental effect on the isolator’s contact...

It is because of this that the IMO Solar Isolator range is constructed of materials that significantly reduce the risk of a fire hazard and in particular our enclosed installation style products for which the main plastic enclosure is rated at UL 94V-0 and the handles are UL 94V-2 rated. The classification criteria for each of these ratings is found in of the UL 94 Table 8.1 (see extract below). V-0 Afterflame time for each individual specimen t1 or t2 Criteria conditions Total afterflame time for any condition set (t1 plus t2 for the 5 specimens Afterflame puts afterglow time for each individual...

Dual String System – 5kW Output Single Phase Consider a typical 5kW system which would supply 22A at 230VAC: Inverter: Solar Panel: For this configuration, each string is to be switched at these levels so the IMO SI16-PEL64R-4 rated at 16A for 700VDC per string is suitable for the DC switch and the PE69-3025 rated at 25A is suitable for the AC switch. High Voltage Multi-string System – 12.5kW Output Three Phase Inverter: Solar Panel: For this system there are several options to consider. If each string is to be switched individually then the SI25-PEL64R-2 rated at 11A for 1000VDC is suitable...

Over 8 Million Installed Units ZERO FAILURES In solar installation, the DC isolator is like a vehicle air-bag. You never know it really works until you need it. So it’s good to know that the IMO SI has now surpassed eight million installed units without a single recorded electrical failure. Not surprising considering the product carries all the most important approvals including UL508i, IEC/EN 60947-1, UL 60947-1, IEC/EN 60947-3, UL 60947-4-1, CE, RCM and CCC. In fact, the IMO SI solar isolator has been tested by some of the most rigorous examiners and OEM manufacturers in the world, passing...

SI Solar Isolators TRUE DC Isolators for PV Systems • Market-leading design • 2, 4, 6 & 8 pole versions available • Max. rated current 85A@1000VDC (acc. to DC21B/DC-PV1 for SI55) • Range of mounting options • Guaranteed arc suppression (3ms typical) • Operator independent switching mechanism • Knife-edge contacts Innovators in TRUE DC isolation Since its launch, the SI range of TRUE DC isolators has set the benchmark safety standard for disconnection and isolation of the DC panel load in solar applications world-wide. Prior to the introduction of the SI series, AC modified isolators in multi-pole...