Connecting the Power of the Sun Solar Combiner Boxes for Solar Photovoltaic Installations Solar combiner boxes for solar photovoltaic installations Solar energy is heating up Interest in renewable energy sources has never been greater, and the fastest growing of these new green technologies is the use of photovoltaic (PV) panels (modules) to generate power from the sun. PV modules directly convert the sun’s light into electricity, providing power during daylight hours. PV systems are being installed on virtually every type of building, resulting in a growing need for products to meet the requirements of these systems. 2 EATON CORPORATION Eaton’s solar combiner boxes Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations convert sunlight into electricity, providing clean, renewable energy. Solar PV systems contain many separate DC source circuits that must be combined into a single circuit prior to inversion into clean, usable AC power for the electric grid. Eaton is proud to offer a line of solar combiner boxes that provides customers with a high-quality product good enough to bear the Eaton brand. Solar combiner boxes aggregate the many DC source circuits present in a solar PV system, and provide the overcurrent protection requirements of the National Electrical Code.T Containing input fuse holders for source protection, the load sides of the fuse holders are connected together on a common bus that contains the output lugs, allowing multiple circuits to be combined into one outgoing circuit. Eaton’s combiner boxes are available in two styles—source combiners and array combiners. Source combiners are located closer to the source, or the solar panels. They have smaller input fuse holders and lower output currents. Array combiners (sometimes referred to as re-combiners) are found in larger installations. They aggregate the outputs from several source combiners into a single circuit. Array combiners feature larger input fuse holders and higher output currents. With the full selection of inputs and fuse holder ratings, Eaton’s solar combiner boxes allow for the complete management of solar DC circuits. Until now, these products have been available only from companies specializing in the solar market. With Eaton’s recently announced DC photovoltaic switch, this offering gives Eaton customers a one-stop shop for solar PV balance-of-system electrical equipment. 3 EATON CORPORATION Technical Details Source Combiners Array Combiners NEMA 3R Catalog Number NEMA 4 Catalog Number Number of Circuits Maximum Dimensions Fuse Size A (H x W x D) Weight Incoming Wire Range Output Conductors Maximum Continuous DC Current SC8R SC8P 8 30 16 x 12 x 6 30 #16–#4 1–#6 to 350 kcmil 310 SC10R SC10P 10 30 16 x 12 x 6 30 #16–#4 1–#6 to 350 kcmil 310 SC12R SC12P 12 30 16 x 12 x 6 30 #16–#4 1–#6 to 350 kcmil 310 SC16R SC16P 16 30 16 x 16 x 6 36 #16–#4 2–#6 to 350 kcmil 400 SC24R SC24P 24 20 B 20 x 20 x 6 45 #16–#4 2–#6 to 350 kcmil 400 B AC6100R AC6100P 6 100 36 x 36 x 8 156 #6–2/0 2–#4 to 500 kcmil 720 AC12100R AC12100P 12 100 48 x 36 x 8 227 #6–2/0 4–#4 to 500 kcmil 1520 AC6200R AC6200P 6 200 42 x 36 x 8 206 #6–4/0 4–#4 to 500 kcmil 1520 AC12200R AC12200P 12 200 B 48 x 36 x 8 278 #6–4/0 4–#4 to 500 kcmil 1520 2 A Fuses not included. B Total installed fuse capacity shall not exceed maximum continuous DC current rating. Source combiner features C ETL listed to ULT 1741 standard 7 B Touch-safe midget class fuse holders (non load-break) D are rated for 600 Vdc continuous duty (fuses not included) C Poured-in-place gaskets for superior moisture resistance D Suitable for either positive or negative grounded arrays 8 6 E E Available in 8, 10, 12, 16 and 24 circuit configurations 6 NEMAT 3R or NEMA 4 powder-coated steel enclosures 7 B White back pan with high-contrast labeling for easier, faster installation 8 Padlockable latch Array combiner features E ETL listed to UL 1741 standard B B Rated for 600 Vdc continuous duty C Poured-in-place gaskets for superior moisture resistance D Suitable for either positive or negative grounded arrays F E Available in 6 and 12 circuit configurations D F 100 or 200A input fuse holders (Class R) NNote: Fuses not included. C EATON CORPORATION 4 C B C A A B Source Combiner Dimensions Array Combiner Dimensions Source Combiner Dimensions Catalog Number A B C Number of Circuits Output Lug Capacity SC8R/P 16.00 12.00 6.00 8 #6 AWG—350 kcmil Cu/Al SC10R/P 16.00 12.00 6.00 10 #6 AWG—350 kcmil Cu/Al SC12R/P 16.00 12.00 6.00 12 #6 AWG—350 kcmil Cu/Al SC16R/P 16.00 16.00 6.00 16 #6 AWG—350 kcmil Cu/Al SC24R/P 20.00 20.00 6.00 24 #6 AWG—350 kcmil Cu/Al Array Combiner Dimensions Catalog Number A B C Number of Circuits Output Lug Capacity AC6100R/P 30.00 30.00 9.25 6 (2) #4 AWG—500 kcmil Cu/Al AC12100R/P 42.00 36.00 9.25 12 (4) #4 AWG—500 kcmil Cu/Al AC6200R/P 42.00 36.00 9.25 6 (4) #4 AWG—500 kcmil Cu/Al AC12200R/P 60.00 36.00 9.25 12 (4) #4 AWG—500 kcmil Cu/Al EATON CORPORATION 5 Eaton’s Electrical Sector is a global leader in power distribution, power quality, control and automation, and monitoring products. When combined with Eaton’s full-scale engineering services, these products provide customerdriven PowerChainE solutions to serve the power system needs of the data center, industrial, institutional, public sector, utility, commercial, residential, IT, mission critical, alternative energy and OEM markets worldwide. PowerChain solutions help enterprises achieve sustainable and competitive advantages through proactive management of the power system as a strategic, integrated asset throughout its life cycle, resulting in enhanced safety, greater reliability and energy efficiency. For more information, visit www.eaton.com/electrical. Eaton Corporation Electrical Sector 1111 Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH 44114 United States 877-ETN-CARE (877-386-2273) Eaton.com © 2010 Eaton Corporation All Rights Reserved Printed in USA Publication No. PA00801008E / Z9726 June 2010 PowerChain Management is a registered trademark of Eaton Corporation. 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