Solar Rapid Shutdown

Reliability Safety Capacity

Photovoltaic(PV) Rapid Shutdown

With the increase in photovoltaic systems, more and more firefighters are requiring the installation of “fire switches” to reduce the risk of electrocution when working in photovoltaic systems.

Since PV systems are electrically charged equipment, the voltage is high when generating electricity, and there is always current in the equipment and circuit, in previous PV system fire accidents, even if the grid power is turned off and the inverter is automatically shut down, the wire from the module to the inverter or controller is still charged, and the DC high voltage is a huge potential hazard to personal safety.

In an emergency, the Rapid Shutdown (RSD) function reduces the module voltage to a safe voltage to achieve rapid shutdown at the module level, providing a higher level of personal safety for owners, installation and maintenance personnel, and firefighters.

600w 800w Solar Smart power Optimizer

Photovoltaic Rapid Shutdown

Leading Features

  • CSA, RoHs, TUV certification
  • Meets NEC 2017 690.12 standard
  • Temperature Range:-40℃~+85℃
  • Temperature over 85℃ can be cut off
  • Voltage drops to less than 80V in 30 seconds
  • Meets SunSpec standards
  • 20-year design life
  • Ingress Protection Rating:IP68
  • Waterproof terminal PG9
  • Snap-on mounting

Technical Specifications

Rapid Shutdown Manual

DC Input Max input voltage 60V DC Output Max system voltage 1500V
Max continuous input current 15A Size 106*105*22(MM)
Anti-reverse connection protection Yes Cable 4mm^2
Night time standby power loss 0 Installation specifications Connector pv-xlc4-001 pv-xlc4-002
Certification TUV Certificate CN2151BR 001 Operating temperature -40℃ ~ +85℃
CSA Certificate CoFC_80073219 Protection level IP68
RoHs Certificate Certified

What is Rapid Shutdown (RSD)?

The concept of rapid shutdown of PV system is to quickly shut down the connection between each PV module and module, which is proposed by the National Electrical Code (NEC). And has gone through the following stages of development.

1, in 2014 the NEC2014 690.12 version of the “module-level self-shutdown solution” standard was released, that is, the rapid shutdown of photovoltaic systems to make the requirements.

2, 2017 version of the NEC 690.12, this rapid shutdown again made strict requirements, the provisions will be effective in January 2019, updated the PV rapid shutdown system (PVRSS) requirements. The most significant change relates to the voltage inside the array. The most common way to achieve the provisions of the distance to the PV matrix 305mm as the boundary, within 30S after the start of the rapid shutdown device, the voltage outside the boundary range to 30V or less, the boundary range of voltage reduction to 80V or less, that is, the requirement to achieve “component-level shutdown.

3, the latest 2020 version of the standard, the “fast shutdown” argument further revised and expanded to propose a “photovoltaic hazard control systems” (PV hazard control systems). The new standard requires PV systems with “PV hazard control systems”, so that the PV system in a critical situation is a controllable state, that is to say, you can use the “PV hazard control systems”, to achieve component-level shutdown, after the rapid shutdown start Within 30S, the voltage within the boundary line is reduced to below 80V.

Why is Rapid Shutdown (RSD) important?

As DC arcs are more difficult to extinguish, while PV technology continues to advance, the power levels and current voltages of PV products continue to increase. PV systems have been upgraded from the initial 600V design to 1000V and higher voltages to 1500V, with higher voltages more likely to cause a fire. After a system fire, it will still produce hundreds or even thousands of volts of high voltage.

If firefighters rashly give help, it will pose a great threat to the firefighters’ life safety. That’s why rapid component-level shutdown is imperative. Firefighters can quickly cut off the connection between the components, the power station to implement a safe rescue.

How to achieve Rapid Shutdown (RSD)?

The Rapid Shutdown function requires two devices – a signal transmitter and some receivers.

The transmitter is responsible for transmitting the rapid shutdown power line signal to the DC conductors between the PV module array and the inverter, and the receiver is responsible for detecting the signal on these conductors at:

When the signal is present, the receiver remains inactive and the module operates normally.

When the signal disappears, the receiver is responsible for reducing the PV module array voltage to below the standard limit within a specified time period, thus enabling the rapid shutdown function.

Why is the DC arc harmful? What is the difference with the AC arc?

In the AC system, the arc is not a problem, because when the voltage alternation, the AC arc tends to self-extinguishing, for the standard 50HZ grid through 0 volts per second a hundred times. In order for the arc to be self-sustaining, the conditions for starting the arc must exist continuously. DC is maintained at a continuous voltage, once the arc is established, it will continue to exist as long as the DC voltage exists.

It is because the DC arc does not cross the zero point that the AC arc crosses the zero point. AC arc in the voltage over zero when easy to extinguish, DC arc without voltage over zero phenomenon than the AC arc more difficult to extinguish. And photovoltaic power plants are DC systems so that leads to PV module-level rapid shutdown so important.

What is the difference between Arc Fault Detection (AFDD) and Photovoltaic Rapid Shutdown System (PVRSS)?

Distributed photovoltaic power plant DC arc pulling fault detection monitor rapid shutdown device AFDD functional characteristics and program design. That is to say, AFDD is only to complete the detection and monitoring of DC arc pulling in photovoltaic power plants, found the existence of the arc, the need to complete the rapid shutdown of the component level to eliminate further disasters. This is the PV power plant PV module-level rapid shutdown technology PV module-level rapid shutdown device (PVRSS) controlled to complete the rapid shutdown of the module level.

Why is PV fast shutdown so important? What is the difference between PV Rapid Shutdown Equipment (PVRSE) and PV Rapid Shutdown System (PVRSS)?

PV arrays are typically installed on residential and commercial properties. While PV array equipment needs to be certified (third-party authoritative test reports) to ensure safety from electric shock and fire risks, these certifications do not take into account all the specific interactions firefighters may have with them working around the array during a fire.

Firefighters may be exposed to electric shock hazards while performing their duties. The PV Rapid Shutdown System (PVRSS) provides a way for firefighters to stop or reduce the voltage and current of the PV array so they can protect themselves from electrical hazards while still doing their jobs effectively.

Safety standards for inverters, converters, controllers, and interconnect system equipment used in distributed energy resources define PV Rapid Shutdown Equipment (PVRSE) and PV Rapid Shutdown Systems (PVRSS) as follows

PVRSE – Equipment used in a PVRSS to start, disconnect, isolate, or attenuate controlled conductors of a PV system.

PVRSS – A system consisting of PVRSEs used for starting, communicating, and controlling in addition to disconnecting, isolating, or attenuating the controlled conductors of the PV system.

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