Multi-Directional Solar Junction Box Terminal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar junction boxes can only accept photovoltaic foils from a single direction, limiting their versatility in accommodating foils routed in various directions on solar panels.
Innovation Solution
A solar junction box design featuring a housing with a cavity extending along both primary and secondary axes, allowing the foil contact to be oriented for termination from multiple directions, including 45° angles, to accommodate foils entering from different orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal is limited to receiving the foil in a single direction, then the terminal structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the junction box cannot accommodate foils routed in various directions
Solution Approach 1:
The foil contact is reoriented from a single-direction alignment to a 45-degree angle relative to both the primary and secondary axes of the cavity. This dimensional reorientation allows the foil contact to receive foils from multiple directions (front, side, or angled entries) while maintaining a simple terminal structure without requiring multiple separate terminals for different directions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional junction boxes only accept foil from one direction, then the manufacturing and assembly process is straightforward, but the versatility with differently routed foils is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is designed with a universal foil contact orientation at 45 degrees to both primary and secondary axes, enabling it to perform multiple functions: receiving foils from the front, from the side, or at various angles. This single universal design replaces the need for multiple direction-specific terminals, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving multi-directional compatibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the universal acceptance of photovoltaic foils from various directions, enhancing the flexibility and compatibility of the solar junction box with differently routed foils on solar panels.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the photovoltaic effect, the energy of photons is converted into electrical power within a PV cell when the PV cell is irradiated by a light source such as sunlight.
Data Source
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AI summary
A solar junction box (102) for a solar panel (106) includes a housing (130) having a base (132) and walls (134) defining a cavity (140). The cavity extends along a primary axis (144) and a secondary axis (146) generally perpendicular to the primary axis. The base has a foil opening (160) receiving a foil (116) of the solar panel. A terminal (150) is received in the cavity. The terminal has a protection device contact (170) terminated to a protection device (154) and a foil contact (174) configured to be terminated to the foil. The foil contact is oriented within the cavity such that the foil contact is configured to be terminated to the foil when the foil extends into the foil opening along the primary axis and such that the foil contact is configured to be terminated to the foil when the foil extends into the foil opening along the secondary axis.