Plug and Play Components for Building-Integrated PV Systems: Phase I--Final Report, 20 February 2002--19 February 2003

This report describes the development by RWE Schott Solar, Inc., of innovative new products to facilitate the broad use of its PV systems in the current markets. RWE manufactures and sells the 300-watt ASE-300 PV module and also provides complete photovoltaic system engineering, design, and turnkey PV system installation services. RWE Schott Solar has many years of experience designing PV arraysand installing them on flat roofs and pitched roofs, and had plans to improve these designs. Specifically, wind-tunnel testing and analyses were needed for the new flat-roof PV array mounting system that avoids roof penetrations. In addition, to simplify large grid-tied PV systems for flat-roof applications, the company's line of wiring junction boxes needed to be updated with new components andhigher-power multi-circuit configurations. For pitched-roof residential applications, testing was planned to determine the holding power of three different fasteners in a wide range of wood-sheathing types found in residential construction to help optimize fastening methods. A device for connecting PV to the grid at a meter socket was innovated and is also being developed.