TechnologyBrochure 1

SMA grid guard® 2

Certified in Accordance with VDE 0126 -1-1

Background,
Development and Requirements of the New Standard
 SMA Technologie AG

Summary
For all work performed on the grid, it is necessary that all energy sources, including grid-feeding inverters,
can be disconnected from the power grid at any time. In the case of inverters, this disconnection takes place
by means of an automatic grid disconnection device, as described in the 1999 standard, E DIN VDE 0126,
as MSD (Mains monitoring with allocated Switching Devices). This standard has now been revised. As of
January 2, 2006, the new version allows three varieties of grid disconnection and grid monitoring: impe-
dance measurement, three-phase voltage monitoring, and alternative methods using a grid frequency
oscillator. In addition, grid parameters have been extended, and for the first time the standard has been
opened up to include higher power classes as well.
With SMA grid guard® 2, SMA presents a completely new safety concept, which completely fulfills all of
the new standard’s requirements. This is the state-of-the-art automatic disconnection device, which guaran-
tees that the inverters in the grid have a very high availability, and can easily adapt to all grid conditions
around the world. The SMA grid guard® 2 is available in the various Sunny Boy and Sunny Mini Central
inverter models.

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 SMA grid guard® 2

Why an Automatic
Grid Disconnection Device?
Background, Development and Requirements of the New Standard

The majority of photovoltaic systems in Germany
feed the electricity gained from solar energy into
the public grid by means of an inverter. The re-
sponsibility for this grid is held by the local grid
operator. The grid operator ensures compliance
with the predefined threshold values for voltage
and frequency, and also ensures that the power
grid can be used effectively, and serviced without
difficulty in the event of a failure.
low-voltage grid. It prevents unintentional feeding
from a decentralized generator system into a sub-
grid which is disconnected from the rest of the dis-
tribution grid (stand-alone grid operation). Thus, it
provides maximum protection against inadmissible
voltages and frequencies for staff during mainte-
nance work, and also for consumers.
The Number of Power Suppliers is Growing

Disconnection Must be Possible at any Time Before 1990, the disconnection device had to be
designed as a manually operated switch accessible
For all work performed on the grid, it is necessary by the grid operator at any time. However, as the
that all energy sources, including grid-feeding invert- number of power suppliers increased dramatically,
ers, can be disconnected from the power grid at especially with the introduction of the “1000 roofs”
any time. In the case of inverters, this disconnection program, the need for automatic disconnection of
preferably takes place by means of an automatic systems with outputs of up to 4.6 kVA also increased.
grid disconnection device, as described in the
1999 standard, E DIN VDE 0126, as MSD. This
standard has now been revised. How the new stan-
dard developed, and the demands it makes of the
disconnection device, are described here. The
automatic disconnection device serves as a safety
interface between the generator system and the

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 SMA Technologie AG

The Development of MSD

“The development of MSD set a milestone on the road to safe

and uncomplicated connection of PV systems to the power grid.”

Joachim Laschinski, development engineer at SMA

Switching unit 1 Switching unit 2 DC Fault

Current Current
Monitoring Monitoring
DC AC
Relay K1 UAC Relay K2
PE
f AC 30 mA
Z AC 60 mA
150 mA
I AC (0 Hz)
R ISO I

Grid monitoring 1 Communication Grid monitoring 2

Current Control System (SRR) System Control (BFR)

... with independent disconnection unit according with VDE 0126-1-1

SMA grid guard® 2 in a Sunny Boy without transformer

For a long time, three-phase monitoring was the
standard for automatic disconnection devices. With
MSD, developed in 1994 through the cooperation
of trade associations and grid operators, a new
safety standard was defined, and acknowledged
to be significantly more effective than the previous
standard.
Active Grid Monitoring
operation must be guaranteed, so that regular func-
tionality tests are not necessary. Thus, MSD is a
complete safety concept, and much more than just
grid impedance monitoring, as it is often described.
SMA Technologie AG was one of the first manu-
facturers to implement this new safety standard,
and, since as early as 1995, all Sunny Boy inverters
have been delivered with MSD as standard.

In this active form of grid monitoring, the automatic

disconnection device consists of two MSD´s which
are independent of each other and connected in
series. Each of these devices continually monitors
the quality of the connected grid by checking the
voltage, frequency and impedance. Here, fail-safe

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The New Standard VDE 0126-1-1
Standard; approved regulations for technology, defined in Germany by DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.).
In 1999, MSD requirements were refined and stip-
ulated with the VDE 0126 standard. Now, after ten
years’ comprehensive experience with the test spec-
ification, and six years with the standard, it has
been revised.
MSD Forms the Basis
for the New Standard’s Requirements
One of the significant characteristics of the new
standard VDE 0126-1-1 is that in the future it will not
be obligatory to use a specific approved safety
device. The decisive factor is whether the respective
technology used complies with the strict require-
ments of the standard. Thus, for example, the term
MSD, previously defined within the standard, no
longer appears. Its essential components have
been defined more generally, and are echoed in
the structure and in the fail-safe characteristic, for
example.
As of 2006, Three Varieties of Grid
Disconnection and Grid Monitoring are Possible
1) Impedance measurement
Monitoring of grid impedance for sharp changes.
2) Three-phase voltage monitoring
Passive monitoring method which has been used
for single-phase grid feeding since 1990. Mea-
surement of external conductor voltage causes
disconnection in the event of voltage failures or
phase failures.
SMA grid guard® 2
3) Alternative methods
Definition of a testing method with a grid fre-
quency oscillator, which simulates the worst
case islanding scenario with optimally adjusted
consumer load.
Extension of Threshold Values
Another important characteristic of the new stan-
dard is the extension of the threshold values for grid
impedance, grid voltage, and grid frequency.
Previously, these were quite tightly defined, and
with the new standard have been adjusted to better
match the spectrum of actual grid connection
points. For example, the disconnection of an invert-
er was previously triggered whenever the impedance
underwent a sharp change of 0.5 Ohms or more.
In the new standard, this parameter was increased
to 1 Ohm, so in future the inverter will only discon-
nect in the event of sharp changes of 1 Ohm or
more.
Opening up for Higher Power Classes
Furthermore, the standard was also opened up to
include higher power classes for the first time.
While the VDE 0126 standard previously applied
only to solar inverters with an output of up to
4.6 kVA, it now regulates the connection of larger
systems to the public grid.
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 SMA Technologie AG

The Advantages of the New Standard

The revision of the VDE 0126 standard was primarily
motivated by previous experience with the inde-
pendent grid-disconnection device. The disconnec-
tion device requirements have not fundamentally
changed, which speaks in favor of the previously
valid standard. The revision is more geared
towards expansion and extension.
With the inclusion of three-phase monitoring and
the oscillator test, the standard has been opened up
for new methods of stand-alone grid recognition.
Higher Yields for System Operators
The raising of threshold values for grid parameters
brings a considerable advantage: the higher toler-
ance means that the inverter deactivates later, even
when impedance conditions are not ideal. This
means that grid-coupled inverters with integrated
MSD will now have even higher availability, which
brings increased yields for the system operator. At
the same time, this also aids grid stability.
Standardized Regulation
of the Connection of PV Systems
With the opening up of the standard to include
higher power classes, another advantage arises for
operators of systems with outputs of more than 4.6
kW. For the first time, grid connection of these
systems is regulated universally, which provides
operators and local grid operators with some
degree of legal security.
Increased Grid Stability
Altogether, the modifications contribute significant-
ly to increased grid stability, without neglecting
safety aspects. In future, they will make grid moni-
toring more practice-oriented.

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SMA grid guard® 2
Far More than just Standard Monitoring
Working on live components is prohibited. When establishing a voltage-free state, it is imperative that
the five safety rules, as defined by the DIN VDE 0105 series of standards, are adhered to (see box).
Since 1995, the Sunny Boy inverters from SMA
have been delivered with an automatic disconnec-
tion device (MSD) as standard. Over the years,
SMA has moved on to develop SMA grid guard,
which, since 2002, has been offering far more than
standard monitoring. SMA grid guard performs not
only the functionality of MSD, but can also adapt
to all grid conditions in the world without difficulty,
making this the state-of-the-art automatic disconnec-
tion device.
New Safety Concept
Meets all of the Standard’s Requirements
With the new version, the company presents a com-
pletely new safety concept, which together with the
awarded certificate of conformity, makes it the first
inverter manufacturer to completely fulfill the new
standard’s requirements. Due to permanent moni-
toring of grid impedance, grid voltage, and grid
frequency, failures are detected immediately, and
the solar power system is disconnected from the grid.
Very High Availability of Inverters
The raising of the grid parameters within the stan-
dard, guarantees a very high availability for the
inverters in the grid. In addition, the new software
includes a self-learning procedure to enable it to
adapt to even the most difficult grid conditions. This
guarantees maximum reliability of the solar power
plant, as regularly recurring grid events can be
identified as such beyond any doubt.
SMA grid guard® 2
Approval from the Industrial Trade Association
The trouble-free certification of this new version,
and the approval for higher power classes from the
German Professional Association for Precision
Engineering and Electrotechnology confirms that
SMA has comprehensively taken all safety aspects
into account. The SMA grid guard® 2 began to be
phased in at the beginning of 2006, becoming
available in the various Sunny Boy and Sunny Mini
Central inverter models.
When work is being done on, or in, electrical
systems, very strict rules apply for the prevention of
accidents.
Safety Principles
1. Disconnection
2. Protection against reactivation
3. Confirmation of voltage-free state
4. Grounding and short-circuiting
5. Covering or isolation of adjacent live parts
These five safety rules must be applied in this
sequential order before any work is done. Once
the work is completed, the device can be conn-
nected again, in reverse sequential order.
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 SMA Technologie AG

Literature:

Catrin.Naehr@SMA.de

[1] DIN VDE 0126-1-1:

“Selbsttätige Freischaltstelle zwischen einer netzparallelen
Erzeugungsanlage und dem öffentliche Niederspannungsnetz”
(automatic disconnection device between a grid parallel
power-generating system and the public low voltage grid).
VDE Verlag GmbH, Berlin: 2006.

[2] Vereinigung Deutscher Elektrizitätswerke – VDEW – e.V.

(German Electricity Industry Association):
“Eigenerzeugungsanlagen am Niederspannungsnetz – Richtlinie
für Anschluß und Parallelbetrieb von Eigenerzeugungsanlagen
am Niederspannungsnetz” (power-generating systems to the
low-voltage grid – regulations for the connection and parallel
operation of power-generating systems on the medium-voltage
grid) VWEW Energieverlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main: 2004.

Photos:
www.SMApictures.com, Getty Images, www.photocase.de

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SMA Technologie AG

www.SMA.de
Hannoversche Strasse 1–5
D-34266 Niestetal
Tel. : +49 561 9522 0
Fax: +49 561 9522 100
E-mail: Info@SMA.de
Freecall: 0800 SUNNYBOY
Freecall: 0800 7 8 6 6 9 2 6 9

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