Earthing your Solar Panels

As of the 1st of February 2011, it became compulsory to Earth all Solar PV panels. Every installer has their own method, but all agree that cost and speed are the most important factors in finding a suitable method. We researched a number of different options and found SolKlip-Ground Clip to be the quickest and easiest to install, while still keeping the costs down.

Product Features

• Self-tapping screw
• Quick and easy mounting
• Four-point contact to wire
• Low interface resistance
• Toolless termination
• Re-terminateable up to 5 times
• UV resistant
• Weather-proof
• UL approved
• RoHS compliant

Tyco Electronics’ newest innovation provides the photovoltaic integrator with a solution for grounding PV panels and mounting frames. The Tyco Electronics SolKlip brings a new ground connection solution to the market by the utilizing well-known insulation displacement termination technology.

Existing solutions typically require the use of ring tongue crimp terminals which have to be crimped first at a specific location on the wire, a hole is then drilled into the mounting surface, and the product is finally mounted on the frame with a separate thread forming or self-tapping screw. The new Tyco Electronics SolKlip provides an extremely simplified solution for terminating a continuous-run ground wire.

Termination times are measured in seconds using the pre-mounted Tyco Electronics SolKlip thereby saving time and reducing wiring costs substantially. The four-point wire contact inherent in the design optimizes grounding performance and provides protection against contact problems due to its low inter- face resistance.

The Tyco Electronics SolKlip can be used with un-insulated copper wires from 12 AWG to 10 AWG. The retained-force nature of the contact provides a robust interface that mini- mizes vibration or thermally induced termination problems that often occur with traditional ground-screw connections. Termination of the wire is safely and easily accomplished tool- lessly by simply inserting the wire and closing the cover.
With a tensile strength of up to 36 kg, the UV-resistant enclosure provides a secure termination even in roughest environmental and assembly conditions. As an added benefit, the connection can be opened and re-terminated again up to five times.

Retrofitting the Tyco Electronics SolKlip on panels or frames can be done at any time by simply by drilling mounting hole in the frame and attaching the terminal to the frame using the integrated, self-tapping screw. This ensures a secure connection with the panel and/or frame.
The patent-pending Tyco Electronics SolKlip ground terminal supplements the existing Tyco Electronics SOLARLOK product portfolio and offers the electrician yet another valuable component for simple and fast wiring of a PV-system.

SOLARLOK Interconnection System - Product information (SEE PAGES 21 & 22 FOR PICS AND DIAGRAMS)

March 15, 2011