Sanyo HIP-180BA3 Installation Manual

General Installation Manual

© 2007 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved 6/15/07

General Installation Manual for SANYO
HIT Photovoltaic Modules. Please read
this manual completely before use or
installation of SANYO modules. This
manual applies to the following models:

HIP-205BA3, HIP-200BA3, HIP-195BA3,
HIP-190BA3, HIP-186BA3, HIP-180BA3,
HIP-175BA3, HIP-205BA5, HIP-200BA5,
HIP-195BA5, HIP-190BA5, HIP-186BA5,
HIP-180BA5

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for choosing SANYO HIT
photovoltaic (PV) modules. With proper
operation and maintenance, SANYO HIT
PV modules will provide you with clean,
renewable solar electricity for many years.
This manual contains important installation,
maintenance and safety information. The
word “module” as used in this manual refers
to one or more PV modules.

Retain this manual for future reference.

Disclaimer of Liability
SANYO does not assume responsibility and
expressly disclaims liability for loss,
damage, or expense arising out of, or in
any way connected with installation,
operation, use, or maintenance by using
this manual.
SANYO assumes no responsibility for any
infringement of patents or other rights of
third parties, which may result from use of
modules.
No license is granted by implication or
under any patent or patent rights. The
information in this manual is believed to be
reliable, but does not constitute an
expressed and/or implied warranty.
SANYO reserves the right to make changes
to the product, specifications, or manual
without prior notice.

General Information
The installation of solar modules requires a
great degree of skill and should only be
performed by qualified licensed
professionals, including, without limitation,
licensed contractors and licensed
electricians.

WARNING

• All instructions should be read and
understood before attempting to
install, wire, operate, and maintain
the photovoltaic module. Contact
with electrically active parts of the
module such as terminals can result
in burns, sparks, and lethal shock
whether the module is connected or
disconnected.

• The installer assumes the risk of all
injury that might occur during
installation, including, without
limitation, the risk of electric shock.

• PV modules generate DC electrical
energy when exposed to sunlight or
other light sources. Although single
modules produce only a low voltage
and current, shocks and burns are
still a potential hazard.

• To avoid the hazard of electric
shock and injury, cover the entire
front surface of the PV modules with

®

a dense, opaque material such as a
cardboard box, during installation
and handling of the modules.

• The shock hazard increases as
modules are connected in parallel,
producing higher current, and as
modules are connected in series,
producing higher voltages.

• To avoid the hazard of electric
shock, work only in dry conditions,
with dry modules and dry tools.

• Do not stand or step on a module to
avoid the hazard of injury and
damage to the module.

• Do not puncture or damage the back
sheet of a module, to avoid the
hazard of electric shock and fire.

• To avoid the hazard of electric
shock and injury, children and
unauthorized persons should not be
allowed near the installation of PV
modules.

• To avoid the hazard of electric
shock and injury, be sure to
completely ground all modules.

• To avoid the hazard of electric
shock, fire, and injury, do not
disassemble the module, or remove
any part installed by the
manufacturer.

• Unauthorized persons—except the
qualified licensed professional—
should not open the cover of the
junction box to avoid the hazard of
electric shock.

• Provide suitable guards to prevent
yourself from direct contact with 30
VDC or greater to avoid the hazard
of electric shock or injury.

• When carrying a module, two or
more people should carry it by its
frame and wear non-slip gloves (to
avoid injury by a slipping module, to
a foot, or cuts by the edge of a
frame, and so on).

• Do not carry a module by its wires
or junction box, to avoid the hazard
of electric shock, injury or damage
to the module.

• Do not drop anything on the
surfaces of a module, to avoid the
hazard of electric shock, injury, and
damage.

• To avoid the hazard of electric
shock and fire, be sure that all other
system components are compatible,
and they do not subject the module
to mechanical or electrical hazards.

• Since sparks may occur, do not
install the module where flammable
gases or vapors are present.

• Never leave a module unsupported
or unsecured.

• Do not drop a module.

• Do not use or install broken

modules to avoid the hazard of fire,
electric shock, and injury.

• Do not artificially concentrate
sunlight on a module to avoid the
hazard of fire or damage.

• Do not touch the junction box
terminals to avoid the hazard of
electric shock and injury.

• Do not change the wiring of bypass
diodes to avoid the hazard of
electric shock and injury.

CAUTIONS

• Use a module for its intended
purpose only.

• Do not treat the back sheet, frame,
or front surface with paint or
adhesives, to avoid reducing its’
functionality, damage, inoperable
conditions, and other unknown
troubles.

GENERAL SAFETY
Follow all permission, installation and
inspection requirements.

• Before installing modules, contact the
appropriate authorities to determine
permissions, installation and inspection
requirements, which should be
followed.

• Electrically ground modules for all
systems of any voltage. If not
otherwise specified, it is recommended
that requirements of the latest National
Electrical Code (USA) or Canadian
Electric Code (Canada) or other
national or international electrical
standards be followed.

• Be sure that the construction or
structure (roof, façade, etc.) where the
modules are being installed has
enough strength.

• For modules mounted on roofs, special
construction or structures may be
required to help provide proper
installation support.

1

General Installation Manual

© 2007 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved 6/15/07

• Both roof construction and module
installation design have an effect on
the fire resistance of a building.
Improper installation may contribute to
fire hazards. Additional devices such
as ground fault, fuses, and disconnects
may be required.

• Do not use modules of different
specifications in the same system.

• Follow all safety precautions of other
system components used.

UL Listing Information

To satisfy UL requirements, when installing
the modules, be sure to:

1) Use only stranded or solid copper
single–conductor type UF cable or
USE cable, rated sunlight resistant, for
modules and interconnect wiring that is
exposed to weather.

2) Observe the requirements described in
sections labeled INSTALLTION
SPECIFICATIONS

3) Grounding of the module frame is
required. When ground wires greater
than 6mm
the installer will need to provide
suitable terminal connectors.

INSTALLATION
General

• Please read this guide completely
before installation or use of the
modules. This section contains
electrical and mechanical
specifications needed before using
your SANYO PV modules.

• Modules should be firmly fixed in place
in a manner suitable to withstand all
expected loads, including wind and
snow loads.

• The drilling and addition of ground
holes is permitted, but should be
avoided when possible, to prevent
damage to the module. Caution is
advised to avoid accidentally drilling,
scratching, or penetrating the back
sheet surface of the module. When
needed, it is recommended to add
additional ground holes to the outer
aluminum lip (rail) area of the module.
The position of additional ground holes
must be at least 65mm away from
frame corners and must not penetrate
the inner side of the aluminum frame.

• Appropriate material should be used
for mounting hardware to prevent the
module frame, mounting structure, and
hardware itself from corrosion.

• Install modules where they are not
shaded by obstacles like buildings and
trees. Especially pay attention to avoid
partially shading the modules by
objects during the daytime.

2

(No.10 AWG) are required,

.

• Please contact your SANYO
Authorized Representative with
questions regarding mounting profiles
for modules if needed.

Notes on Installation

• Clearance between the roof surface
and module frame is required to allow
cooling air to circulate around the back
of the module. This also allows any
condensation or moisture to dissipate.
Install modules so that air can circulate
between the roof and the module.

• Leave 4 inches of clearance between
the roof and the module frame.

Operating Conditions

SANYO requires that modules be operated
within the following Operating Conditions:

1) Terrestrial applications only—no outer
space or Special Conditions (see

and

below).

2) The ambient temperature must be
within –20°C (-4°F) to 40°C (104°F).
The temperature limits are defined as
the Monthly Average High or Low of
the installation site.

3) The wind pressure load of the
installation site should be less than
2,400N/m

Special Conditions

Modules must not be installed nor operated in areas where:

1) Salt damage is excessive.

2) Hail and snow damage is excessive.

3) Sand and dust damage is excessive.

4) Air pollution, chemically active vapors,
acid rain, soot, etc. are excessive.

SPECIFICATIONS
Notes on Specifications

1) Rated electrical characteristics are
within –5% to +10% of the values
measured at Standard Test Conditions
(STC). Irradiance of 1000W/m, 25
cell temperature, and solar spectral
irradiance per IEC 60904-3.

2) Under normal conditions, a
photovoltaic module may experience
conditions that produce more current
and/or voltage than reported at
Standard Test Conditions. Accordingly,
the values of Isc and Voc marked on
UL listed modules should be multiplied
by a factor of 1.25 when determining
voltage ratings, conductor capacities,
fuse sizes, and size of controls
connected to the module output. USA:

Refer to Section 690-7 of the U.S.
National Electrical Code for an
additional multiplying factor of 1.25,
which may be applicable.

2

(50PSF).

2

3) The current output for the modules
shown in the Specifications is
measured at Standard Test Conditions.
These conditions may not be frequently
observed in actual practice.

Mechanical Loading

• The modules should be mounted at the
four (4) quarter points by the means
shown in Figures 3.1 and 3.2.

• This method offers a maximum load of
2400N/m2 (50PSF, in a static state) on
the module surface.

WIRING
General

• All wiring should be done in
accordance with applicable electrical
codes.

• Wiring methods should be in
accordance with the NEC in USA or
CEC in Canada.

• A qualified, licensed professional
should do all wiring.

• Wiring should be protected to help
ensure personal safety and to prevent
its damage.

• All modules connected in series should
be of the same model number and/or
type.

• Do not connect modules in parallel
without using a connection box.

Module Wiring

• The number of modules that can be
wired in series is recommended at
seven (7) or fewer. If connecting eight
(8) modules in series, check local
temperature conditions and follow the
National Electric Code (690.7) to
ensure compliance with maximum
voltage limitations.

• SANYO solar modules are not
designed for “off-grid” or battery

o

C

charging systems, because of their
operating voltage. Therefore, it is not
recommended to use them to charge
batteries.

• These modules contain factory
installed bypass diodes. If these
modules are incorrectly connected to
each other, the bypass diodes, cable,
or junction box may be damaged.

Module Wiring

• The term “array” is used to describe
the assembly of several modules on a
support structure with associated
wiring.

• Use copper wire that is sunlight
resistant and is insulated to withstand
the maximum possible system open
circuit voltage.