At the recent running of the Intersolar Europe 2011 trade show, Lapp Group showcased numerous new products for the solar power industry.
The company’s new EPIC SOLAR 4 Thin is a low-resistance solar connector with transition resistance of only 0,2 m. This makes solar installations more efficient and extends component life for connectors, as the low electrical resistance of the patented contact system means it hardly generates any heat. Lapp is therefore confident that the connector will easily last the 25-year service life of the typical solar panel.
The 4 mm connector system’s double snap hook simplifies installation. If the connector is ripped out, the way in which wire and connector are interlocked ensures that none of the conducting strands are exposed. The operating temperature range of the EPIC SOLAR 4 Thin is -40°C to +105°C. It also offers a high level of strain relief and a wide choice of available conducting cross-sections, ranging from 1,5 to 6 mm². The connector has been assessed by TUV Rheinland for compliance with the EN 50521 standard for connectors in photovoltaic systems.
Based on the technology of the EPIC SOLAR 4 Thin connector, Lapp has also developed a new junction box enabling the permanent connection of organic solar panels on flexible films. The welding technology means that the junction box, like the connector, is ultra-slim – a key requirement especially for organic modules, which are manufactured as flexible foils.
Another product innovation on show was a type of cable for voltages up to 1,8/ 3 kV. The ÖLFLEX TRAFO XLv was developed jointly with SMA solar inverters, in the space of just eight weeks. It is specially designed to connect solar inverters to medium-voltage transformers, so that electricity can be supplied directly to the high-voltage grid.
As well as being equipped to handle high voltages, the cable can be laid underground with no additional protection. This is thanks to a tough outer casing that is UV, ozone and weather resistant, with a mesh structure that makes it able to tolerate high levels of mechanical strain and extreme temperatures (operating range is -40°C to +90°C). As such, it is suitable for use in solar arrays in hot countries. This includes off-grid facilities in infrastructure-poor regions which make extensive use of renewable to meet their electricity needs.
The latest addition to Lapp’s ÖLFLEX SOLAR range of weatherproof, UV and temperature resistant cables is XLR multi 600 V. This is based on the popular ÖLFLEX SOLAR XLR cross-linked cable and is particularly resistant to extremes of temperature and mechanical strain, ensuring years of reliable year-round service. Its operating temperature range is -40°C to +120°C.
Also new to the range are the cross-linked ÖLFLEX SOLAR XLS standard solar cables, for use across an operating temperature range of -40°C to +100°C. Both these types of cable are generally used for connecting solar modules to each other and for connecting arrays to inverters, on both flat and pitched roofs as well as in free-standing installations.
The large conducting cross-section of the sturdy ÖLFLEX SOLAR XLSv makes it well suited as a collector cable for transmitting high voltages within individual module arrays and on to the inverter. It can also be ground-laid. The ÖLFLEX SOLAR V4A is particularly recommended for use on barns, livestock sheds and other agricultural buildings.
The company’s range of cable glands has also been expanded. The SKINTOP SOLAR is a solution for solar installations that meets the new EN 50548 and UL 1703 standards.
For more information contact Grant Joyce, Lapp Group, +27 (0)11 201 3200, [email protected], www.lappcable.co.za
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