Evergreen Solar ES-A Series, ES-A-190-fa3, ES-A-195-fa3, ES-A-200-fa3, ES-A-205-fa3 Safety, Installation, And Operation Manual
...
ES-A Series Photovoltaic Panels
(Black Frames)
Safety, Installation and Operation Manual
Limited Warranty
3157947
This Manual is valid in North America only
(ETL listed; conforms to UL Standard 1703)
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT — CHECK WITH YOUR INSTALLER
Evergreen Solar ES-A Series photovoltaic (PV, solar electric) panels are designed to produce DC electrical energy from light. This manual
contains important safety, installation and operating information with which you should be familiar before using Evergreen Solar ES-A Series panels.
General Information
• All installation and safety instructions should be understood before attempting to install, wire, operate
and maintain the panel.
• When installing, observe all local, regional, national and international statutory regulations, guidelines,
norms and code requirements.
• Installation or maintenance should only be performed by licensed and qualied professionals.
• Panels produce voltage even when not connected to an electrical circuit or load. Panels produce nearly
full voltage when exposed to as little as 5% of full sunlight, and both electrical current and power
increase with light intensity.
• Panels can produce higher output than the rated specications.
• Industry standard rated specications are made at conditions of 1000W/m2 irradiance and 25°C (77ºF)
solar cell temperature. Colder temperatures can substantially increase voltage and power.
• Ensure that panels are only subjected to ambient temperatures in the range -40 to +80°C (-40 to +176°F).
• Reection from snow, water or other surfaces can increase light and therefore increase both the current
and power generated by the panel.
• Do not articially concentrate light on the panel.
• Panels are intended for outdoors, land-based applications only. Panels are not intended for indoor use
or application on moving vehicles of any kind.
• Excluded applications also include, but are not limited to, installations where panels come into contact
with salt water or where likely to become partially or wholly submerged in fresh or salt water, examples
of which include boats, docks and buoys.
• Use only equipment, connectors, wiring and support frames suitable for use in a solar electric system.
• Follow all safety precautions of other used components.
• Each panel is marked with a serial number, including the date of manufacture and the manufacturing
location. Example: XXxxYYYYMMDDzzzzzzz
- XX = country code (49 for Germany, 01 for US)
- xx = manufac turing building code, can be 01 or higher
- YY YY = year, MM = month, DD = day
- zzzzzzz = serial number
Handling Safety
• Do not use the junc tion box to hold or transport the panel.
• Do not stand or step on the panel.
• Do not drop panel or allow objects to fall on panel.
• Do not damage or scratch the rear surface of the panel.
• Avoid setting the panel down hard on any surface, particularly when placing it on a corner.
• Do not disassemble, modify or adapt the panel or remove any part or labeling installed by Evergreen
Solar. Doing so will void the warranty.
• Do not drill holes in the frame or glass of the panel. Doing so will void the warranty.
• Do not apply paint or adhesive to the rear sur face of the panel.
• Never leave a panel unsupported or unsecured.
• Panels are constructed with tempered glass, but must still be handled with care.
1
Copyright © 2009 Evergreen Solar, Inc.
• A panel with broken glass or torn back-skin cannot be repaired and must not be used since contact with
any panel surface or the frame can produce electrical shock.
• Broken or damaged panels must be handled carefully and disposed of properly. Broken glass can
be sharp and cause injury if not handled with the appropriate protective equipment.
• Work only under dry conditions, and use only dry tools. Do not handle panels when they are wet unless
wearing the appropriate protective equipment.
• When storing un-connected panels outside for any length of time, always cover panels which have
the glass facing down to stop water collecting inside the panel and causing damage to exposed
connectors.
Installation Safety
• Keep children away from the system and panels when installing.
• Do not carry out installation work when there are strong winds.
• When installing panels above ground, avoid any possible falling or other safety hazards by following
appropriate safety practices and using required safety equipment.
• Solar electric panels have no on/off switch. Panels can be rendered inoperative only be removing them
from light, or by fully covering their front surface with an opaque material, or by working with panels
face down on a smooth, at surface.
• When working with panels in light, follow all applicable regulation regarding working with live
electrical equipment.
• Do not touch electrical terminals or the ends of any wire while the panel is exposed to light or while
installing the panel.
• Do not wear metallic jewelry while performing mechanical or elec trical installation.
• Never open electrical connections or unplug connectors while the circuit is under load.
• Contact with electrically active parts of the panels, such as terminals, can result in burns, sparks and
lethal shock whether the panel is connected or disconnected.
• Always use insulated tools and rubber gloves that are approved for working on electrical installations.
Fire Safety
• Refer to your local authority for guidelines and requirements for building or structural re safety.
• The roof construction and installation may affect the re safety of a building; improper installation may
contribute to hazards in the event of re.
• For roof application, the panels should be mounted over a fire resistant covering rated for the
application.
• It may be necessar y to use components such as earth ground fault circuit breakers, fuses and
circuit breakers.
• Do not use panels near equipment or locations where ammable gases can be generated or can collect.
Electrical Installation
• Avoid all electrical hazards when installing, wiring, operating and maintaining a panel.
• If the total DC system voltage exceeds 100V, the system must be installed, commissioned and
maintained by a licensed electrician unless local electrical codes determine otherwise.
• Contact with a DC voltage 30V or more is potentially hazardous.
• Do not use panels of different electrical or physical congurations in the same system.
2Valid from 1st April 2009 / IMW-ES-A_fa3_US_010409_ETL
• The maximum open circuit voltage of the system must not be greater than the specied maximum
system voltage for the panel.
• All Evergreen Solar panels are equipped with factory-installed wires and quick connectors. Panels have
been designed to be easily interconnec ted in series.
• Evergreen Solar ES-A series panels are equipped with Multi-Contact® Type 4 clickable connectors. In
order to comply with the 2008 National Electric Code for accessible arrays, the plug connection must
be secured with the UL approved, pluggable safety lock clip (PV-SSH4) supplied by Multi-Contact®.
• The PV-SSH4 clip is not provided by Evergreen Solar and must be purchased separately. Once the clip
is installed, the PV plug connection can only be unlocked with the use of the PV-MS tool, also supplied
by Multi-Contact®.
• Evergreen Solar ES-A series panels are also equipped with 10AWG, UL4703 certied PV-WIRE which
enables the panels to be used in electrically ungrounded systems with transformer-less inver ters.
• Use system wiring with suitable cross-sectional areas and connectors that are approved for use at the
maximum shor t-circuit current of the panel.
• Match the polarities of cables and terminals when making the connections; failure to do so may result
in damage to the panel.
• When reverse currents can exceed the value of the maximum protective fuse marked on the back of the
panel, a properly rated and certied over-current device (fuse or circuit breaker) must be connected in
series with each panel or string of panels.
• The rating of the over-current device shall not exceed the value of the maximum protec tive fuse marked
on the back of the panel.
• The panel contains factory installed bypass diodes located inside the junction box.
• The junction box is not designed or certied to be eld accessible or maintainable and should under no
circumstances be opened. Opening the junction box may void the warranty.
• Panels with a suspected electrical problem should be returned to Evergreen Solar for inspection and
possible repair or replacement as per the warranty conditions provided by Evergreen Solar.
Grounding
• Panel frames should be connected to an earth ground for safety and protection from lightning.
• The panel frame is provided with grounding holes that accommodate self-tapping screws. A #10-32
stainless steel thread cutting screw is recommended.
• Evergreen panels can also be grounded using third party grounding washers or clip devices provided
the devices are listed and identied for grounding the metalic frames of PV panels and the devices
are install in accordance with the manufacturers specied instructions.
Mechanical Installation
• Panels should be mounted to maximize direct exposure to sunlight and to eliminate or
minimize shadowing.
• Even partial shadowing can substantially reduce panel and system output.
• Panels must be securely fastened using support frames or mounting kits specialized for
PV applications.
• Panels may be mounted at any angle from vertical to horizontal orientation.
• Care must be taken to avoid low tilt angles which may cause dir t to build-up on the glass against the
frame edge.
• Dirt build-up on the surface of the panel can cause active solar cells to be shaded and electrical
performance to be impaired.
MC® is a registered trad emark of Multi-Contac t AG
Copyright © 2009 Evergreen Solar, Inc.3
• Contact Evergreen Solar for more information regarding minimum recommended tilt angles for
specic panel products.
• For roof mounted systems, provide adequate rear ventilation under a panel for cooling (100mm: 4 in.
gap minimum).
• Clearance of 7mm:¼ in or more between panels is required to allow for thermal expansion of the frames.
• Always keep the back surface of the panel free from any foreign objects or structural elements which
could come into contact with the panel, especially when the panel is under mechanical load.
• Ensure panels are not subjected to wind or snow loads in excess of the maximum permissible loads and
are not subjected to excessive forces due to thermal expansion of the suppor t structure.
• Evergreen Solar permits several different mounting methods. The permissible mounting methods
and maximum permissible wind and snow loads are detailed in the Mounting Guide available from
Evergreen Solar (ETL listed version).
• For permission to use mounting methods not described in the Mounting Guide (ETL listed version),
please consult Evergreen Solar. Failure to do so will void the warranty and panel certication.
• Always follow the mounting equipment vendors’ installation instructions in addition to the
instructions found in the Mounting Guide (ETL listed version). In cases where the vendors’
instructions are more stringent than those detailed in the Mounting Guide (ETL listed version), the
vendors’ instructions shall apply.
• In cases where the maximum permissible loading determined by the mounting equipment vendor is less
than the maximum permissible load stated in the Mounting Guide (ETL listed version), the maximum
loads determined by the vendor should always be used.
• The maximum permissible loads apply to uniformly distributed wind or snow loading. Care should
be taken to avoid mounting panels in areas that are prone to drifting snow, icicle and/or ice dam
formation.
Operation and Maintenance
• No routine maintenance is required. However it is advisable to perform periodic inspection of the
panels for damage to glass, back-skin, frame, junction box or external electrical connections.
• Check electrical connections for loose connections and corrosion.
• PV panels can operate effectively without ever being washed, although removal of dirt from the front
glass can increase output.
• Evergreen Solar panels use front glass with a wear resistant and durable anti-reection coating designed
to improve electrical performance.
• Water can be used for regular washing or rinsing of the coated front glass to remove dust, dirt or
other deposits.
• To remove ingrained dirt, the coated glass can be washed with a micro-ber cloth and ethanol or a
conventional glass cleanser.
• No aggressive and abrasive cleansers or chemicals should ever be used on the coated front glass.
No alkali based chemicals should be used, including ammonia based solutions.
• Always wear rubber gloves for electrical insulation whilst maintaining, washing or cleaning panels.
• Panel frames are made of architectural grade, black hard-coat anodized aluminum which provides
excellent protec tive properties and color stability.
• Deposits of foreign material on the frame surface can be cleaned using a wet sponge or cloth and dried
in air or by using a clean chamois.
• Alternatively, a mild detergent or glass cleaner may be used. Never use aggressive alkaline or acid
cleaners to clean any par t of the panel.
• Foreign material on the frame may in some instances look like small scratches, but in most cases can
be removed by cleaning.
4Valid from 1st April 2009 / IMW-ES-A_fa3_US_010409_ETL
Underwriters Laboratories and Canadian Standard ULC/ORD-C1703-01
Information
• Under normal conditions, a photovoltaic panel 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 panel should be multiplied by a fac tor of 1.25 when determining component
voltage ratings, conductor capacities, fuse sizes, and size of controls connected to the PV output.
• Refer to section 690-8 of the National Electric Code (NEC) for an additional multiplying factor of 125%
(80% de-rating) which may be applicable.
• Conductor recommendations: single conductor cable, type USE-2 (non-conduit), 10AWG
(6mm2 minimum).
• For compliance with Canadian Standard ULC/ORD-C1703-1, the installation shall be in accordance
with CSA-C22.1, Safety Standard for Electrical Installations, Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1.
Disclaimer of Liability
Since the use of this Safety, Installation and Operation Manual and the conditions or methods of installation, operation,
use and maintenance of the panel are beyond Evergreen Solar control, Evergreen Solar does not assume responsibility
an d e xpr es sl y di sc lai ms lia bi lit y f or l os s, d am ag e, i nju ry or e xp en se a ri sin g o ut o f or in a ny c on ne ct ed w it h su ch ins ta lla ti on ,
operation, use or maintenance of the panel.
Evergreen Solar assumes no responsibility for any infringement of patents or other rights of third parties that may result
from use of the panel. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights.
The information in this Manual is based on Evergreen Solar knowledge and experience and is believed to be reliable;
but such information including product specications (without limitations) and suggestions do not constitute a warranty,
expre ssed or implied. Evergreen Solar reserves the right to make changes to the product, specications or this Manual
without prior notice.
Note: This document may be provided in multiple languages. If there is a conict among versions, the English language
version dominates.
Copyright © 2009 Evergreen Solar, Inc.5
Loading...