The decentralized junction box uses less cross-connects than standard centralized boxes, offers excellent thermal management capabilities and enables engineers to design new innovative solar panel layouts. The general design idea is using two small two-rail junction boxes separately located in the corners of the solar panels plus one small junction box in the middle (compared with the common standard layout of one bigger four-rail junction box with three diodes in the centre of the panel). Through the decentralization of the two-rail junction boxes, panel manufacturers are able to use less and shorter cross connects (saving labour and costs) because every string is protected by one junction box with 1 diode.
With this new design concept it is easy to enlarge solar panel layouts by just adding a junction box in the centre to protect additional strings. No complicated routing is required. The low profile design (only 18.5mm height) of the two-rail decentralized junction box enables the device to be easily terminated with the slim line connector system by Tyco Electronics. The new decentralized junction box meets IEC 61215 ed.2 (VDE V 0126-5) specifications.
For more information on the new two rail decentralized junction box, please visit www.tycoelectronics.com/solar or contact Tyco Electronics’ Product Information Centre at www.tycoelectronics.com/help
