Shoals Technologies Group, LLC

Dean Solon

Dorothy Michael

Joaquin Pereda

Steve Ferguson

George M Solon

A lead assembly includes first and second feeder cables and multiple drop lines. The feeder cables each has a first or second diameter and a first or second polarity. Each of the feeder cables contains two or more joints. Each joint electrically couples one or more drop lines to the first or second feeder cable at a nexus. Each drop line has a diameter that is less than the first diameter and less than the second diameter. Each drop line coupled to the first feeder cable is configured to be electrically connected to a wire harness configured to electrically connect to an array of solar panels. Two or more of the droplines that are connected to the first feeder cable each includes an in line fuse disposed between the joint and the wire harness. Each joint has a mold enclosure configured to enclose at least a portion of the nexus.

Lead assembly for connecting solar panel arrays to inverter

In an example, a multicable clip includes an elongate base, cradles, and first and second pedestals. The base has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The cradles extend from the base, each of the cradles configured to receive a corresponding cable, each of the cradles having a narrower width at its opening than within the cradle. The first pedestal is formed at the first end of the base, the first pedestal having a first shoulder to engage a first retention flange of a cable raceway. The second pedestal is formed at the second end of the base, the second pedestal having a second shoulder to engage a second retention flange of the cable raceway. The first and second pedestals are configured to couple the multicable clip to one or more installation structures.

Multicable clip

A component retention clip includes a body, a grip element, and bottom slide-coupling elements. The body has a base wall and two side walls forming a planar slot therebetween. The grip element is in the slot and coupled with at least one of the two side walls. The bottom slide-coupling elements are on an outer surface of at least one of the two side walls, each bottom slide-coupling element having a tapered cross-sectional profile in a longitudinal plane that narrows in a sliding axis towards an edge of the respective side wall and having a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile in a lateral plane that is orthogonal with the longitudinal plane. The bottom slide-coupling elements include first and second bottom slide-coupling elements, each having a first or second longitudinal plane in a first or second sliding axis.

Photovoltaic wire management clip

Wire retention plate

In an example, a system to facilitate installation of a drive linkage in a solar array at or below an installation surface includes a housing and first and second interconnection assemblies. The housing is installed on or below the installation surface and is configured to at least partially enclose and protect the drive linkage at or below the installation surface. The first interconnection assembly extends between a first drive assembly of a first solar tracker supported above the installation surface by a support structure and a first end of the drive linkage at or below the installation surface. The second interconnection assembly extends between a second drive assembly of a second solar tracker supported above the installation surface by the support structure and a second end of the drive linkage at or below the installation surface.

Mechanical power transmission between solar trackers

Wire clip

A lead assembly includes at plurality of drop line joined to a feeder cable at joints each having a compression lug that is preferably surrounded by undermolding and overmolding. In use, each drop line is connected to a solar array, and the feeder cable is connected to an inverter. In this manner a plurality of solar arrays are electrically coupled together, with a common feeder cable connecting them all to the inverter. A system of the present invention doesn't require a combiner box which is conventionally employed directly upstream of the inverter.

A lead assembly includes a feeder cable, one or more drop lines, and one or more mold structures. Each drop line includes a drop line connector, the drop line connector configured to be capable of detachable connection to a wire harness having a plurality of branches that are each configured to receive electrical power generated by a corresponding photovoltaic (PV) panel resulting in combined electrical power at the drop line connector. The one or more mold structures are disposed about a region of electrical interconnection between the feeder cable and the one or more drop lines. The one or more mold structures substantially seal the region of electrical interconnection from external environmental conditions. The combined electrical power received at each drop line connector is delivered to the feeder cable at the region of electrical interconnection.

A cable retention clip can include a structure retention section and a cable retention section. The structure retention section can have a clamp body having a base wall and two side walls forming a planar slot therebetween. There can be at least one grip element in the slot that is coupled with at least one of the two side walls. The cable retention section can be coupled to the structure retention section. The cable retention section can include a clip body defining at least two cable retention channels. Each cable retention channel can have a cable opening (e.g., slot into lumen) that extends the length of the respective cable retention channel to form a C-shape. Each cable retention channel can be parallel with each other cable retention channel. In some aspects, the clip body defines at least a pair of the cable retention channels forming a ω shape.

Solar cable retention clips and systems for structure mounting

Solar lead wire and multi-wire clip

Solar panel cable retention clip

A junction box is affixed to, and electrically coupled with, a solar panel. The junction box is configured to releasably engage and disengage accessory modules, thereby allowing accessory modules to be replaced or exchanged easily. Accessory modules are electrically coupled with other accessory modules in the solar panel string. The furthest downstream accessory module is connected to a wire harness, which is connected to a central combiner box.

Growing community of inventors

Gallatin, TN, United States of America

Dean Solon