With the advancement of time, more and more people around the world are now using solar energy systems to generate electricity. When installing a solar energy system, it is crucial to understand how to fuse the solar energy system properly. Usually we need to install fuses or circuit breakers in the system to protect the equipment in the solar system, here are some of the relevant contents.
What is a solar system fuse
This is a device that is used in solar energy systems to prevent the solar system from overloading or catching fire in case of a short circuit. When a solar system malfunctions and causes excessive current flow, the fuse will blow, breaking the circuit connection to prevent fire or damage to appliances.
When is a fuse required to blow?
Regardless of whether your solar panels are wired in series or in parallel, a short circuit, overload, or unstable current that causes the current in the circuit to exceed the maximum rating of the fuse will cause the fuse to blow. In addition, if the solar panels are wired in parallel, you can choose to install a fuse for each parallel string to prevent a short circuit in one part from affecting the other parts of the circuit.
How to choose the fuse size
In order to protect the long-term operation of the solar system, it is very important to choose a suitable size of fuse. Then for the choice of fuse size, what you have to consider is the working current of the solar panel (power/voltage=current). When we know the working current of the solar panel, we have to take the working current * 1.25 in order to choose the right fuse. For example, in a 12V system, a 200W solar panel with an operating current of about 16A, a 25A fuse can be selected for installation.
Situations that may occur if the fuse size is not selected properly:
(1) If the fuse size selected is too large, the fuse will not blow even if the circuit is overloaded, and the insurance effect will be lost;
(2) When the fuse size is selected too small, a single normal current fluctuation in the circuit may cause the fuse to blow. This may result in frequent power cuts and damage to appliances that prevent them from working properly.
Fusion Solar System
(1) Install a fuse or circuit breaker between the solar charge controller and the battery, and select a fuse that can handle the maximum current output of the charge controller to prevent short-circuiting or overloading.
(2) Install a fuse or circuit breaker between the battery bank and the solar inverter, again to prevent short circuits or overloads;
(3) Installing it between the charge controller and the solar panels prevents the wires from overheating, which can cause great damage to the equipment.
(4) A fuse should also be installed at the output of the inverter, which can prevent damage to the electrical system.
Install the fuse correctly
(1) First of all, you have to choose a suitable fuse for your solar system, and then choose the right fuse holder according to the type and size of the fuse;
(2) The fuse should be placed on the positive wire, be careful not to misconnect it, and keep the fuse as close to the power source as possible;
(3) When connecting the fuse, choose the right wire and make sure it is firmly connected;
(4) Regularly check and clean the fuses to prevent serious consequences due to fuse failure.
Conclusion
In solar energy systems, I think it is very important to know how to install fuses, and installing them correctly will not only keep you safe, but also reduce the cost of repairing your solar energy system.
