The GAF contactor’s ability to break DC up to 2000 A at a voltage

up to 1000 V derives from the use of permanent magnets in the

arc packages. The magnets enable the contactor to extinguish the

powerful electrical arcs that arise between the contact surfaces

when breaking DC. Normal AF contactors can break DC up to

some extent but since they lack the permanent magnets they

will not be able to break DC as a corresponding GAF contactor.

Applications – solar

What is PV power?

Photovoltaic (PV) power is a renewable energy source converting

sunlight directly into electrical energy using PV cells. Large PV

systems often consist of following main components:

• PV cells (combined to strings, generating the power).

•  Inverter (one or several, converting the generated DC voltage

into AC 50Hz or 60Hz, also including devices for switching,

protection and control).

•  Combiners (junction boxes, including switching devices, with

several cables on input and one cable on output).

• Trackers (mechanical structure to move the angle of PV cells

to follow the sun, increasing system efficiency, also including

motors, PLC, communication, protection).

• Switching devices and protection devices (to change PV

string configuration, protect from over currents, surge

voltages and earth faults etc.).

• Distribution transformer (transforming low voltage to high

voltage, as grid connection often is done on high voltage level).