Rapid Shutdown Solar Panels Requirements

The section 690 12 update to the 2017 national electrical code nec calls for module level rapid shutdown of solar systems instead of nec 2014 s array level shutdown requirement.

Rapid shutdown solar panels requirements. Controlled conductors located outside the boundary or more than 1 m 3 ft from the point of entry inside a building shall be limited to not more than 30 volts within 30 seconds of rapid shutdown initiation. This requirement is called a rapid shutdown. Conductors that extend greater than 10 ft from the array outside or more than 5 ft inside a building are required to be de energized upon command of shutdown. The national fire protection association nfpa wrote rapid shutdown requirements into the nec in an effort to keep first responders safe.

These conductors must be de energized to below 30 and 240 vac within 10 seconds of initiating rapid shutdown. Compliant with nec 690 12 rapid shutdown requirements. Same string design rules as traditional modules. A rapid shutdown transmitter or initiator is installed into the inverter either during manufacturing like fronius s offering or aftermarket.

Voltage shall be measured between any two conductors and between any conductor and ground. It is against metropolitan and municipal fire code for solar systems connected to the grid to stay turned on when the grid is down which demands the need for a rapid shut down mechanism in solar panels. More than 5 inside a building or more than 10 from a pv array. The section 690 12 update to the 2017 national electrical code nec calls for module level rapid shutdown of solar systems instead of nec 2014 array level shutdown requirement.

Safety capability requires cloud connect and gateway for communication see design tool systems requiring safety functionality such as rapid shutdown should have ts4 f or higher on all modules. In 2014 the national electrical code included a new requirement. 690 12 1 through 5 a short requirement only six sentences. That transmitter is paired with a sensor that s attached to the array.

Starting in 2019 when nec 2017 goes into effect in certain jurisdictions all conductors within a 1ft boundary of an array has to be reduced to 80 v or less within 30 seconds of rapid shutdown initiation. Rsd tigo for nec 2017. Pv system circuits installed on or in buildings shall include a rapid shutdown function that controls specific conductors in accordance with 690 12 1 through 5 as follows. 1 2019 when nec 2017 goes into effect in certain jurisdictions all conductors within an array s 1 ft boundary have to be reduced to 80 v or less within 30 seconds of rapid shutdown initiation.

Currently string inverters require listed add ons to be rapid shutdown compliant. 2017 nec 690 12 rapid shutdown. 2 inside the array boundary. Hopefully your home never catches on fire and you don t even have to worry about rapid shutdown functionality but if it does firefighters can use rapid shutdown solutions to de energize your solar panel system just in case they need to go up on your.