Global Solar Product Manager TE Connectivity Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, United States
Photovoltaic (PV) connectors play a crucial role in the performance and reliability of solar farms. Improper crimping, incorrect insertion, or assembly of the PV connectors can create hot spots and power losses, increasing the risk of equipment degradation and failures. In this poster, we will review the most common potential failure points of solar installations, as well as their quantified impact as indicated by lab observations. We will then showcase how our new TE Connectivity´s (TE´s) SOLARLOK SLK 2.0 DC plug and splice connectors help improve the efficiency and profitability of solar farms. Our SOLARLOK SLK 2.0 DC connectors are 80% faster to install – requiring less than 30 seconds per mated pair – when compared to market-standard PV connectors with multiple components and crimp contacts. We designed a single-piece connector to allow for fewer installation steps, without any special tools required, resulting in reliable product performance and reduced labor and maintenance costs. The integrated Insulation Displacement Contact (IDC) technology replaces the cable stripping process, removing the risk of damage to the cable. Installers can simply plug in the cable and snap on the button to terminate, for increased speed, efficiency, and lifetime connection.