Socomec Launches New Product Range In Solar Pv

GURGAON, India - July 17, 2013 - PRLog -- Socomec group founded in 1922 – a France based Electrical Switching and Energy Performance specialist, with over 90 years of enriching experience has just upgraded their Switching product offer  that includes contemporary variants of an already versatile range of PV switches, Fuse Bases and Links and Surge suppression devices. Socomec has had been an acclaimed brand in Europe, as well as in US for the head start that they had achieved on account of being associated with leading Solar PV renewable-energy power plants

The products have been designed, leveraging one of the best international R&D exposure, exclusively for Solar PV market. The switching range starts from 25A and goes all the way to 1250A to address all manner of diverse applications

Socomec is renowned for the path breaking research into specialized arc-chamber design of Solar PV switches, that need to withstand the potentially damaging effects of DC arc encountered during photo-voltaic switching applications

Safety is a foremost concern in Power generation, since an unsafe installation leads to

·Unanticipated down times lowering PLF
·Plant operation getting adversely affected
·Human Safety getting compromised
While dealing with low voltage systems of AC in an Industrial or Commercial setup, a lot of research & analysis might have gone in to secure and enhance electrical safety associated with over loads; short circuits; earth faults or with residual currents impacting human & devices safety. Consequently the device selection criterion is well established, resulting in very advanced, feature rich and robust devices getting specified in the Bill of quantities of associated tender. There is no room to compromise or dilute that

How much paradoxical or trivial it may seem, but that is the ground reality
Imagine, unlike in a typical Industry or Commercial site wherein most of the distribution is on 415V AC, in case of Solar PV one has to deal with no less than 1000V  not to mention the deleterious effect of Direct current !

Secondly, due to sheer economical considerations PV plants are expected to run endlessly for a span of 30 yrs or so. This will naturally require a well thought of engineering scheme, incorporating an appropriate equipment selection process

According to IEC 60364 (Part 7-7-712), the characteristics must withstand over currents up to 1.25 times the rated short-circuit current (Isc, Stc) modules

As a global specialist in field of Switching technology, Socomec today has the widest product offering for Solar PV safety encompassing PV Isolators, PV fuse bases and associated cylindrical / knife edge type links, Surge suppressors and some other innovative product groups

Beginning with the 40mw Gujarat project of Adani power, wherein more than 5000 Socomec PV switches are mounted in the Array junction boxes supplied by leading PV system integrator Trinity Touch, Socomec truly has come a long way ! Our switches have been supplied for diverse PV power generation applications, not just Solar parks but also for Commercial roof tops. It gives us great pride to have been a sub-contractor to leading EPC companies in this field, Lanco, LnT Solar, Juvi Solar, Welspun Solar, Jakson and Vikram Solar, to name a few

Recently Socomec 1250A Sirco PV switches have been supplied for a prestigious project, further consolidating the amount of faith Solar fraternity reposes in Socomec brand

Let us now talk about protection from imminent threat of lightening strokes, as the Solar PV plants are generally located in areas with enhanced annual flash rates. Socomec’s SURGYS PV surge suppressors are available both in DC and AC versions, ensuring comprehensive protection against transient over voltages encountered during lightning strokes

The Indian PV market is still in the initial stages. Come to think of it, just 1.7GW has been commissioned out of projected capacity generation of 20GW by 2022 !  It is no surprise that there remains a stark difference between the O & M practices followed in Solar PV field, the ones currently followed in India as opposed to the prevailing practices among European countries, that have gained semblance of maturity

Whereas in the Indian context, manually operated Solar PV Load break Isolators are commonly used, among Solar developed countries, there is lesser manual intervention, instead the corresponding device used is more often “Motorized PV Isolator” for its obvious advantages. Of course there is an Auto/ Manual selector switch, including provision of a manual emergency handle

Stretching the concept of safe Solar PV power availability under the most demanding operational conditions, Socomec has also launched a unique product named SIRCOVER PV, that is basically a versatile range of manually operated changeover switch for PV applications, ensuring source inversion under load of two photovoltaic installation circuits

Latest in  range of contemporary switching devices from Socomec

Ø  SIRCO MOT PV– The motorized multipolar load break switches, that make and break under load conditions and provide safety isolation for any low voltage circuit dedicated to photovoltaic applications

· With a manual emergency operation
· Padlocking in “0” position
· Auto/ Manual selector
· In 3 or 4 poles, from 200A through 630A
· Range of Optional accessories, namely Aux contact, Terminal screens and Shrouds

Ø  SIRCOVER PV – They ensure source inversion or changeover under load conditions, between two photovoltaic installation circuits  

·          With 3 stable positions (I,O,II) and ease to switch from one to the other

·          Possibility of Direct front OR External operation with shaft

·          In 3 or 4 poles, from 200A through 630A

·          Range of Optional accessories, namely Aux contact, Terminal screens and Shrouds

Apart from the above latest ranges, Socomec  switching range starts from 25A and goes all the way to 1250A to address all manner of diverse applications from Solar PV Roof top installation through Megawatt scale state of art Solar power plants