Solar Energy Wiki topic
Equipment
Solar hardware and system components.
42 published concepts
Evidence through 2026-05-15 · 22 members have no source-event date
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Starting points
Begin with these concepts
- Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics is the conversion of sunlight into electricity using semiconductor materials in solar cells.
- Residential photovoltaic system
A residential photovoltaic system is a set of photovoltaic modules and supporting electrical equipment configured to supply electricity for a home.
- Solar inverter
A solar inverter is equipment that converts direct-current electricity from a photovoltaic system into alternating-current electricity.
Published directory
All equipment concepts
42 total
- Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics is the conversion of sunlight into electricity using semiconductor materials in solar cells.
GS-CONCEPT-002 - Residential photovoltaic system
A residential photovoltaic system is a set of photovoltaic modules and supporting electrical equipment configured to supply electricity for a home.
GS-CONCEPT-003 - Photovoltaic module
A photovoltaic module is an assembly of connected photovoltaic cells that produces direct-current electricity from sunlight.
GS-CONCEPT-004 - Solar inverter
A solar inverter is equipment that converts direct-current electricity from a photovoltaic system into alternating-current electricity.
GS-CONCEPT-005 - Solar battery storage
Solar battery storage stores electricity associated with a solar energy system for use at another time.
GS-CONCEPT-006 - Solar array
A solar array is an electrically connected group of photovoltaic modules configured to operate as part of one photovoltaic system.
GS-CONCEPT-022 - Roof-mounted photovoltaic system
A roof-mounted photovoltaic system is a photovoltaic system whose module array and mounting structure are installed on a building roof.
GS-CONCEPT-023 - Ground-mounted photovoltaic system
A ground-mounted photovoltaic system supports a photovoltaic array on a structure anchored to the ground rather than to a roof.
GS-CONCEPT-024 - String inverter
A string inverter converts direct-current electricity from one or more series-connected groups of photovoltaic modules into alternating-current electricity.
GS-CONCEPT-025 - Microinverter
A microinverter is an inverter installed at an individual photovoltaic module to convert that module's direct-current output into alternating current.
GS-CONCEPT-026 - Building-integrated photovoltaics
Building-integrated photovoltaics are photovoltaic materials or products that also perform a building-envelope function such as roofing, glazing, or facade cladding.
GS-CONCEPT-027 - Photovoltaic racking system
A photovoltaic racking system is the structural mounting assembly that supports and positions photovoltaic modules on a roof, the ground, or another structure.
GS-CONCEPT-028 - Smart solar inverter
A smart solar inverter is an inverter with communication and grid-support functions in addition to direct-current to alternating-current conversion.
GS-CONCEPT-029 - Electrical service panel upgrade
An electrical service panel upgrade replaces or modifies service equipment so the electrical installation can meet the requirements of the proposed work and applicable code.
GS-CONCEPT-030 - Battery energy capacity
Battery energy capacity is the amount of electrical energy a battery system is specified or demonstrated to store under stated conditions.
GS-CONCEPT-044 - Usable battery capacity
Usable battery capacity is the portion of stored energy made available between the system's allowed upper and lower state-of-charge limits under specified conditions.
GS-CONCEPT-045 - Battery power rating
Battery power rating is the rate at which a battery system can charge or discharge electrical energy under stated operating limits.
GS-CONCEPT-046 - Battery depth of discharge
Battery depth of discharge is the fraction or percentage of a stated battery capacity that has been withdrawn relative to a defined full condition.
GS-CONCEPT-047 - Battery round-trip efficiency
Battery round-trip efficiency is delivered discharge energy divided by charge energy over a defined charge-and-discharge test boundary.
GS-CONCEPT-048 - Battery state of charge
Battery state of charge estimates the energy remaining in a battery relative to a defined available or rated capacity.
GS-CONCEPT-049 - Residential backup power
Residential backup power is electricity supplied to selected or whole-home loads when normal utility service is unavailable, using equipment configured for that operating mode.
GS-CONCEPT-051 - Critical loads panel
A critical loads panel is a distribution panel or designated load grouping arranged so selected circuits can be supplied by a backup power system.
GS-CONCEPT-052 - DC power optimizer
NREL documents DC power optimizers as module-level power electronics and lists module-level monitoring and troubleshooting as a supported capability.
GS-CONCEPT-101 - Hybrid solar inverter
NREL SAM describes a hybrid inverter as an inverter with inputs for both a photovoltaic array and battery.
GS-CONCEPT-102 - Battery inverter
NREL SAM places a DC-connected battery on the DC side of a hybrid photovoltaic inverter.
GS-CONCEPT-103 - Solar charge controller
Morningstar identifies SunGuard as a solar battery charge controller.
GS-CONCEPT-104 - Photovoltaic rapid-shutdown equipment
UL describes PV rapid-shutdown system equipment as equipment used with other PV-system equipment to perform rapid-shutdown functions.
GS-CONCEPT-105 - Photovoltaic combiner box
DOE lists combiner boxes as balance-of-system hardware.
GS-CONCEPT-106 - Photovoltaic DC disconnect
DOE lists disconnects as balance-of-system hardware.
GS-CONCEPT-107 - Photovoltaic AC disconnect
Enphase describes a dedicated AC disconnect switch located in series with a combined PV inverter circuit.
GS-CONCEPT-108 - Photovoltaic source circuit
NFPA's 2018 revision defines a PV source circuit as DC conductors between modules and from modules to DC combiners, electronic power converters, or a DC PV system disconnecting means.
GS-CONCEPT-109 - Photovoltaic output circuit
NFPA's 2018 revision defines a PV output circuit as DC conductors between PV source circuits and an inverter or DC utilization equipment.
GS-CONCEPT-110 - Roof-mount attachment
DOE's rack-mounted-systems guide describes mounting feet, struts, bolts, and attachments at roof penetrations.
GS-CONCEPT-111 - Solar roof flashing
DOE's rack-mounted-systems guide discusses flashing where roof-mounted system penetrations are used.
GS-CONCEPT-112 - Photovoltaic grounding
DOE identifies grounding as a safety feature to incorporate in photovoltaic-system equipment.
GS-CONCEPT-113 - Equipment bonding
NFPA's photovoltaic draft text describes identified devices used for bonding PV module frames.
GS-CONCEPT-114 - Photovoltaic conduit
DOE identifies electrical conduits as part of its photovoltaic electrical-equipment considerations.
GS-CONCEPT-115 - Photovoltaic junction box
DOE says a photovoltaic module is fitted with a junction box where ribbons connect to diodes.
GS-CONCEPT-116 - Photovoltaic wire
DOE says electrical cables from a module junction box convey the current produced by the module.
GS-CONCEPT-117 - Solar generation meter
DOE says metering energy generation for a solar photovoltaic system is important to operations and maintenance.
GS-CONCEPT-118 - Revenue-grade meter
DOE's PV monitoring diagram compares a production model with data measured from a production meter.
GS-CONCEPT-119 - Battery management system
DOE describes a solar-building prototype that interfaces with an adaptive battery management system.
GS-CONCEPT-120
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