ABSTRACT
A widely discussed question about grid-connected PV is the grade of modularity of a PV system. The 5 kWp installation described here includes a central inverter array, a string inverter, and an array of AC modules. In order to avoid additional electrical losses due to shading, the particular subsystems have been arranged corresponding to the differing sensitivities of the particular configurations to partial shading. Utility companies often associate PV generation in the first place with questions of power quality. Results show that PV inverters generally spoken provide a much "cleaner" output than most electronic equipment. Influences of system design and components on the installation expense are also addressed. A user friendly design of the module terminals for instance can have a direct impact on installation time and safety. Another question in this context is whether the still rather expensive AC modules can compensate for the expense that is necessary for a professional short circuit proof and ground circuit proof DC installation.
