IMO FireRaptor receives UL PVRSS Itemizing with SMA solar inverters (speedy shutdown and AFCI commonplace) – Solar Builder

The IMO FireRaptor’s latest UL PVRSS listing is with the SMA Sunny Boy range of solar inverters from 3 kW to 7.7 kW and also the SMA TRIPOWER range of solar inverters from 33 kW to 62 kW under UL1741 guidelines. The FireRaptor also meets UL’s new AFCI compatibility requirements under PVRSS listing with the SMA Sunny Boy and TRIPOWER inverter ranges which further supplements IMO’s current UL listed FireRaptor offering for NEC 2017 & NEC 2020 compliance. The FireRaptor’s previous listing announcement was with Fronius earlier this year.

“Our ongoing efforts to achieve UL PVRSS listing with inverter manufacturers is ensuring greater system safety whilst enabling the continued growth of the industry in the face of progressive NEC regulatory requirements,” said IMO Automation’s General Manager Joe Covington.

What’s cool? The FireRaptor is designed to be installed at solar panel level and provides safety shutdown of the DC supply to ZERO volts in case of emergency. Shutdown is initiated in 3 ways – Manual Operation by way of an emergency shutdown switch (which can be conveniently located at ground level for easy access), AC Supply Cut-Off, or a Temperature Rise Trigger.

The FireRaptor operates in the same way as a disconnect switch, making the FireRaptor compatible with all string inverters, and does not affect their operation or performance in any way. Additionally, the FireRaptor has been designed for fail-safe operation ensuring that once operated, subsequent damage to the FireRaptor (e.g. by fire) will not compromise the solar panel isolation and shutdown status. Indeed, the FireRaptor has been tested to destruction by TUV in Germany, maintaining full zero volt isolation throughout the test procedure.