Abstract: A solar assembly includes an electrical connection and junction box and a solar cell module. The junction box has an electrically conducting structure including an electrical conductor path. The solar cell module has an electrical conductive strip. A flexible electric conductor is connected with the conductor path and is materially bonded with the conductive strip in an electrically conducting manner such that the conductor path electrically contacts the conductive strip via the electric conductor.

Abstract: An electric device includes a housing and a cable. The housing has a pipe bracket disposed on the housing. The pipe bracket includes an interior pathway extending from a free-end of the pipe bracket into the housing. The free-end of the pipe bracket has teeth thereon. The cable has a union nut and a sleeve. The sleeve has a crimped section attached to the cable such that the crimped section is non-displaceable. The sleeve further has a toothed annular surface. In an installed state of the cable to the housing, a feedthrough portion of the cable extends through the interior pathway of the pipe bracket and into the housing. The union nut encompasses the sleeve and is attached to the pipe bracket to thereby press the toothed annular surface of the sleeve against the teeth of the pipe bracket such that the cable is fixed rotationally to the housing.

Abstract: A photovoltaic installation includes a photovoltaic generator, electrical connector lines, an enabling signal source, and an arc discharge detector. The generator is configured to generate a DC voltage when an enable signal is applied to the generator. The electrical connector lines connect the generator to a voltage converter for the voltage converter to receive the DC voltage from the generator. The enabling signal source is configured to apply the enable signal to the generator. The arc discharge detector is configured to detect for an arc discharge by detecting for the presence on the connector lines of an AC voltage signal having characteristics indicative of an arc discharge. The arc discharge detector is further configured to cause the enabling signal source to stop applying the enable signal to the generator when an arc discharge is detected.

Abstract: A circuit for a phase connection of an inverter includes upper and lower bridge halves and respectively associated upper and lower bridge segments. Each bridge half has an outer switch and an inner switch connected in series. Each bridge segment has a diode and the inner switch of the associated bridge half connected in series. An output of the circuit is respectively connected to upper and lower potentials through the outer switches and is further connected to a center potential applied between the upper and lower potentials through each of the upper and lower bridge segments. Each bridge half further has a parallel power switch. The parallel switch of each bridge half is connected in parallel to the series-connected outer and inner switches of the bridge half. The output of the circuit is further respectively connected to the upper and lower potentials through the parallel switches.

Abstract: A frequency converter assembly includes a frequency converter, a motor, and an intermediate component. The frequency converter includes a converter housing with an opening. The motor includes a motor having a motor housing with a terminal block. The intermediate component is attached to the motor housing around the terminal block and is attached to the converter housing such that the intermediate component is between the housings with the terminal block being accessible through the opening of the converter housing.

Abstract: A photovoltaic inverter having an inverter bridge section, a first output, a second output, and a power switch. The inverter bridge section is operable for converting DC electrical energy into AC electrical energy. The inverter bridge section has an output for outputting the AC electrical energy. The power switch is connected to the output of the inverter bridge section, the first output, and the second output. The power switch is selectively switchable between a first state in which the output of the inverter bridge section is connected to the first output via the power switch and a second state in which the output of the inverter bridge section is connected to the second output via the power switch.

Abstract: A circuit for a phase connection of an inverter includes upper and lower bridge halves and respectively associated upper and lower bridge segments. Each bridge half has an outer switch and an inner switch connected in series. Each bridge segment has a diode and the inner switch of the associated bridge half connected in series. An output of the circuit is respectively connected to upper and lower potentials through the outer switches and is further connected to a center potential applied between the upper and lower potentials through each of the upper and lower bridge segments. Each bridge half further has a parallel power switch. The parallel switch of each bridge half is connected in parallel to the series-connected outer and inner switches of the bridge half. The output of the circuit is further respectively connected to the upper and lower potentials through the parallel switches.

Abstract: A photovoltaic installation includes a photovoltaic generator, electrical connector lines, an enabling signal source, and an arc discharge detector. The generator is configured to generate a DC voltage when an enable signal is applied to the generator. The electrical connector lines connect the generator to a voltage converter for the voltage converter to receive the DC voltage from the generator. The enabling signal source is configured to apply the enable signal to the generator. The arc discharge detector is configured to detect for an arc discharge by detecting for the presence on the connector lines of an AC voltage signal having characteristics indicative of an arc discharge. The arc discharge detector is further configured to cause the enabling signal source to stop applying the enable signal to the generator when an arc discharge is detected.

Abstract: A multichannel bidirectional DC converter includes first and second parallel current channels and a controller. The first channel has a first inductor, first and second switches, and a device operable for detecting a current null passage (zero crossing) of current of the first inductor. The second channel has a second inductor and third and fourth switches. The controller controls the switches to turn on and off such that the channels can be driven in either a boost converter mode or a buck converter mode at a given time. The controller is operable with the device of the first channel for detecting a period of the current null passage of the first inductor. The controller drives the channels with a time delay with respect to one another based on the detected period such that the channels operate in a critical conduction mode.

Abstract: A photovoltaic power system includes module strings each having photovoltaic modules connected in series. The power system further includes a generator terminal box having DC converters. The power system further includes a generator main connection line and an AC inverter. Each module string is electrically connected to a respective one of the DC converters for the module string to provide a DC voltage generated by the photovoltaic modules of the module string to the respective DC converter. The DC converters output a combined DC voltage based on the DC voltages from the module strings to the AC inverter via the generator main connection line for the AC inverter to transform the combined DC voltage into an AC voltage. The generator terminal box and the AC converter are spatially separate from one another.

Abstract: An electric device includes a housing and a cable. The housing has a pipe bracket disposed on the housing. The pipe bracket includes an interior pathway extending from a free-end of the pipe bracket into the housing. The free-end of the pipe bracket has teeth thereon. The cable has a union nut and a sleeve. The sleeve has a crimped section attached to the cable such that the crimped section is non-displaceable. The sleeve further has a toothed annular surface. In an installed state of the cable to the housing, a feedthrough portion of the cable extends through the interior pathway of the pipe bracket and into the housing. The union nut encompasses the sleeve and is attached to the pipe bracket to thereby press the toothed annular surface of the sleeve against the teeth of the pipe bracket such that the cable is fixed rotationally to the housing.

Abstract: An assembly includes a frequency converter, a motor, and an adapter. The frequency converter and the motor both have housings with an opening. The adapter has a base part and a circuit board having first and second electrical connecting elements supported over a portion of a central opening of the base part. The adapter is between the housings with the central opening being between the openings of the housings. The base part is mechanically connected to the housings with the first electrical connecting element of the adapter engaging an electrical connecting element of the frequency converter via the opening of the converter housing and the central opening and with the second electrical connecting element of the adapter engaging an electrical connecting element of the motor via the opening of the motor housing and the central opening whereby the frequency converter and the motor are connected via the adapter.

Abstract: A solar assembly includes an electrical connection and junction box and a solar cell module. The junction box has an electrically conducting structure including an electrical conductor path. The solar cell module has an electrical conductive strip. A flexible electric conductor is connected with the conductor path and is materially bonded with the conductive strip in an electrically conducting manner such that the conductor path electrically contacts the conductive strip via the electric conductor.

Abstract: An electric receptacle and junction box for a solar cell module includes an enclosure base and an enclosure cover. The base has a first connector element for electrically contacting a strip conductor of a solar cell module, and a first conductor rail electrically connected to the first connector element. The cover has a second connector element for electrically contacting an output line, and a second conductor rail electrically connected to the second connector element. The first connector element and the first conductor rail are rigidly mechanically connected to the base. The second connector element and the second conductor rail are rigidly mechanically connected to the cover. Electrical contact is made between the first connector element and the first conductor rail and the second connector element and the second conductor rail in response to the enclosure cover and the enclosure base being joined together.

Abstract: A frequency converter assembly includes a frequency converter, a motor, and an intermediate component. The frequency converter includes a converter housing with an opening. The motor includes a motor having a motor housing with a terminal block. The intermediate component is attached to the motor housing around the terminal block and is attached to the converter housing such that the intermediate component is between the housings with the terminal block being accessible through the opening of the converter housing.

Abstract: A method of controlling a direct current (“DC”) chopper controller having a switch and a storage choke in which the choke has a current dependent on the switching of the switch on and off includes the following. A current variable derived from one of the time averaged value of the current of the choke and the peak value of the current of the choke is determined. A switching frequency for synchronizing the turning on and off the switch is calculated as a function of the current variable and on whether the current variable exceeds a current threshold. The switching frequency is determined to be a predetermined low frequency if the switching frequency is lower than the low frequency and is determined to be a predetermined high frequency if the switching frequency is greater than the high frequency. The switch is switched on and off in accordance with the switching frequency.

Abstract: An electric receptacle and junction box for a solar cell module includes an enclosure base and an enclosure cover. The base has a first connector element for electrically contacting a strip conductor of a solar cell module, and a first conductor rail electrically connected to the first connector element. The cover has a second connector element for electrically contacting an output line, and a second conductor rail electrically connected to the second connector element. The first connector element and the first conductor rail are rigidly mechanically connected to the base. The second connector element and the second conductor rail are rigidly mechanically connected to the cover. Electrical contact is made between the first connector element and the first conductor rail and the second connector element and the second conductor rail in response to the enclosure cover and the enclosure base being joined together.

Abstract: A photovoltaic power system includes module strings each having photovoltaic modules connected in series. The power system further includes a generator terminal box having DC converters. The power system further includes a generator main connection line and an AC inverter. Each module string is electrically connected to a respective one of the DC converters for the module string to provide a DC voltage generated by the photovoltaic modules of the module string to the respective DC converter. The DC converters output a combined DC voltage based on the DC voltages from the module strings to the AC inverter via the generator main connection line for the AC inverter to transform the combined DC voltage into an AC voltage. The generator terminal box and the AC converter are spatially separate from one another.

Abstract: A photovoltaic inverter having an inverter bridge section, a first output, a second output, and a power switch. The inverter bridge section is operable for converting DC electrical energy into AC electrical energy. The inverter bridge section has an output for outputting the AC electrical energy. The power switch is connected to the output of the inverter bridge section, the first output, and the second output. The power switch is selectively switchable between a first state in which the output of the inverter bridge section is connected to the first output via the power switch and a second state in which the output of the inverter bridge section is connected to the second output via the power switch.

Abstract: A multichannel bidirectional DC converter includes first and second parallel current channels and a controller. The first channel has a first inductor, first and second switches, and a device operable for detecting a current null passage (zero crossing) of current of the first inductor. The second channel has a second inductor and third and fourth switches. The controller controls the switches to turn on and off such that the channels can be driven in either a boost converter mode or a buck converter mode at a given time. The controller is operable with the device of the first channel for detecting a period of the current null passage of the first inductor. The controller drives the channels with a time delay with respect to one another based on the detected period such that the channels operate in a critical conduction mode.