SMA Enhances Safety, Serviceability with New Disconnect Unit

Large-Scale Solution Provides Full NEC Compliance in a Single Enclosure

ROCKLIN, Calif. and TORONTO, April 17, 2012—SMA has announced the availability of its Disconnect Unit, which provides additional safety and increased serviceability to any large-scale photovoltaic (PV) system. SMA's UL-Certified Disconnect Unit fully complies with NEC 2011 safety standards and is compatible with Sunny Central inverters in 600V to 1000V arrays.


The Disconnect Unit provides maximum safety by disconnecting the direct current (DC) input and alternating current (AC) output from the inverter in case of maintenance or emergency. Load-break switches are mounted on a single switchboard, working under full load conditions and ampacity reserves required by NEC 2011. Lockable switch handles are located on the front of the cabinet, making it easy to identify switch status.

By housing both the DC and AC disconnecting means in one enclosure, scheduled maintenance is easier and more efficient.

"In addition to the exceptional protection that it provides, the Disconnect Unit is specifically made for use with PV inverters," said Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager of SMA America and president of SMA Canada. "Its pre-engineered design eliminates the need for separate DC and AC disconnects intended for general electrical purposes."

The SMA Disconnect Unit can be configured with Sunny Central inverters, including those from the High Efficiency and Compact Power lines. Applicable models include the Sunny Central 250-US and 500-US, 500HE-US/CA, 500CP/630CP/720CP/760CP and 800CP. A Sunny Central inverter and Disconnect Unit can be specified together for independent installation or as part of the SMA MV Power Platform pre-packaged solution.

The SMA Disconnect Unit is available with optional AC load-break-rated disconnect switches for use with the Sunny Central 250-US and 500-US, or with optional AC circuit breakers for use with the Sunny Central 500HE-US/CA and Compact Power line of inverters.

Additional SMA Disconnect Unit attributes include a NEMA 3R-rated enclosure; operating temperatures of -25 C to 50 C; and a lock-out, tag-out safety system. It also is extendable to up to six switch-disconnectors and is available with or without AC disconnecting means.

About SMA
SMA Solar Technology AG is the global market leader for solar inverters. The SMA Group generated sales of €1.9 billion in 2010. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented in 19 countries on four different continents. The Group employs a staff of more than 5,300 worldwide, plus a number of temporary employees which varies on a seasonal basis. The multi award-winning product range covers solar inverters for roof systems, major solar projects and off-grid systems, enabling SMA to provide a technically optimized inverter solution for all size categories and system types. Its range of services is complemented by a worldwide service network. The highly flexible manufacturing plants for solar inverters in Germany and North America have a capacity of approximately 11.5 GW a year. The SMA Group also operates a manufacturing plant for electromagnetic core components in Poland. Since 2008, SMA has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer and achieved first place in 2011 in the federal "Great Place to Work" competition.
www.SMA-America.com/www.SMA-Canada.ca

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