Safety at the system level

Conventional solar arrays are wired to generate up to 600 volts and the panels cannot be fused. The result is that the array poses an arcing risk, a shock hazard to anyone working on the system and a problem for fire fighters and maintenance crews who must cover the panels with tarps in order to turn them off.

To limit the arc faults within PV systems, the 2011 National Electrical Code requires the installation of UL Listed arc fault detection equipment for systems operating at high DC voltages (defined as greater than 80VDC).

As the tenKsolar RAIS PV system always operates at a conditioned and switched voltage of less than 57 VDC, arc fault monitoring equipment is not required.