Can a PV Surge Protection Device Prevent Damage?

The SPD for Photovoltaic prevents the damages in solar power systems, which can occur due to voltage spikes induced by lightning strikes, disturbance in the power grid, or sudden fluctuations. Such surges can be very prone, especially in solar installations operating at high DC voltages-running mostly from 600 to 1,500 volts. It is for this reason that an SPD rated to surge capacity of 40 kA can absorb and redirect the excess voltage so that it does not reach the inverters, controllers, and other important parts of the system.
Without an SPD, even one strong surge can fry an inverter, which costs anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000, exclusive of labor and time lost since energy production stops until repairs are finished. Commercial installs translate that into a lot of dollars lost because energy production stops until repairs are finished. This device will mitigate these risks by clamping the excessive voltage down and grounding it well before the system is affected, ensuring continuous safe operation.

The international standards, such as IEC 61643-31, set very high criteria for PV SPDs. For example, the response time should be in nanoseconds to rapidly divert surges. This is critical because even short-term exposure to surges will degrade the efficiency of solar components or even complete failures. Most of the high-quality SPDs are designed to have a life expectancy of approximately 10 years; hence, these are considered long-term investments that protect continuously against unpredictable electrical surges.

As Mike Holt, a leading expert in electrical safety, says, “The right PV surge protection device acts as armor for your solar system, preventing thousands of dollars in potential damage with a small upfront investment.” Installing a PV Surge Protection Device protects the owner of a solar power system against unplanned surges, saves money on maintenance costs, and prolongs the service life of the solar array. A small investment in SPD, therefore, can provide big savings in a long period of time, which is very essential at the domestic and commercial level solar systems.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *