The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Photovoltaic connector behaviour under accelerated fretting testing regimes

Photovoltaic connector behaviour under accelerated fretting testing regimes
Photovoltaic connector behaviour under accelerated fretting testing regimes
Photovoltaic modules have no moving parts and last upwards of 25 years with no maintenance aside from occasional cleaning. The installation of modules in building facades and other structures has necessitated the use of push fit connectors to enable quick and easy inter-module DC electrical connection. New applications for photovoltaics such as roof shingles (tiles) place further performance demands on connectors. The day-night variation in temperature within a PV roof for example, creates component expansion. This paper details the behaviour of a tin plated copper photovoltaic connector under small amplitude fretting tests (10-100 ?m) using a specially developed accelerated lifetime test rig. The mated connector creates a high force, multiple point contact between the male and female components by the use of a prestressed spring collar. The study shows that a transition amplitude exists (~13 ?m) above which gross slip at the connector interface appears to occur. This causes a gradual linear increase in contact resistance, followed by a sudden change to rapid wearing of the tin plating on both the connector surfaces and spring collar, leading to connector failure. Below the transition amplitude, partial slip at the connector interface is observed which creates a stable, low contact resistance. The paper highlights the need to maintain a partial slip/stick condition within a PV connector for long term contact resistance stability. The implication of this requirement for photovoltaic connector design and application is discussed, considering the benefits of flexible connector housings and lubricants in particular.
10 to 100 micron, 13 micron, 25 y, pv connector, pv roof, sn-cu, accelerated fretting testing regimes, accelerated lifetime test rig building facades, cleaning, component expansion, connector failure connector interface, connector surfaces, connectors, contact resistance, day-night temperature variation, flexible connector housings, gross slip, inter-module dcelectrical connection, long term contact resistance stability, lubricants, maintenance, mated connector, module installation, multiple point contact, partial slip, partial slip/stick condition, photovoltaic applications, photovoltaic connector, photovoltaic connector design, photovoltaic modules prestressed spring collar, push fit connectors, rapid wear, roof shingles, roof tiles, small amplitude fretting tests, spring collar, stable low contact resistance, tin plated copper photovoltaic connector, tin plating wear, transition amplitude
0780366670
203-208
IEEE
Bahaj, A.B.
a64074cc-2b6e-43df-adac-a8437e7f1b37
James, P.
da0be14a-aa63-46a7-8646-a37f9a02a71b
McBride, J.
d9429c29-9361-4747-9ba3-376297cb8770
Bahaj, A.B.
a64074cc-2b6e-43df-adac-a8437e7f1b37
James, P.
da0be14a-aa63-46a7-8646-a37f9a02a71b
McBride, J.
d9429c29-9361-4747-9ba3-376297cb8770

Bahaj, A.B., James, P. and McBride, J. (2002) Photovoltaic connector behaviour under accelerated fretting testing regimes. In Proceedings of the Forty-Seventh IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, 2001. IEEE. pp. 203-208 . (doi:10.1109/HOLM.2001.953212).

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Photovoltaic modules have no moving parts and last upwards of 25 years with no maintenance aside from occasional cleaning. The installation of modules in building facades and other structures has necessitated the use of push fit connectors to enable quick and easy inter-module DC electrical connection. New applications for photovoltaics such as roof shingles (tiles) place further performance demands on connectors. The day-night variation in temperature within a PV roof for example, creates component expansion. This paper details the behaviour of a tin plated copper photovoltaic connector under small amplitude fretting tests (10-100 ?m) using a specially developed accelerated lifetime test rig. The mated connector creates a high force, multiple point contact between the male and female components by the use of a prestressed spring collar. The study shows that a transition amplitude exists (~13 ?m) above which gross slip at the connector interface appears to occur. This causes a gradual linear increase in contact resistance, followed by a sudden change to rapid wearing of the tin plating on both the connector surfaces and spring collar, leading to connector failure. Below the transition amplitude, partial slip at the connector interface is observed which creates a stable, low contact resistance. The paper highlights the need to maintain a partial slip/stick condition within a PV connector for long term contact resistance stability. The implication of this requirement for photovoltaic connector design and application is discussed, considering the benefits of flexible connector housings and lubricants in particular.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 7 August 2002
Venue - Dates: Forty-Seventh IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts, Montreal, Canada, 2001-09-10 - 2001-09-12
Keywords: 10 to 100 micron, 13 micron, 25 y, pv connector, pv roof, sn-cu, accelerated fretting testing regimes, accelerated lifetime test rig building facades, cleaning, component expansion, connector failure connector interface, connector surfaces, connectors, contact resistance, day-night temperature variation, flexible connector housings, gross slip, inter-module dcelectrical connection, long term contact resistance stability, lubricants, maintenance, mated connector, module installation, multiple point contact, partial slip, partial slip/stick condition, photovoltaic applications, photovoltaic connector, photovoltaic connector design, photovoltaic modules prestressed spring collar, push fit connectors, rapid wear, roof shingles, roof tiles, small amplitude fretting tests, spring collar, stable low contact resistance, tin plated copper photovoltaic connector, tin plating wear, transition amplitude

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 21715
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/21715
ISBN: 0780366670
PURE UUID: b6da9fd2-c4dd-456f-b56d-3500d0a14735
ORCID for A.B. Bahaj: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-0043-6045
ORCID for P. James: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2694-7054
ORCID for J. McBride: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3024-0326

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 20 Jun 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:45

Export record

Altmetrics

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×