If you’re thinking about installing solar panels at your home or place of business, you may want to invest in solar fuses. Also known as photovoltaic (PV) fuses, they play an important role in protecting solar power equipment from damage. If an overcurrent event occurs, the solar fuses will disrupt the flow of electricity so that your equipment remains safe.
Overview of Solar Fuses
Solar fuses are electrical safety devices that are designed to protect solar power equipment from overcurrent-related damage.
Solar power systems, of course, generate electricity from sunlight. The panels made of a PV material — typically silicon. When exposed to sunlight, these panels will release their electrons to generate electricity. If they generate too much electricity, however, damage may occur. Solar fuses are designed to protect against such damage by regulating the current.
How Solar Fuses Work
Unlike circuit breakers, fuses typically aren’t reusable. Rather, fuses work by breaking or “blowing,” after which they must be replaced.
Most solar fuses, as well as other types of fuses, contain a thin wire or conductive element in the center. This wire or conductive element will only allow a certain amount of current to flow through it. If the current exceeds this amount, the wire or conductive element will physically break. Electricity will no longer be able to travel through the blown fuse, meaning the solar power equipment will be protected from overcurrent.
Solar fuses consist of the following components:
- Body: The main casing that houses the terminals and element.
- Terminals: The conductive ends of a fuse that connect to the solar power circuit.
- Element: A thin wire or metal strip that melts during an overcurrent event.
Overcurrent will cause the element in a solar fuse to break. This breakage will open the circuit so that electricity can no longer reach the equipment to which the fuse is connected.
Where Solar Fuses Are Located
You can find solar fuses in different locations. One of the most common locations is between the charge controller and the battery bank. The charge controller is a device that manages or controls the current going from the solar panels to the battery bank. The battery bank, on the other hand, is simply a collection of batteries that store the panels’ electricity. Many solar power systems have a fuse between the charge controller and battery bank.
Another common location for solar fuses is between the solar panels and the charge controller. If a solar panel generates too much electricity, it may damage the charge controller to which it’s connected. With a solar fuse, though, the charge controller will be safe from such damage.