Renewable energy distributors and installers now have a streamlined product design for the installation of commercial photovoltaic (PV) disconnects that reduces the components and labor required for the installation process.

The innovative new solar duty disconnects in GE's line of EverGold™ Solar balance of system (BOS) electrical components provide minimum complexity and maximum savings with a simple and dependable alternative to stocking and installing splice boxes and oversized disconnects.

The 100-amp, four-pole disconnect (UL-listed, 600Vdc) accepts up to four combiner box inputs, making it ideally suited for medium to large commercial PV installations. The fourth pole reduces the total number of disconnects required.

"The new GE EverGold Solar Duty disconnects are simple to install, safe and reliable," said Paul Foody, general manager of global product management at GE Energy Industrial Solutions. “With the continued expansion of GE’s solar balance of system offering, we’re now able to better serve our customers’ needs with innovative products that streamline and simplify the installation.”

GE now offers a junction box option and a recombiner box option, both of which provide significant benefits compared to a standard disconnect through reduced wire runs, materials and the labor to install the components.

The biggest advantage of the junction box option is the addition of a factory-installed negative lug, which eliminates the need for a secondary splice box and reduces the amount of wiring needed. The recombiner box option replaces a 400-amp disconnect and traditional recombiner box, reducing the weight by more than 50 percent. These advantages translate into installation cost savings.

The new disconnects also feature oversized lugs, enabling designers and installers to consider important factors that may increase the nominal wire size, such as voltage drop, elevated ambient temperatures and conduit fill/proximity considerations. Other key features include durable G90 corrosion-resistant enclosure construction and built-in safety and security features.

The new disconnects are available in NEMA Type 3R enclosures, while the junction box and recombiner box options are available in NEMA Type 4 enclosures and can be mounted vertically or horizontally, allowing for a low profile when shadowing is a concern. Both the NEMA Type 3R and Type 4 enclosures are constructed from corrosion-resistant G90 galvanized steel and feature a white powder coat finish which creates a cooler operating environment for the disconnect components. www.geindustrial.com/solar