Lightning protection for power inverters

US8531803B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SMA Solar Technology AG · DE

Inventors

• Andreas Falk · Kassel, DE
• Gerold Schulze · Kassel, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 17, 2011
• Grant date: Sep 10, 2013
• Expiry date: Jun 22, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H02H9/04
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An inverter includes two input lines for connecting the inverter to an AC power source, a buffer capacitance effective between the input lines, a grounded potential equalization busbar, an isolation monitoring device monitoring the electrical isolation of one of the two input lines with regard to the potential equalization busbar, and an overvoltage eliminating device having at least one overvoltage eliminator for draining overvoltages from the input lines to the potential equalization busbar. The at least one overvoltage eliminator is connected between that input line, whose electric isolation with regard to the potential equalization busbar is monitored, and the potential equalization busbar, without any fuse being connected in series with the at least one overvoltage eliminator. Any overvoltage eliminator of the overvoltage eliminating device, which is connected between the other of the two input lines and the potential equalization busbar, if present, is connected in series with a fuse.