Conergy PE Series, PE 245P, PE 250P, PE 255P, PE 260P Installation Manual

Solar Module

Conergy PE - UL

Installation Manual

1 Introduction

1.1 Brief description

Conergy modules are solar modules for installation in photovoltaic systems.

1.2 About this installation manual

1.2.1 Subject of this manual

This installation manual describes the procedures for installation and electrical connection of these solar modules in a
grid-connected photovoltaic system. Additional solar modules are installed with the same procedures.

1.2.2 User group

The manual is intended to be used by the system owner and by qualified persons possessing technical skills and
basic electrical, electronic and mechanical knowledge related to photovoltaic systems. Please retain this manual for
future reference.

1.2.3 Symbols

Start of a step-by-step procedure with description of the goal of the procedure. Individually numbered steps follow,
which may be interrupted by background information, illustrations or warnings.

Background and additional information or the status of a procedure. Appears between the steps of a procedure,
within the sequence/course of a procedure.

1.3 Standards and technical directives

The solar modules comply with the following standards:

| IEC 61215 ed. 2
| IEC 61730
| ULC/ORD-C1703-01 & UL 1703

1.4 Intended use

The solar modules are designed for use in photovoltaic systems. Any other use is considered improper use.
These solar modules do not comply with the technical regulations for overhead glazing and may not be used for such

applications. These solar modules are not intended for use in mobile applications (e.g. vehicles) or mar ine
applications (e.g. boats).

Intended use also includes compliance with the specifications stated in this installation manual. Conergy shall not be
held liable for damages arising from a failure to observe and follow the installation manual, particularly the safety
instructions contained in it, or from any improper use of the product.

2 Safety

2.1 Responsibilities of the owner/operator

The system operator has safety-related responsibilities. He must ensure that:

| Local codes and other applicable laws concerning required permitting as well as installation & inspecti on

requirements, rules, and regulations are followed;

| Installation is only carried out by qualified individuals with photovoltaic specialist technical knowledge and basic

knowledge of mechanical engineering;
| Electrical connection is only established by an electrical engineer;
| Persons commissioned to perform the work can evaluate their assigned tasks and recognize possible risks;
| Those commissioned to perform the work are familiar with the system components;
| Installation manual is made available during the installation;

| Installation manual, and in particular the safety instructions, have been read and understood by the relevant

personnel before installation;
| Suitable lifting gear and tools are used for the installation;
| If replacements are required, only Conergy components are used and repairs are on ly carried out by qualified

technicians authorized by Conergy, as otherwise the warranty will be voided;
| Only components (cable, plugs, mounting parts, etc.) that are suitable for use in photovoltaic systems are used;
| Solar module is not installed near highly flammable gases or vapors because sparks could be generated;
| Solar modules are installed over a fireproof roof covering when installed on a roof;
| Sunlight is not artificially concentrated on the solar module;
| Junction box and the cable are not exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time;
| Solar module is not in direct contact with water or exposed to moisture for long periods of time;
| Solar module is not subjected to any extreme chemical loads (e.g. emissions from production operations);
| Solar module is not subjected to mechanical loads higher than the approved levels;
| Solar module is only used in the specified ambient temperature range;
| No paint, coatings or adhesives are applied to the solar module;
| Solar module is not dismantled and none of the parts provided on delivery are removed;
| Solar modules are only transported in their original packaging.

2.2 Basic safety instructions

The following safety instructions and warnings form an essential part of this installation manual and are of
fundamental importance when handling this product.

| Make allowance for the loads that these modules may generate for the entire structure.
| Consider all loads generated by the solar modules in the static calculation for the overall structure.
| To avoid damage (e.g. broken glass) do not leave solar modules unsecured.
| Check the mechanical integrity of the solar modules prior to installation. Only use undamaged solar modu les.
| Only use mounting systems recommended by Conergy that can withstand the expected loads for snow, wind,

etc.
| Make sure no other system components impair the mechanical or electrical function of the solar modules.
| Only work in dry conditions with dry solar modules and dry tools.
| Do not drill any holes into the module frame or the glass surface and do not perform any welding work on or in

the direct vicinity of the solar module.
| To avoid burns do not touch solar modules under load without wearingprotective gear, ie. Insulating gloves,

protective eyewear, etc.
| Never touch solar modules with cracked or broken cover glass or damaged back sheets without wearing gloves.
| Comply with the applicable occupational health and safety regulations (e.g. regarding protective clothing).
| Carry out the entire installation in the presence of a second person so that assistance can be provided in case of

an accident.
| Keep a copy of this installation manual in the immediate vicinity of the system.

3 Installation

3.1 General installation instructions

| Make sure that all locally applicable standards, construction regulations and accident prevention regulations are

complied with.
| The module must be installed in accordance with National Electrical Code (NEC) in the US and in accordance

with Canadian Electrical Code Part I (CEC) in Canada.
| For installation on angled roofs we recommend the Conergy SunTop mounting s ystem.
| Select an installation location with the maximum sunlight at all times of the year. Avoid shaded areas – damage

to modules can occur when continuously shaded.
| In northern latitudes, orient the solar modules to the south. Determine the ideal setting angle according to the

latitude of the installation location. Request this information from your dealer or find it in the official tables.
| Always mount the solar modules with the same orientation and tilt angle. Otherwise special consideration will

need to be given to system design and inverter selection.
| Maintain an adequate distance between adjacent solar modules to allow for expansion in case of changing

thermal conditions.
| Maintain an adequate distance between the solar module and the mounting surface to ensure sufficie nt rear

ventilation.
| The solar modules can be mounted both vertically and horizontally (ie. Portrait or Landscape mode).

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3.2 Mounting solar modules on installation frame

The solar modules can be damaged if the proper procedure is not followed!

| Only work in dry conditions.
| Secure the solar modules against slipping and falling.
| Do not drop the solar modules.
| Do not hold the solar module by its socket or connection cables.
| Always grasp the solar modules simultaneously at two opposite points on the module frame when lifting.
| Never carry solar modules by just one part of the frame.
| Do not expose the solar modules to mechanical impact.
| Do not touch the solar modules with sharp or pointed objects.
| Make sure the rear of the mounted solar module is not damaged even in the case of deflection due to

mechanical stress (e.g. due to snow loads).
| Do not drop any objects on the solar module and do not step on it.
| Do not drill holes in the frame of the solar module.

Attach the solar module using the four predrilled mounting holes on the underside of the frame (see Fig. 3–1). Use
corrosion-resistant stainless steel bolts only.

The solar modules can be clamped in the provided clamping areas (se e F ig. 3–1).
The clamping elements must not protrude past the edge of the frame on the glass side.
Make sure the clamping elements do not damage the frame surface or bend the frame.

3.3 Electrical installation

3.3.1 Electrical values

All relevant electrical values are specified on the label on the reverse side of the solar module.
Under normal conditions, a photovoltaic module is likely to experience conditions that produce more current and/or

voltage than reported at standard test conditions. Accordingly, the values of Isc and Voc marked on this module
should be multiplied by a factor of 1.25 when determining component voltage ratings, conductor ampacities, fuse
sizes, and size of controls connected to the PV output.

Refer to Section 690-8 of the National Electrical Code for an additional multiplying factor of 125 percent (80 percent
derating) which may be applicable.

The maximum series fuse rating for these modules is 15A.

3.3.2 General safety instructions

| Carry out the cabling in accordance with the applicable regulations.
| Make sure that the cables and connections are not damaged. Protect the cables from damage.

Risk of electric shock. Risk of fire and injury from electric arc.

| Do not disconnect connections under load.
| Ensure sufficient protection against contact with live parts.
| Only use insulated tools.
| Do not insert any electrically conducting parts into the connectors.
| Never open the junction box.
| Make sure there is no tension in the cable when positioning and heed the specified minim um ben d radius.
| Avoid large conductor loops.

Installation shall be in accordance with CSA C22.1, Safety Standard for Electrical Installations, Canadian Electrical
Code, Part 1.

3.3.3 Parallel and serial connection

Solar modules of the same type can be connected in parallel. These solar modules are fundamentally designed for
series connection.

Material damage due to connection errors.

| Only use solar modules of the same type and output for parallel connection. Take measures for overcurrent

protection (e.g. line fuse) if necessary. Never exceed the specified maximum series fuse rating of the solar

modules.
| Make sure that only solar modules with the same amperage (Impp) are connected in series and make sure that

the string voltages are the same. Even at low temperatures, never exceed the maximum permissible system

voltage of the solar modules.
| Make sure that the number and connection of the solar modules match the electrical values specified by the

devices connected to the photovoltaic system.
| Use only 90ºC wet-rated, sunlight resistant, stranded or solid conductor cables for all modules and interconnect

wiring that may be exposed to weather.
| Make sure that the polarity is correct.

3.3.4 Connecting the photovoltaic module

On the rear of the solar module, there is a connection box with the connection cables, the plug and the socket.
Connection cable length 1000mm

Connection cable cross section 4mm
Allowable ambient temperature range for cables from -40°C

to +85°C

All Details for wiring should be in accordance with the NEC guidelines, and the grounding method of the frame of
arrays shall comply with the NEC, article 250.

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3.3.5 Grounding

Equipment grounding requirements must be checked in accordance with the applicable regulations and standards
before work is started. The module frame or array must be grounded to avoid the hazards of electric shock or fire.
The position of possible grounding connections can be found in Fig. 3-1.

The grounding wire can be mounted on one of the designated holes in the module frame (see Fig. 3–1).
Avoid contact corrosion when using different metals and observe electro-chemical insulation ratings.
An equipment grounding conductor can be fixed to the holes in the frame. Copper ground wire or equivalent to be

used: #12 AWG.
Observe the applicable regulations.

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4 Maintenance and care

The solar modules are low-maintenance modules. However, Conergy recommends that a visua l insp ection of the
mechanical and electrical connections be performed once a year to detect any damag e.

Dirt on the solar modules reduces the output and the yield. If the solar modules are installed with an inclination angle
of more than 15°, they will generally be adequately cleaned by the rain.

Damage to the solar module surface can occur by scratching or extreme differences in temperature.

| Only use pH neutral liquid cleaner, even if there is excessive dirt build-up.
| Do not use abrasive cleaning agents
| Ensure cleaning solutions are at roughly the same temperature as the solar module surface.
| Wipe the solar module surface with water and a soft cloth.
| Never attempt to rub or scratch off dirt particles.

5 Removal

Risk of electric shock.

| Do not touch any bare connection parts.
| Only use insulated tools.

1. Disconnect the inverter from the utility power on the AC side so that the photovoltaic system has no load.

2. Disconnect the photovoltaic system from the inverter at the cutoff point on the DC side.

3. Make sure that the system is not supplied with voltage.

4. Remove the photovoltaic system in the same way as it was installed; observe the safety instructions.

6 Disposal

Do not dispose of old or defective solar modules with normal household waste.
Please ask your installer, dealer or Conergy AG about disposal.

7 Technical Data

The electrical characteristics are within +/-10 percent of the indicated values of Isc, Voc and Pmax under standard
test conditions (irradiance of1000W/m², AM 1.5 spectrum and a cell temperature of 25°C (77°F)).

Open

Circuit

Voltage

(Voc)

37.45V

37.54V

Module Type

Conergy PE 245P
Conergy PE 250P

Maximum

Power

(Pmax)

245Wp

250Wp
Conergy PE 255P 255Wp 37.62V 8.88A 30.36V 8.40A 1000V
Conergy PE 260P 260Wp 37.73A 8.91A 30.77V 8.45A 1000V
Conergy PE 295P
Conergy PE 300P

295Wp

300Wp

45.09V

46.08V
Conergy PE 305P 305Wp 46.20V 8.60A 36.97V 8.25A 1000V
Conergy PE 310P 310Wp 46.30V 8.69A 37.04V 8.37A 1000V

Conergy reserves the right to make changes to this installation manual without prior notice.
The pictures and drawings in this installation manual are only intended for illustration purposes and may vary from reality.

Short

Circuit

Current

(Isc)

8.78A

8.84A

8.48A

8.53A

Maximum

Power

Voltage

(Vmpp)

29.63V

29.98V

36.60V

36.82V

Maximum

Power

Current

(Impp)

8.27A

8.34A

8.06A

8.15A

Maximum

System
Voltage

1000V
1000V

1000V
1000V

OUR WORLD IS FULL OF ENERGY.

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Conergy_PE Solar Module_UL_IM_ENG_2013-03-22 Subject to technical changes 2013 © Conergy