AVANCIS POWERMAX
®
PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES
SAFETY, INSTALLATION AND OPERATION MANUAL
®
Grounding of PowerMax
Back Rails
Even when applicable regulations, code
requirements and standards do not re-
quire safety-related grounding, AVANCIS
strongly recommends grounding of
®
Power Max
module back rails in order to
ensure voltage between back rails and
ground is zero under all circum stances.
This will increase the safety of the PV sys-
tem in case of malfunctions and protect
the system from induced over-voltage.
For safety-related grounding of the
Power Max
®
module back rails, the back
rails are provided with grounding holes
(marked with grounding signs). These holes
should be used for grounding purposes
only and in accordance with the local reg-
ulations, code requirements and standards.
If permitted, AVANCIS recommends for
grounding to use the larger hole (diame-
ter 0.42 cm/0.17 inches) in combination
with a M4 bolt, nut and two star washers
(see the example). Please note: only ma-
terials should be used which do not cause
corrosion. Make sure that the grounding
bolts do not touch any cable. Other
means and methods for grounding are
permissable as long as approved by appli-
cable regulations, code requirements and
standards.
Functional Grounding
AVANCIS requires an earthing which en-
sures that the potential of the negative
pole of the PV assembly is always greater
than -10 V in comparison with the earth.
The inverter supplier's specific guidelines
for the negative pole's earthing must be
followed. The guidelines will depend on
the specific make and type of inverters
which are to be used in the PV system.
AVANCIS requires that only the inverters
and associated grounding kits or solutions
recommended by the inverter manufac-
turers are used to electrically ground sys-
tems with AVANCIS PowerMax
©2013 | AVANCIS GmbH & Co. KG | Solarstrasse 3 | 04860 Torgau | Germany | E-mail: service@avancis.de | www.avancis.de | January 2013
Example
®
modules.
Backside Mounting:
®
• PowerMax
modules should be fastened
using the four pre-drilled mounting
holes in the back rails. Use four M6 or
similar size steel bolts, with 4 nuts and
8 lock washers (all coated as described
in the AVANCIS clamp document), per
PowerMax
®
module.
Bolt
Nut
Lock washer
Lock washer
Frontside Mounting:
®
• PowerMax
modules should be fas-
tened using four steel clamps with a
minimum coating as described in the
AVANCIS clamp document applied to
the mounting lip at the bottom of the
back rails. One clamp holds two
PowerMax
®
modules except for the
PowerMax
®
module at the beginning
and end of a module row. For Power-
Max
®
modules at the beginning or end
of the PV system, clamps without the
45 degrees parts can be used. Other
parts such as steel bolts, nuts etc.
should be delivered by the customer
and these should all have a minimum
coating as described in the AVANCIS
clamp document.
• In order to install a second module, make
sure that the clamps are placed over the
mounting lip of the first module and
slide the second module towards the
first module. The mounting lip of the
second module will automatically lift
the clamp and the clamp will go down
again after the mounting lip of this
module is also under the clamp. Finally,
fix the clamp when the second module
is positioned in the right way.
• The clamps must be approved in writing
by AVANCIS prior to installation. See the
list of approved mounting hardware at
www.avan cis.de. A paper copy of this
list can be ordered from AVANCIS on
request. Do not apply pressure on any
other position than described here.
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