Interconnecting strips for building integrable photovoltaic modules
Provided are novel interconnecting strips for electrically connecting building integrable photovoltaic (BIPV) modules in a photovoltaic array. An interconnecting strip can be provided between a building structure and the BIPV modules, with electrical connections established by lowering the modules onto the strip previously positioned on the structure. The strip can includes two or more terminal groups aligned with different rows of BIPV modules. Each terminal group includes two or more connector terminals for connecting to the modules in that row. The interconnecting strip also includes leads extending between terminal groups and connecting connector terminals of different groups. In certain embodiments, terminal groups are offset with respect to adjacent groups to align with BIPV modules that are similarly offset to provide a moisture barrier. The interconnecting strip may be reconfigured in the field to provide different electrical connection schemes among BIPV modules.
1. An interconnecting strip for providing electrical connections between building integrable photovoltaic modules arranged in multiple rows, the interconnecting strip comprising:
a base sheet comprising an insulating material;
two or more terminal groups, including a first terminal group and a second terminal group, wherein each terminal group comprises at least four connector terminals; and
two or more connecting leads, including a first connecting lead and a second connecting lead, wherein:
the two or more terminal groups are affixed to the base sheet,
the first terminal group is offset from the second terminal group by a first distance,
each of the at least four connector terminals is configurable to:
electrically connect with one or more building integrable photovoltaic modules,
electrically connect with one or more of the other at least four connector terminals in the same terminal group,
electrically connect with one or more of the at least four connector terminals in a different terminal group, and
electrically disconnect from one or more of the other at least four connector terminals in the same terminal group;
each of the two or more connecting leads are configurable to electrically connect to two terminal connectors,
the first connecting lead electrically connects one of the at least four connector terminals in the first terminal group to one of the at least four connector terminals in the second terminal group, and
the second connecting lead electrically connects one of the at least four connector terminals in the first terminal group to an item selected from the group consisting of one of the at least four connectors in the second terminal group and one of the at least four connectors in another one of the two or more terminal groups.
2. The interconnecting strip of claim 1 , wherein the at least four connector terminals comprise sockets extending substantially perpendicular to the base sheet.
3. The interconnecting strip of claim 1 , wherein the first distance corresponds to a width of exposed portions of the building integrable photovoltaic modules.
4. The interconnecting strip of claim 1 , wherein two adjacent terminal groups are offset from each other by a second distance in a direction along a width of the base sheet.
5. The interconnecting strip of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one terminal group further comprises a jumper, and
the jumper electrically connects two of the at least four connector terminals of the same terminal group.
6. The interconnecting strip of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the two or more terminal group further comprises at least one jumper, and
each jumper electrically connects two of the at least four connector terminals of the same terminal group.
7. The interconnecting strip of claim 1 , wherein:
one or more terminal groups further comprise at least one integrated switches,
the at least one integrated switch is electrically connected to two or more of the at least four terminal connectors in the same terminal group, and
the at least one integrated switch is configured to change the electrical connections among the at least four connector terminals in the same terminal group.
8. The interconnecting strip of claim 1 , wherein one or more terminal groups further comprise at least six connector terminals in the one or more terminal groups.
9. The interconnecting strip of claim 1 , wherein:
one of the two or more terminal groups further comprises eight connector terminals, wherein:
two of the eight connector terminals are connected to two corresponding connector terminals in another of the two or more terminal groups; and
two other of the eight connector terminals are connected to two corresponding connector terminals in a different terminal group.
10. The interconnecting strip of claim 1 , wherein
two of the at least four connector terminals of at least one of the two or more terminal groups are movable on the base sheet.