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| | = Overview<br/> = | | = Overview<br/> = |
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| − | Awareness and popularity of solar systems has risen and so has the number of thefts of solar panels. Since the price of the panel amounts up to 50% of the investment cost of a PV system, it is most lucrative to steal this part of the installation. In Senegal, for instance, is is supposed that up to 15% of the solar panels are stolen. | + | Awareness and popularity of solar systems has risen and so has the number of thefts of solar panels. Since the price of the panel amounts up to 50% of the investment cost of a PV system, it is most lucrative to steal this part of the installation. In Senegal, for instance, is is supposed that up to 15% of the solar panels are stolen. |
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| | Several solutions exist to this problem, which differ in feasibility, practicability, price and technical knowledge. | | Several solutions exist to this problem, which differ in feasibility, practicability, price and technical knowledge. |
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| | Eventually, each project should choose a mixture of several of the alternatives mentioned below, tailored to the circumstances of the project. | | Eventually, each project should choose a mixture of several of the alternatives mentioned below, tailored to the circumstances of the project. |
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| | = Theft-proof Screws<br/> = | | = Theft-proof Screws<br/> = |
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| | After fastening, these screws cannot be unmounted unless special tools are available. However, only proper usage assures effective protection. The product combination and the way of fastening the screws should thus be tested (best before purchase). | | After fastening, these screws cannot be unmounted unless special tools are available. However, only proper usage assures effective protection. The product combination and the way of fastening the screws should thus be tested (best before purchase). |
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| − | | + | {| border="0" align="center" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" style="width: 100%" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" |
| − | {| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="100%" | + | |
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| − | | align="center" valign="middle" | [[File:Theft-proof bolt before breaking.JPG|thumb|347x260px|Theft-proof nut and bolt (in this example, the nut breaks)]] | + | | style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" | [[File:Theft-proof bolt before breaking.JPG|thumb|180px|Theft-proof nut and bolt (in this example, the nut breaks)]] |
| − | | align="center" valign="middle" | [[File:Theft-proof bolt after breaking.JPG|thumb|390x260px|Nut after breaking]] | + | | style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" | [[File:Theft-proof bolt after breaking.JPG|thumb|180px|Nut after breaking]] |
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| − | | align="center" valign="middle" | [[File:Theft-proof hex key screw with insert.JPG|thumb|347px|Theft-proof hex key screw with ball insert]] | + | | style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" | [[File:Theft-proof hex key screw with insert.JPG|thumb|347px|Theft-proof hex key screw with ball insert]] |
| − | | align="center" valign="middle" | | + | | style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" | |
| | |} | | |} |
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| | This technique has already been used by the ancient Romans, since geese show the habit to become noisy when they are alarmed. May not be a good idea for panels mounted close to the ground since animals can cause damage to panels, support structure and wiring and / or may pollute the panels. | | This technique has already been used by the ancient Romans, since geese show the habit to become noisy when they are alarmed. May not be a good idea for panels mounted close to the ground since animals can cause damage to panels, support structure and wiring and / or may pollute the panels. |
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| | + | = Immobilize the Panels<br/> = |
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| − | = Immobilise the Panels<br/> =
| + | A company from the US offers panel-embedded smart electronic chips, which lock the panel digitally in the moment the panel is being stolen. The technique starts working automatically, if the power optimisers receive no activation signal from the inverter. This immobilization of the panels ensures that no power is produced anymore, which makes a reuse of the panels impossible. |
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| − | A company from the US offers panel-embedded smart electronic chips, which lock the panel digitally in the moment the panel is being stolen. The technique starts working automatically, if the power optimisers receive no activation signal from the inverter. This immobilisation of the panels ensures that no power is produced anymore, which makes a reuse of the panels impossible. | + | |
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| − | Even if the thief does not only steal the panel but also the inverter, the installation becomes unusable, since the solar inverter communicates with the monitoring server via a built-in communication hardware. If the inverter does not receive activation signals from the server for a certain defined period, the inverter gets immobilised.
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| | + | Even if the thief does not only steal the panel but also the inverter, the installation becomes unusable, since the solar inverter communicates with the monitoring server via a built-in communication hardware. If the inverter does not receive activation signals from the server for a certain defined period, the inverter gets immobilized. |
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| | = Glueing, Welding or Sealing the Panels onto the Available Roof Space<br/> = | | = Glueing, Welding or Sealing the Panels onto the Available Roof Space<br/> = |
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| − | These are not very suitable solutions, since maintenance and replacement become more difficult or even impossible. Moreover, proper air flow may be hindered, which makes panels work more poorly. Furthermore, in a warranty case conditions can probably not be met due to changes at the installation. | + | These are not very suitable solutions, since maintenance and replacement become more difficult or even impossible. Moreover, proper air flow may be hindered, which makes panels work more poorly. Furthermore, in a warranty case conditions can probably not be met due to changes at the installation. |
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| | Some persons have painted the back of their panels in a very bright colour in order to be able to identify their panel in case of theft. | | Some persons have painted the back of their panels in a very bright colour in order to be able to identify their panel in case of theft. |
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| | = Design a Rack = | | = Design a Rack = |
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| | This means locking the panels into one large block in order to prevent thefts. In fact, this creates problems for maintenance, but also for thieves, since the weight of locked panels is enormous. | | This means locking the panels into one large block in order to prevent thefts. In fact, this creates problems for maintenance, but also for thieves, since the weight of locked panels is enormous. |
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| | = Use an Alarm via cable connection = | | = Use an Alarm via cable connection = |
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| | This solutions connects all panels of the installation via cable. The ends of this cable are connected to a control circuit, which picks up every manipulation in the cable. This control circuit can be connected with a visual and/or sound alarm, which is triggered if the cables are removed. Obviously, the horn has to be installed in a safe place such that its own cables cannot be cut before. | | This solutions connects all panels of the installation via cable. The ends of this cable are connected to a control circuit, which picks up every manipulation in the cable. This control circuit can be connected with a visual and/or sound alarm, which is triggered if the cables are removed. Obviously, the horn has to be installed in a safe place such that its own cables cannot be cut before. |
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| | = Keep a Manual Vigil<br/> = | | = Keep a Manual Vigil<br/> = |
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| − | The easiest and probably cheapest solution is a night watchman, for example on a rotational basis among the neighbours. | + | The easiest and probably cheapest solution is a night watchman, for example on a rotational basis among the neighbours. |
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| | = Security Fasteners<br/> = | | = Security Fasteners<br/> = |
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| | Using special fastening means like round-headed screws is a simple and cheap method to prevent thefts. Functioning like car keys, customers get a secured access to an exclusive security fastener, which allows only them to open the screws. | | Using special fastening means like round-headed screws is a simple and cheap method to prevent thefts. Functioning like car keys, customers get a secured access to an exclusive security fastener, which allows only them to open the screws. |
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| | = Further Information<br/> = | | = Further Information<br/> = |
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| − | * | + | *[[Portal:Solar|Solar Portal on energypedia]] |
| | + | *[[Solar Home Systems (SHS)|Solar Home Systems]]<br/> |
| | + | *[[Solar_Cells_and_Modules|Solar Cells and Modules]]<br/> |
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Awareness and popularity of solar systems has risen and so has the number of thefts of solar panels. Since the price of the panel amounts up to 50% of the investment cost of a PV system, it is most lucrative to steal this part of the installation. In Senegal, for instance, is is supposed that up to 15% of the solar panels are stolen.
Several solutions exist to this problem, which differ in feasibility, practicability, price and technical knowledge.
Eventually, each project should choose a mixture of several of the alternatives mentioned below, tailored to the circumstances of the project.
After fastening, these screws cannot be unmounted unless special tools are available. However, only proper usage assures effective protection. The product combination and the way of fastening the screws should thus be tested (best before purchase).
This technique has already been used by the ancient Romans, since geese show the habit to become noisy when they are alarmed. May not be a good idea for panels mounted close to the ground since animals can cause damage to panels, support structure and wiring and / or may pollute the panels.
A company from the US offers panel-embedded smart electronic chips, which lock the panel digitally in the moment the panel is being stolen. The technique starts working automatically, if the power optimisers receive no activation signal from the inverter. This immobilization of the panels ensures that no power is produced anymore, which makes a reuse of the panels impossible.
Even if the thief does not only steal the panel but also the inverter, the installation becomes unusable, since the solar inverter communicates with the monitoring server via a built-in communication hardware. If the inverter does not receive activation signals from the server for a certain defined period, the inverter gets immobilized.
These are not very suitable solutions, since maintenance and replacement become more difficult or even impossible. Moreover, proper air flow may be hindered, which makes panels work more poorly. Furthermore, in a warranty case conditions can probably not be met due to changes at the installation.
Some persons have painted the back of their panels in a very bright colour in order to be able to identify their panel in case of theft.
This means locking the panels into one large block in order to prevent thefts. In fact, this creates problems for maintenance, but also for thieves, since the weight of locked panels is enormous.
This solutions connects all panels of the installation via cable. The ends of this cable are connected to a control circuit, which picks up every manipulation in the cable. This control circuit can be connected with a visual and/or sound alarm, which is triggered if the cables are removed. Obviously, the horn has to be installed in a safe place such that its own cables cannot be cut before.
The easiest and probably cheapest solution is a night watchman, for example on a rotational basis among the neighbours.
Using special fastening means like round-headed screws is a simple and cheap method to prevent thefts. Functioning like car keys, customers get a secured access to an exclusive security fastener, which allows only them to open the screws.
