Installation Manual

Chapter 1: Introducing the SolarEdge Power
Harvesting System
TheSolarEdgepowerharvestingsolutionmaximizesthepoweroutputfromanytypeofsolar
Photovoltaic(PV)installationwhilereducingtheaveragecostperwatt.Thefollowingsections
describeeachofthesystem’scomponents.
SolarEdge Power Optimizer
TheSolarEdgepoweroptimizersareDC-DCconvertersconnectedtoPVmodulesinorderto
maximizepowerharvestingbyperformingindependentMaximumPowerPointTracking
(MPPT)atthemodulelevel.
Thepoweroptimizersregulatethestringvoltageataconstantlevel,regardlessofstring
lengthandenvironmentalconditions.
Thepoweroptimizersincludeasafetyvoltagefunctionthatautomaticallyreducestheoutput
ofeachpoweroptimizerto1Vdcinthefollowingcases:
l Duringfaultconditions
l Thepoweroptimizersaredisconnectedfromtheinverter
l Theinverter’sON/OFFswitchisturnedOFF
l TheSafetySwitchisturnedOFF
l Inverter'sACbreakeristurnedOFF
EachpoweroptimizeralsotransmitsmoduleperformancedataovertheDCpowerlinetothe
inverter.
Twotypesofpoweroptimizersareavailable:
l ModuleAdd-onpoweroptimizer–connectedtooneormoremodules
l SmartModuleembeddedpoweroptimizer–areembeddedintoamodule
SolarEdge Inverter with Safety Switch
TheSolarEdgeinverterefficientlyconvertsDCpowerfromthemodulesintoACpowerthat
canbefedintothemainACserviceofthesiteandfromtheretothegrid.Theinverteralso
receivesthemonitoringdatafromeachpoweroptimizerandtransmitsittoacentralserver
(theSolarEdgemonitoringportal;requiresInternetconnection).
TheSafetySwitchisamanuallyoperatedswitchfordisconnectingtheDCpowerofa
SolarEdgesystem.
TheSafetySwitchislocatedbelowtheinverterandisconnectedtotheinverterwithACand
DCwires.
SolarEdge-Installation Guide MAN-01-00002-4.0
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Chapter 1: Introducing the SolarEdge Power Harvesting System