The new German electric safety standard for residential PV systems

Author

Laukamp, H.

Author_Institution

Fraunhofer-Inst. fur Solare Energiesysteme, Freiburg, Germany

fYear

1996

fDate

13-17 May 1996

Firstpage

1405

Lastpage

1408

Abstract

Experiences in Germany during the “Thousand-roofs-programme” revealed that many PV power system designers were not aware of the implications of the basic electric standard in Germany, the VDE 0100. They furthermore revealed some uncertainty how to interpret the basic electric standard towards PV power systems. Concerned by this experience, the standardisation committees started to draft a new section for the basic standard, dedicated to the erection of residential PV power systems. The basic concepts and requirements on protective measures of VDE 0100 are introduced and their interpretation for PV systems are discussed. Drawing on PV´s current source characteristic, the new draft permits a very simple system architecture. Using “Class II” modules and “ground-fault and short-circuit-proof” wiring, one may omit string fuses and blocking diodes

Keywords

electric shocks; photovoltaic power systems; safety; standardisation; standards; Class II modules; Germany; VDE 0100; current source characteristic; electric safety standard; ground fault-proof wiring; residential PV power systems; short circuit-proof wiring; standardisation; Cables; Circuit faults; Conductors; Electrical safety; Fuses; IEC standards; Insulation; Low voltage; Protection; Wires;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1996., Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE

Conference_Location

Washington, DC

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

0-7803-3166-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.1996.564397

Filename

564397