Germans Combat Climate Change From Their Balconies
www.nytimes.com
Plug-and-play solar panels are popping up in yards and on balcony railings across Germany, driven by bargain prices and looser regulations.
  • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
    4·
    5 months ago

    That’s good then. Although I hope they also considered what happens if there’s two of them on a circuit, because if the mains power goes off, but there’s another panel on the same circuit, they’d each see the other’s voltage on the line, right?

    And yeah, you should verify that a circuit is de-energized after you flip the breaker, but I’ve seen both some real weird electrical work, and some electricians who aren’t that careful.

      • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
        5·
        5 months ago

        The panels themselves are DC, but there’s an inverter feeding 120V 60Hz (or whatever) into the wall, right?

        • silence7@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
          171·
          5 months ago

          Yes, but it’s a system that is designed to sync with the frequency of whatever other electricity is out there, and it shuts of if the main shuts off. Almost all rooftop systems without a battery in the US are set up the same way.

          Still, it’s important to check that things you think are disconnected do not have current flowing through them. And this makes it more important.

    • SkavarSharraddas@gehirneimer.de
      4·
      5 months ago

      Although I hope they also considered what happens if there’s two of them on a circuit

      The regulations allow only for one. If you want a bigger install than that you need individual approval I think.