The size of the PV surge protection device needs to be chosen effectively in case of voltage spikes. In choosing an appropriate SPD, one has to take care of operating voltage, current, environmental conditions, and the system surge exposure. The residential photovoltaic operates at around 600 V. On the other hand, commercial versions may go up to 1500 V.
Most SPDs designed for PV systems today have a rating ranging from 20-40kA/phase, which is quite satisfactory as far as standard residential installations are concerned. The bigger the commercial systems are, the higher the kA rating should be-sometimes 40-60kA-in areas prone to frequent electrical storms or high probabilities of lightning strikes. These devices are designed to endure multiple surges over time with no degradation in system performance.
According to the installation points, there are several types of SPDs. Type 1 SPDs are installed at the main service panel and protect against high-energy surges right from external sources like lightning. The Type 2 SPDs, normally set up near inverters, handle low-energy surges within the system and give protection for inverters and other sensitive components. A solar farm set-up would use both types of SPDs-Type 1 and Type 2-to make sure that there is comprehensive protection and reduction of risk to equipment and downtime.
Therefore, compliance with standards for DC SPDs, such as IEC 61643-31, establishes that the chosen SPD would meet the industrial demands of durability and effectiveness. For example, in PV systems, an SPD with ratings in accordance with this sort of standard will ensure the specific voltage and current and protect against direct and indirect surges. According to Solar Power World, correctly rated SPDs can cut system maintenance costs as much as 30% because they protect very expensive components such as inverters that are very expensive to repair or replace.
Investing in a properly sized PV Surge Protection Device enhances safety and longevity for the entire PV system. Ensuring correct specification of SPDs for matching system voltage and current demands means complete protection from surprise repair costs and continued, stable, efficient solar power over time.