ELECTRICAL LINE DIAGRAMS

Balance of System components are the components that make the PV system work. This training will help you become familiar with these components as they relate to designing a PV system.

1 | READING LINE DIAGRAMS

Reading a line diagram can seem daunting at first, until you understand some of the basic symbols.

MODULES & INVERTERS

• Modules are represented by the larger rectangles

• Inverters are the boxes with the special symbols

COMBINER BOXES

• Combiner box renders as seen on the right.

• Notice the symbol for breaker in the red box.

PV METERS

Rendered very similarly to how the utility meter is rendered.

NON-FUSIBLE AC DISCONNECT

• Represented as seen to the right.

• Notice the symbol for a manual switch in the red box.

FUSIBLE AC DISCONNECT

• Represented as seen to the right.

• Notice the symbol for fuses in the red box.

METER & MSP

• Notice that the PV meter and the utility billing meter are rendered similarly.

• The MSP is the larger box with the breakers labeled as existing(E) Loads.

  • Note the symbol for breaker in the red box.

WIRES

• Live wires are labeled as “L1,” and “L2”

• Neutral is labeled as “N”

• Ground wire is labeled as “EGC” and represented as a dotted line

Now you know the basics of reading an electrical diagram and interconnection!