Method of installing solar cell modules, and solar cell module

• US 20020017900A1
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Toshihiro, Takeda, Katsutoshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,914,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

Two types of solar cell modules having an equal output voltage and different sizes are used, and a plurality of solar cell modules of these two types are installed so that they are connected in parallel. The size of a solar cell module having two solar cell sub-modules is two times larger than the size of a solar cell module including one solar cell sub-module. By connecting two power generating regions of each of the solar cell sub-modules of the former solar cell module in parallel, connecting adjacent two solar cell sub-modules in series and connecting two power generating regions of the solar cell sub-module of the latter solar cell module in series, an equal output voltage is obtained from both of the solar cell modules.

Claims

1. A method of installing a plurality of solar cell modules, comprising the steps of:

preparing a plurality of types of solar cell modules having an equal output voltage and different sizes; and

installing the prepared plurality of types of solar cell modules so that they are connected in parallel.

2. The method of installing solar cell modules of claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of solar cell modules comprise mutually different numbers of solar cell sub-modules of an equal size.

3. The method of installing solar cell modules of claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of solar cell modules have mutually different internal wiring designs so as to obtain an equal output voltage.

4. The method of installing solar cell modules of claim 2, wherein the plurality of types of solar cell modules have mutually different internal wiring designs so as to obtain an equal output voltage.

5. The method of installing solar cell modules of claim 2, wherein the solar cell sub-modules in the plurality of types of solar cell modules respectively comprise a plurality of power generating regions, and the plurality of power generating regions are connected in series or in parallel so that the plurality of types of solar cell modules obtain an equal output voltage.

6. A solar cell module comprising:

a supporting member;

a plurality of solar cell sub-modules mounted on said supporting member, each of said solar cell sub-modules including a plurality of solar cells;

a wiring member for electrically connecting said solar cell sub-modules positioned next to each other on said supporting member; and

a moisture impermeable cover member for covering said wiring member.

7. A solar cell module comprising:

a metal base;

a plurality of solar cell sub-modules mounted on said metal base, each of said solar cell sub-modules including a plurality of solar cells;

a raised portion which is provided at one of opposing side edges of said metal base and has a first engagement section at its end; and

a suspended portion which is provided at the other side edge and has at its end a second engagement section that comes into engagement with the first engagement section of other solar cell module;

wherein said solar cell sub-modules positioned next to each other are electrically connected to each other by a wiring member on said metal base, said raised portion has a base section provided parallel to a surface of said metal base, and the connection of said solar cell sub-modules by said wiring member is made between said metal base and said base section.