CSA C22.2 No. 290:19

National Standard of Canada

Photovoltaic combiners and recombiners

Legal Notice for Standards

Canadian Standards Association (operating as “CSA Group”) develops standards through a consensus standards development process approved by the Standards Council of Canada. This process brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus and develop a standard. Although CSA Group administers the process and establishes rules to promote fairness in achieving consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the content of standards.

Disclaimer and exclusion of liability

This document is provided without any representations, warranties, or conditions of any kind, express or implied, including, without limitation, implied warranties or conditions concerning this document’s fitness for a particular purpose or use, its merchantability, or its non-infringement of any third party’s intellectual property rights. CSA Group does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or currency of any of the information published in this document. CSA Group makes no representations or warranties regarding this document’s compliance with any applicable statute, rule, or regulation.

IN NO EVENT SHALL CSA GROUP, ITS VOLUNTEERS, MEMBERS, SUBSIDIARIES, OR AFFILIATED COMPANIES, OR THEIR EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, OR OFFICERS, BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INJURY, LOSS, COSTS, OR EXPENSES, HOWSOEVER CAUSED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOST REVENUE, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOST OR DAMAGED DATA, OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL OR ECONOMIC LOSS, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM ACCESS TO OR POSSESSION OR USE OF THIS DOCUMENT, EVEN IF CSA GROUP HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, INJURY, LOSS, COSTS, OR EXPENSES.

In publishing and making this document available, CSA Group is not undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity or to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to another person or entity. The information in this document is directed to those who have the appropriate degree of experience to use and apply its contents, and CSA Group accepts no responsibility whatsoever arising in any way from any and all use of or reliance on the information contained in this document.

CSA Group is a private not-for-profit company that publishes voluntary standards and related documents. CSA Group has no power, nor does it undertake, to enforce compliance with the contents of the standards or other documents it publishes.

Intellectual property rights and ownership

As between CSA Group and the users of this document (whether it be in printed or electronic form), CSA Group is the owner, or the authorized licensee, of all works contained herein that are protected by copyright, all trade-marks (except as otherwise noted to the contrary), and all inventions and trade secrets that may be contained in this document, whether or not such inventions and trade secrets are protected by patents and applications for patents. Without limitation, the unauthorized use, modification, copying, or disclosure of this document may violate laws that protect CSA Group’s and/or others’ intellectual property and may give rise to a right in CSA Group and/or others to seek legal redress for such use, modification, copying, or disclosure. To the extent permitted by licence or by law, CSA Group reserves all intellectual property rights in this document.

Patent rights

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this standard may be the subject of patent rights. CSA Group shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights is entirely their own responsibility.

Authorized use of this document

This document is being provided by CSA Group for informational and non-commercial use only. The user of this document is authorized to do only the following:

If this document is in electronic form:

• load this document onto a computer for the sole purpose of reviewing it;

• search and browse this document; and

• print this document if it is in PDF format.

  Limited copies of this document in print or paper form may be distributed only to persons who are authorized by CSA Group to have such copies, and only if this Legal Notice appears on each such copy.

  In addition, users may not and may not permit others to

• alter this document in any way or remove this Legal Notice from the attached standard;

• sell this document without authorization from CSA Group; or

• make an electronic copy of this document.

  If you do not agree with any of the terms and conditions contained in this Legal Notice, you may not load or use this document or make any copies of the contents hereof, and if you do make such copies, you are required to destroy them immediately. Use of this document constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Legal Notice.

  
  

  
  

  Standards Update Service

  CSA C22.2 No. 290:19

  July 2019

  
  

  Title: Photovoltaic combiners and recombiners

  To register for e-mail notification about any updates to this publication

• go to store.csagroup.org

• click on CSA Update Service

The List ID that you will need to register for updates to this publication is 2426790.

If you require assistance, please e-mail techsupport@csagroup.org or call 416-747-2233.

Visit CSA Group’s policy on privacy at www.csagroup.org/legal to find out how we protect your personal information.

Canadian Standards Association (operating as “CSA Group”), under whose auspices this National Standard has been produced, was chartered in 1919 and accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to the National Standards system in 1973. It is a not-for- profit, nonstatutory, voluntary membership association engaged in standards development and certification activities.

CSA Group standards reflect a national consensus of producers and users — including manufacturers, consumers, retailers, unions and professional organizations, and governmental agencies. The standards are used widely by industry and commerce and often adopted by municipal, provincial, and federal governments in their regulations, particularly in the fields of health, safety, building and construction, and the environment.

Individuals, companies, and associations across Canada indicate their support for CSA Group’s standards development by

volunteering their time and skills to Committee work and supporting CSA Group’s objectives through sustaining memberships. The more than 7000 committee volunteers and the 2000 sustaining memberships together form CSA Group’s total membership from which its Directors are chosen. Sustaining memberships represent a major source of income for CSA Group’s standards development activities.

CSA Group offers certification and testing services in support of and as an extension to its standards development activities. To ensure the integrity of its certification process, CSA Group regularly and continually audits and inspects products that bear the

CSA Group Mark.

In addition to its head office and laboratory complex in Toronto, CSA Group has regional branch offices in major centres across Canada and inspection and testing agencies in eight countries. Since 1919, CSA Group has developed the necessary expertise to meet its corporate mission: CSA Group is an independent service

organization whose mission is to provide an open and effective forum for activities facilitating the exchange of goods and services through the use of standards, certification and related services to meet national and international needs.

For further information on CSA Group services, write to CSA Group

178 Rexdale Boulevard Toronto, Ontario, M9W 1R3 Canada

A National Standard of Canada is a standard developed by a Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredited Standards Development Organization, in compliance with requirements and guidance set out by SCC. More information on National Standards of Canada can be found at www.scc.ca.

SCC is a Crown corporation within the portfolio of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada. With the goal of enhancing Canada's economic competitiveness and social well- being, SCC leads and facilitates the development and use of national and international standards. SCC also coordinates Canadian participation in standards development, and identifies strategies to advance Canadian standardization efforts.

Accreditation services are provided by SCC to various customers, including product certifiers, testing laboratories, and standards development organizations. A list of SCC programs and accredited bodies is publicly available at www.scc.ca.

Standards Council of Canada 600-55 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6L5 Canada

Cette Norme Nationale du Canada n’est disponible qu’en anglais.

Although the intended primary application of this Standard is stated in its Scope, it is important to note that it remains the responsibility of the users to judge its suitability for their particular purpose.

®A trademark of the Canadian Standards Association, operating as “CSA Group”

National Standard of Canada

CSA C22.2 No. 290:19

Photovoltaic combiners and recombiners

®A trademark of the Canadian Standards Association, operating as “CSA Group”

Published in July 2019 by CSA Group

A not-for-profit private sector organization

178 Rexdale Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 1R3

To purchase standards and related publications, visit our Online Store at store.csagroup.org

or call toll-free 1-800-463-6727 or 416-747-4044.

ICS 31.240

ISBN 978-1-4883-1886-3

© 2019 Canadian Standards Association

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the prior permission of the publisher.

Contents

Technical Committee on Industrial Products 3

Working Group 290 on Photovoltaic Combiners and Recombiners — C22.2 No. 290 5

Preface 6

1. Scope 7

   
   

2. Reference publications 7

   
   

3. Definitions and abbreviations 9

   1. Definitions 9

   2. Abbreviations 10

      
      

4. Construction 10

   1. General 10

   2. Disconnecting means 10

      1. Disconnecting means for equipment 10

      2. Disconnecting and isolating means for fuse servicing 11

   3. Enclosures 12

   4. Openings in enclosures 13

   5. Bases 14

   6. Fastening and support of current-carrying parts 14

   7. Bus bars 16

   8. Wiring terminals 16

   9. Wiring terminal kits 17

   10. (Re)combiners rated for high voltage 17

   11. Electrical spacings 18

       1. General 18

       2. Electrical spacings for equipment rated up to 600 V ac or 848.5 V peak or dc 18

       3. Electrical spacings for equipment rated above 600 V ac or 848.5 V peak or dc 19

   12. Alternate approach to spacings 20

       1. General 20

       2. Overvoltage category (OVC) 20

       3. Surge suppression 20

       4. Pollution degree (PD) 21

       5. Instructions 21

   13. Wiring space and wire bending space 21

   14. Conduit entry clearance requirements 22

   15. Separation of circuits 22

   16. External signal, control, and communication circuits 24

   17. Equipment bonding 24

   18. Common connection bus bar 24

   19. Switching devices 25

   20. Conductor identification 25

       
       

5. Marking 25

6. Tests 30

   1. Temperature tests 30

   2. Dielectric strength test 33

   3. Heat cycling test for joints in current-carrying parts 34

   4. Flammability test 35

   5. Moisture absorption test 35

   6. Deflection test (metal enclosures) 35

   7. Impact test (polymeric enclosures) 35

   8. Impulse test 36

      
      

7. Auxiliary equipment for (re)combiners 37

Annex A (normative) — French translations of cautions, warnings, and safety instructions 47

Annex B (informative) — Sample nameplates 49

Technical Committee on Industrial Products

R.M. Bartholomew Electric Power Equipment Ltd.,

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Category: Producer Interest

Chair

R.P. de Lhorbe Schneider Electric Canada, Inc.,

North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Category: Producer Interest

Vice-Chair

B.M. Baldwin Baldwin Services Inc.,

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Category: General Interest

R.B. Buckler ASCO Power Technologies Canada, Brantford, Ontario, Canada Category: Producer Interest

C.C. Cormier Alberta Municipal Affairs, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Category: Regulatory Authority

T.S. Driscoll OBIEC Consulting Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada Category: User Interest

V.V. Gagachev Eaton,

Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Category: Producer Interest

N. Hanna Electrical Safety Authority, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Category: Regulatory Authority

R.J. Kelly Government of Nunavut, Department of Community & Government Services,

Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

Category: Regulatory Authority

R. Leduc Marex Canada Limited, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Category: User Interest

D.R. MacLeod Department of Labour and Advanced Education,

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Category: Regulatory Authority

D. Mascarenhas Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Category: General Interest

R. Pack SaskPower,

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Category: Regulatory Authority

T. Simmons British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada Category: General Interest

M. Smith Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Category: General Interest

A.Z. Tsisserev AES Engineering,

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Category: User Interest

M. Mahmoudysepehr CSA Group,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Project Manager

Working Group 290 on Photovoltaic Combiners and Recombiners — C22.2 No. 290

L. Silecky Mersen Canada Toronto Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Chair

L. Cantelo Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada

R.H. Doe Power-One, Inc.,

San Jose, California, USA

S.W. Douglas International Association of Electrical Inspectors,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

J.A. Eichner Consultant,

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

V.V. Gagachev Eaton,

Burlington, Ontario, Canada

N. Hanna Electrical Safety Authority, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

P. Morton TUV Rheinland Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1. Pack SaskPower,

   Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

   
   

2. Poutissou CSA Group,

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

G. Thompson Toronto Hydro-Electric System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M. Mahmoudysepehr CSA Group,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Project Manager

Preface

This is the second edition of CSA C22.2 No. 290, Photovoltaic combiners and recombiners, one of a series of Standards issued by CSA Group under Part II of the Canadian Electrical Code. It replaces the previous edition published in 2015 under the title, Photovoltaic combiners.

This Standard is considered suitable for use for conformity assessment within the stated scope of the Standard.

This Standard was prepared by Working Group 290 on Photovoltaic Combiners and Recombiners — C22.2 No. 290, under the jurisdiction of the Technical Committee on Industrial Products and the Strategic Steering Committee on Requirements for Electrical Safety, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee.

This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.

Interpretations: The Strategic Steering Committee on Requirements for Electrical Safety has provided the following direction for the interpretation of standards under its jurisdiction: “The literal text shall be used in judging compliance of products with the safety requirements of this Standard. When the literal text cannot be applied to the product, such as for new materials or construction, and when a relevant CSA committee interpretation has not already been published, CSA Group’s procedures for interpretation shall be followed to determine the intended safety principle.”

Notes:

1. Use of the singular does not exclude the plural (and vice versa) when the sense allows.

2. Although the intended primary application of this Standard is stated in its Scope, it is important to note that it remains the responsibility of the users of the Standard to judge its suitability for their particular purpose.

3. This Standard was developed by consensus, which is defined by CSA Policy governing standardization — Code of good practice for standardization as “substantial agreement. Consensus implies much more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity”. It is consistent with this definition that a member may be included in the Technical Committee list and yet not be in full agreement with all clauses of this Standard.

4. To submit a request for interpretation of this Standard, please send the following information to inquiries@csagroup.org and include “Request for interpretation” in the subject line:

   1. define the problem, making reference to the specific clause, and, where appropriate, include an illustrative sketch;

   2. provide an explanation of circumstances surrounding the actual field condition; and

   3. where possible, phrase the request in such a way that a specific “yes” or “no” answer will address the issue.

      Committee interpretations are processed in accordance with the CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization and are available on the Current Standards Activities page at standardsactivities.csa.ca.

5. This Standard is subject to review within five years from the date of publication. Suggestions for its improvement will be referred to the appropriate committee. To submit a proposal for change, please send the following information to inquiries@csagroup.org and include “Proposal for change” in the subject line:

   1. Standard designation (number);

   2. relevant clause, table, and/or figure number;

   3. wording of the proposed change; and

   4. rationale for the change.

CSA C22.2 No. 290:19

Photovoltaic combiners and recombiners

1. Scope

   
   

   1.1

   This Standard applies to photovoltaic (re)combiners rated up to 2000 V dc or 750 V ac, for use on photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in nonhazardous locations in accordance with CSA C22.1, Canadian Electrical Code, Part I.

   
   

   1.2

   (Re)combiners for use in photovoltaic systems that are ungrounded, positive grounded, and/or negative grounded are within the scope of this Standard.

   
   

   1.3

   This Standard does not cover panelboards, switchgear assemblies, and switchboards as covered by CSA C22.2 No. 29, CSA C22.2 No. 31, and CSA C22.2 No. 244.

   
   

   1.4

   In this Standard, “shall” is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; “should” is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and “may” is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.

   Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

   
   

   Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

   
   

   Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.

   
   

2. Reference publications

This Standard refers to the following publications, and where such reference is made, it shall be to the edition listed below, including all amendments published thereto.

CSA Group

C22.1-18

Canadian Electrical Code, Part I

CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 0-10 (R2015)

General Requirements — Canadian Electrical Code, Part II