Hi Drake; No, I don't have answers, just more of your same concerns. I had a high altitude (12,500 ft) installation damaged recently, possibly by a solar flare in Feb; we lost a C40 charge controller. At this point, I don't know if the flare was the cause or not, but I would expect more problems at higher altitudes. So far, my internet research says that the panels and batteries would be ok, but we might expect damage to electronics similar to the induced high voltages caused by lightning. Would grounding help? (I, too, also considered the Faraday cage....)
NASA is predicting the solar storm of a generation for 2012-2013, and I read of a similar EMP incident in the 1800s that set telegraph equipment on fire. I think very long utility lines and transformers at the ends of those lines are the most vulnerable, so this could be more of GridTie issue? R. Walters r...@solarray.com Solar Engineer On Mar 19, 2011, at 8:53 AM, Drake wrote: > Hello Wrenches, > > I had an inquiry concerning the effect of EMP on photovoltaic systems. We > are heading for a period of solar activity that likely will produce this > effect. According to a local AEP (American Electric Power) representative, > the utility is spending a lot of money to counter this anticipated problem. > Additionally, nuclear related issues are moving back to the front burner. > > It is clear that the pulse would damage an inverter, but possibly it could be > put in a Faraday cage. But a number of questions arise. > Would the pulse damage the modules? > Could the large currents and voltages induced by EMP damage the conductors in > the cells? > Even if the inverters were surrounded by a Faraday cage, would induced > currents & voltages from the modules harm the inverters? > Would series fuses and surge protectors be adequate protection. > Has any research been done in this area? Does anyone know answers to any of > these questions? > > Thanks, > > Drake > > Drake Chamberlin > Athens Electric > OH License 44810 > CO license 3773 > NABCEP Certified PV > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org >
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