scope:

This Part 3 of IEC 62109 covers the particular safety requirements for electronic elements that are mechanically and/or electrically incorporated with photovoltaic (PV) modules or systems.

Mechanically and/or electrically incorporated means that the whole combination of electronic device with the photovoltaic element is sold as one product. Nevertheless, tests provided in this document may also be used to evaluate compatibility of PV modules and electronic devices that are sold separately and are intended to be installed close to each other.

Items included in the scope:

Electronic devices combined with PV modules that perform functions such as, but not limited to, DC-DC or DC-AC power conversion, active diodes, protection, control, monitoring, or communication. These requirements specifically address such electronic devices used in combination with flat-plate photovoltaic (PV) modules.

NOTE It is acknowledged that the physical design of products covered by this scope may vary widely, it is anticipated that the requirements of this document may need to evolve to meet the unique safety requirements of such products, particularly if the photovoltaic element of the product is not of a flat-plate configuration. As an example, this document does not fully address the safety requirements of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and building-attached photovoltaics (BAPV) products, although they would fall under the scope of this document.

The purpose of the requirements of this part of IEC 62109 is to provide additional safety-related testing requirements for the following types of integrated electronics, collectively referred to as module integrated equipment (MIE):

a) Type A MIE where the PV element can be evaluated as a PV module according to IEC 61730-1 and IEC 61730-2 independently from the electronic element;

b) Type B MIE where the PV element cannot be evaluated as a PV module according to IEC 61730-1 and IEC 61730-2 independently from the electronic element.

Items excluded from the scope:

PV modules with only one or more bypass diodes as the combined or integrated element. Such products are covered by IEC 61730-1 and IEC 61730-2.

Aspects included and excluded from scope:

All aspects of IEC 62109-1:2010 apply. Addition to the list "excluded from the scope" is evaluating the MIE to IEC 61215-1.