SunSine300 AC module. Annual report, July 25, 1995--December 31, 1996

Abstract

Under Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) 4A1, Ascension Technology (AT) is developing the SunSine300 AC PV module. AT`s goals in this project are to meet Underwriters Laboratory (UL) 1741 requirements, obtain Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Class B verification, complete the AC module system design and development, advance the inverter design, design for manufacture, design for reliability, design for serviceability, and demonstrate commercialization through production and sale of about 100 units. To meet these goals, AT corrected a number of deficiencies identified by UL`s preliminary investigation before proceeding to the full UL investigation; a SunSine300 prototype was tested and found to comply with FCC Class B requirements; AT designed a complete line of balance-of-systems hardware for the SunSine 300; AT`s design and performance advancements include accomplishing a total harmonic distortion drop from 5% to 2%, devising a method to eliminate false detection of zero crossings that could damage the inverter, improving the anti-islanding with the addition of AT`s proprietary ZEBRA technique, and redesigning the enclosure for thermal performance, manufacturability, and UL and FCC approval; performing extensive testing in Phase 2 to discover failure modes and susceptibility to aging; and designing the SunSine300 to be easily and safely serviced. 3 figs., 3 tabs.