In the solar industry, modules and inverters get all the glory. But everything else—collectively known as the Balance of System (BOS)—is what makes the plant actually work safely and reliably.
BOS components include:
• Cabling: Specialized UV-protected DC cables to handle outdoor exposure, and AC cables for grid connection.
• Protection Devices: DC and AC Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) to guard against lightning spikes, and fuses/breakers for overcurrent protection.
• Earthing & Lightning Protection: A dedicated network to ground all metallic structures and divert lightning strikes safely to earth.
• Monitoring Hardware: Data loggers and weather sensors.
Why does BOS matter? A failure in a simple connector or a poorly terminated cable is the most common cause of fire and system failure in PV plants. While BOS represents a smaller fraction of the cost, it governs the electrical integrity and operational life (25 years) of the entire investment. Correct selection of BOS is the mark of a quality installation.
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