Tools to Prevent Theft of Panels - Revision history

Ranisha at 11:46, 29 June 2022

2022-06-29T11:46:18Z

Ranisha at 11:36, 29 June 2022

2022-06-29T11:36:22Z

Ranisha at 14:16, 15 August 2014

2014-08-15T14:16:19Z

Ranisha: /* Further Information */

2014-08-01T13:20:12Z

Further Information

Ranisha at 09:14, 8 July 2014

2014-07-08T09:14:07Z

Wiki Gardener at 10:37, 18 June 2014

2014-06-18T10:37:12Z

Wiki Gardener: moved Tools to prevent theft of panels to Tools to Prevent Theft of Panels

2012-08-31T13:13:56Z

moved Tools to prevent theft of panels to Tools to Prevent Theft of Panels

Wiki Gardener at 13:13, 31 August 2012

2012-08-31T13:13:20Z

Gunnar.wegner at 13:44, 9 February 2011

2011-02-09T13:44:16Z

Gunnar.wegner at 13:37, 9 February 2011

2011-02-09T13:37:03Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{#widget:YouTube|id=kxoUsXtUslY|height=400|width=600}}
 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.
@@ Line 12: / Line 11: @@
 Eventually, each project should choose a mixture of several of the alternatives mentioned below, tailored to the circumstances of the project.
-<br/>
+=Theft-proof Screws=
 <u>These screws come in several types:</u> most common are screws (or nuts) that break when a certain torque is applied and hex key screws into which a small item (such as a ball or star) is hammered after tightening.
@@ Line 20: / Line 17: @@
 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).
-<br/>
+<br />
-{| border="0" align="center" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" style="width: 100%" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
+{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" style="width: 100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" align="center"
 |-
-| 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)]]
+| style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" |[[File:Theft-proof bolt before breaking.JPG|thumb|380x380px|Theft-proof nut and bolt (in this example, the nut breaks)|alt=|left]]
-| style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" | [[File:Theft-proof bolt after breaking.JPG|thumb|180px|Nut after breaking]]
+| style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" |[[File:Theft-proof bolt after breaking.JPG|thumb|380x380px|Nut after breaking|alt=|left]]
 |-
-| 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]]
+| 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|alt=|left]]
 | style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" |
 |}
-= Flocks of Goats<br/> =
+=Flocks of Goats=
 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.
-<br/>
+<br />
-= Immobilize the Panels<br/> =
+=Immobilize 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.
@@ Line 43: / Line 40: @@
 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.
-<br/>
+=Glueing, Welding or Sealing the Panels onto the Available Roof Space=
 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.
@@ Line 51: / Line 46: @@
 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.
-<br/>
+<br />
-= Design a Rack =
+=Design a Rack=
 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.
-<br/>
+<br />
-= Use an Alarm via cable connection =
+=Use an Alarm via cable connection=
 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.
-<br/>
+<br />
-= Keep a Manual Vigil<br/> =
+=Keep a Manual Vigil=
 The easiest and probably cheapest solution is a night watchman, for example on a rotational basis among the neighbours.
-<br/>
+=Security Fasteners=
 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.
-<br/>
+= Mark the Panels =
-= Further Information<br/> =
+=Further Information =
 *[[Portal:Solar|Solar Portal on energypedia]]
-*[[Solar Home Systems (SHS)|Solar Home Systems]]<br/>
+*[[Solar Home Systems (SHS)|Solar Home Systems]]
-*[[Solar_Cells_and_Modules|Solar Cells and Modules]]<br/>
+*[[Solar Cells and Modules]]<br />
 =References =
 <references />
 [[Category:Solar]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:36, 29 June 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+
		+	{{#widget:YouTube\|id=kxoUsXtUslY\|height=400\|width=600}}
		+
	= Overview<br/> =		= Overview<br/> =

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 = Overview<br/> =
@@ Line 35: / Line 34: @@
 <br/>
-= Immobilise the Panels<br/> =
+= Immobilize 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 immobilisation of the panels ensures that no power is produced anymore, which makes a reuse of the panels impossible.
+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 immobilised.
+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.
 <br/>
@@ Line 79: / Line 78: @@
 *[[Portal:Solar|Solar Portal on energypedia]]
-*[[Solar_Home_Systems|Solar Home Systems]]<br/>
+*[[Solar Home Systems (SHS)|Solar Home Systems]]<br/>
 *[[Solar_Cells_and_Modules|Solar Cells and Modules]]<br/>

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 <br/>
 = Further Information<br/> =
 *[[Portal:Solar|Solar Portal on energypedia]]
 <br/>
 = References<br/> =

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 {| border="0" align="center" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" style="width: 100%" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
 |-
-| style="text-align: center;  vertical-align: middle" | [[File:Theft-proof bolt before breaking.JPG|thumb|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)]]
-| style="text-align: center;  vertical-align: middle" | [[File:Theft-proof bolt after breaking.JPG|thumb|Nut after breaking]]
+| style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" | [[File:Theft-proof bolt after breaking.JPG|thumb|180px|Nut after breaking]]
 |-
-| 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]]
+| 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]]
-| style="text-align: center;  vertical-align: middle" |
+| style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle" |
 |}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-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 percent of the investment cost of a PV system, it is most&nbsp;lucrative to steal this part of the installation. In Senegal, for&nbsp;instance, is is supposed that up to 15 percent of the solar panels are stolen.
+= Overview<br/> =
-Several solutions exist to this problem, which differ in feasibility, practicability, price and technical knowledge. <br>
+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&nbsp;lucrative to steal this part of the installation. In Senegal, for&nbsp;instance, is is supposed that up to 15% of the solar panels are stolen.
-A major concern should be the local availability of the technology.
+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.<br>
+A major concern should be the local availability of the technology.
-= Theft-proof screws  =
+Eventually, each project should choose a mixture of several of the alternatives mentioned below, tailored to the circumstances of the project.
-{| width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" align="center" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
+= Theft-proof Screws<br/> =
 |-
-| valign="middle" align="center" | [[Image:Theft-proof bolt before breaking.JPG|thumb|347x260px|Theft-proof nut and bolt (in this example, the nut breaks)]]
+| align="center" valign="middle" | [[File:Theft-proof bolt before breaking.JPG|thumb|347x260px|Theft-proof nut and bolt (in this example, the nut breaks)]]
-| valign="middle" align="center" | [[Image:Theft-proof bolt after breaking.JPG|thumb|390x260px|Nut after breaking]]
+| align="center" valign="middle" | [[File:Theft-proof bolt after breaking.JPG|thumb|390x260px|Nut after breaking]]
 |-
-| valign="middle" align="center" | [[Image:Theft-proof hex key screw with insert.JPG|thumb|347px|Theft-proof hex key screw with ball insert]]
+| align="center" valign="middle" | [[File:Theft-proof hex key screw with insert.JPG|thumb|347px|Theft-proof hex key screw with ball insert]]
-| valign="middle" align="center" |
+| align="center" valign="middle" |
 |}
-= Flocks of goats  =
+= Flocks of Goats<br/> =
-= Immobilise the Panels  =
+= Keep a Manual Vigil<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 immobilisation of the panels ensures that no power is produced anymore, which makes a reuse of the panels impossible.
+The&nbsp;easiest and probably cheapest solution is a night watchman, for example on a rotational basis among the neighbours.
-These&nbsp;are not very suitable solutions, since maintenance and replacement become more difficult or even impossible. Moreover,&nbsp;proper air flow may be hindered, which makes panels work more poorly. Furthermore, in&nbsp;a warranty case conditions can probably not be met due to changes at the installation.
+= Security Fasteners<br/> =
-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.<br>
+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.
-= Use an Alarm via cable connection  =
+= Further Information<br/> =
-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.
-= Security Fasteners  =
+= References<br/> =
-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.
+<references />
 [[Category:Solar]]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 = Theft-proof screws  =
-These screws come in several types: most common are screws (or nuts) that break when a certain torque is applied and hey key screws into which a small item (such as a ball or star) is hammered after tightening.
+These screws come in several types: most common are screws (or nuts) that break when a certain torque is applied and hex key screws into which a small item (such as a ball or star) is hammered after tightening.
 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).<br>
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 | valign="middle" align="center" | [[Image:Theft-proof bolt before breaking.JPG|thumb|347x260px|Theft-proof nut and bolt (in this example, the nut breaks)]]
 | valign="middle" align="center" | [[Image:Theft-proof bolt after breaking.JPG|thumb|390x260px|Nut after breaking]]
 |}