2
April 2012
Safety Precautions
General Information
The installation of modules requires a
great degree of skill and should only be
performed
by
qualified
licensed
professionals,
including,
without
limitation, licensed contractors and
licensed electricians.
WARNING
All instructions should be read and
understood before attempting to
install, wire, operate, and maintain
the
module.
Contact
with
electrically active parts of the
module such as terminals can result
in burns, sparks, and lethal shock
whether the module is connected
or disconnected.
The installer assumes the risk of all
injury that might occur during
installation,
including,
without
limitation, the risk of electric shock.
The modules generate DC electrical
energy when exposed to sunlight
or other light sources. Although
single modules produce only a low
voltage and current, shocks and
burns are still a potential hazard.
To avoid the hazard of electric
shock and injury, cover the entire
front surface of the modules with a
dense, opaque material such as a
cardboard box, during installation
and handling of the modules.
The shock hazard increases as
modules are connected in parallel,
producing higher current, and as
modules are connected in series,
producing higher voltages.
The shock hazard increases as
modules with nominal open-circuit
voltage (Voc) in excess of 50 V,
and/or
modules
rated
for
maximum system voltage in excess
of 50 V.
To avoid the hazard of electric
shock, work only in dry conditions,
with dry modules and dry tools.
Do not stand or step on a module
to avoid the hazard of injury and
damage to the module.
Do not puncture or damage the
back sheet of a module, to avoid
the hazard of electric shock and
fire.
To avoid the hazard of electric
shock and injury, children and
unauthorized persons should not
be allowed near the installation of
modules.
To avoid the hazard of electric
shock and injury, be sure to
completely ground all modules.
To avoid the hazard of electric
shock, fire, and injury, do not
disassemble the module, or remove
any
part
installed
by
the
manufacturer.
Unauthorized persons—except the
qualified
licensed
professional—
should not open the cover of the
junction box to avoid the hazard of
electric shock.
Do not touch terminals while a
module is exposed to light. Provide
suitable guards to prevent yourself
from direct contact with 30 VDC or
greater to avoid the hazard of
electric shock or injury.
When carrying a module, two or
more people should carry it by its
frame and wear non-slip gloves (to
avoid injury by a slipping module,
to a foot, or cuts by the edge of a
frame, and so on).
Do not carry a module by its wires
or junction box, to avoid the
hazard of electric shock, injury or
damage to the module.
Do not drop anything on the
surfaces of a module, to avoid the
hazard of electric shock, injury, and
damage.
To avoid the hazard of electric
shock and fire, be sure that all
other
system
components
are
compatible, and they do not
subject the module to mechanical
or electrical hazards.
Since sparks may occur, do not
install
the
module
where
flammable gases or vapors are
present.
Never leave a module unsupported
or unsecured.
Do not drop a module.
Do not use or install broken
modules to avoid the hazard of fire,
electric shock, and injury.
Do
not
artificially
concentrate
sunlight on a module to avoid the
hazard of fire or damage.
Do not touch the junction box
terminals to avoid the hazard of
electric shock and injury.
Do not change the wiring of bypass
diodes to avoid the hazard of
electric shock and injury.
Do not disconnect terminals while
modules generate electricity and
connect electrical load to avoid the
hazard of electrical shock.
Do
not
touch
a
module
unnecessarily. The glass surface
and frames get hot. There is a risk
of burn.
CAUTIONS
Use a module for its intended
purpose only.
Do not treat the back sheet or
front
surface
with
paint
or
adhesives, to avoid reducing its’
functionality, damage, inoperable
conditions, and other unknown
troubles.
GENERAL SAFETY
Follow all permission, installation and
inspection requirements.
Before installing modules, contact
the appropriate authorities to
determine permissions, installation
and
inspection
requirements,
which should be followed.
Be sure that the construction or
structure (roof, etc.) where the
modules are being installed has
enough strength.
For modules mounted on roofs,
special construction or structures
may be required to help provide
proper installation support.
Both roof construction and module
installation design have an effect
on the fire resistance of a building.
Improper
installation
may
contribute
to
fire
hazards.
Additional devices such as ground
fault, fuses, and disconnects may
be required.
Do not use modules of different
specifications in the same system.
Follow all safety precautions of
other system components used.
INSTALLATION
General
Please read this guide completely
before installation or use of the
modules. This section contains
electrical
and
mechanical
specifications needed before using
modules.
Modules should be firmly fixed in
place in a manner suitable to
withstand
all
expected
loads,
including wind and snow loads.
Please do not touch the glass
surface of modules to protect from
dirt, because the glass surface is
coated.
(If
the
glass
surface
becomes dirty, see section of
MAINTENANCE.)
The drilling and addition of ground
holes is permitted, but should be
avoided
whenever
possible
to
avoid damage to the module.
