In designing our solar systems, serious engineering work ensures the right system is created, taking into account location, size, orientation, and technical solutions. The focus is not just on production but also on weather resistance, the system's proper protection, and how quickly we are informed about various events. From a security standpoint, the cost of the security system, the installation timeline, and favorable offers for insurance coverage are critical.
We considered these aspects in developing the Solar Sentry product family. It connects directly to the solar system via the strings, integrating seamlessly. We can install it quickly, even in existing systems, using MC4 connectors. The device includes a tamper switch, ensuring system protection and, depending on the design, enabling GSM/4G/IP communication with Solar Sentry.
The system has two essential functions for solar systems:
• Notifications if the solar panels are not producing power for any reason.
• Notifications in case of vandalism or theft, day or night, 24/7.
The concept and technological innovation of the SOLAR Sentry and Solar Sentry PRO protection systems are suitable for insurers. In cooperation with SIGNAL IDUNA, part of one of Europe’s 50 largest financial and insurance groups, we have developed a standalone product that enables comprehensive insurance coverage for solar systems.
When using the Solar Sentry protection system, the required security conditions in the property insurance structure include:
• An ASC Solar Sentry electronic protection system installed professionally by the manufacturer or a contracted, approved installer. The protection system must be active and ready to perform its task at the time of the incident, and the monitoring dispatch service must have received the alarm notification (documented) and alerted the response team, which must arrive at the scene within a maximum of 15 minutes from the alarm notification.
• The system must be connected to a 24/7 monitoring dispatch service. The dispatch service must document any incoming alerts.
• The dispatch service must be notified within 1 minute if the system malfunctions or there is a power outage.
• The monitoring system must comply with MABISZ’s recommendations for security monitoring systems.
• Automatic alerts can be sent to the police, other armed services, or security response teams.
• The service contract must guarantee a maximum response time of no more than 15 minutes.
• Any network failures, power supply issues, and faults in centralized processing units (e.g., microprocessors) must be automatically and directly reported to the maintenance personnel, a designated location (e.g., the security company), or another location with a constant presence (e.g., reception).
Insurance events: all-risk coverage means that any damage occurring unexpectedly and accidentally at the insured location is covered, including theft and vandalism. This coverage also includes loss of production-related downtime due to the insurance event, compensating for financial losses from lost production.
The insurance coverage extends to the following damages not directly affecting the damaged solar system:
• Damages incurred in the roof and façade of the building where the solar panels are installed, related to repairs of insured damages in the solar panels, up to a total of 2 million HUF per insurance period.
• Costs of disassembling and reassembling solar panels due to a damage event on the building’s roof and façade, up to a total of 2 million HUF per insurance period.
• Damages incurred in the monitoring equipment and fencing of the insured solar power plant, up to a total of 2 million HUF per insurance period.
Insurance deductibles:
• For all-risk coverage, 10%, but at least 50,000 HUF.
• For business interruption insurance, 3 days, but at least 100,000 HUF.
Example calculation: For an insured amount of 100,000,000 HUF, the annual payment is 143,320 HUF for a single payment via bank transfer.
The insurance premium changes directly with the insured amount. This insurance system offers favorable conditions, specifically developed based on the reliability of the Solar Sentry protection system.
Solar Sentry Technical Background
Thanks to Solar Sentry, you can receive alerts for theft or circuit interruption/short circuit, day and night. It monitors the voltage arriving through the strings, signaling if the circuit is correct but no voltage is received from the solar panels. If the circuit is tampered with or short-circuited, an alarm is triggered via a RELAY output (NC), which can be used to signal any device. It is particularly well-suited to our GSM/4G transmission device (ProCon GSM Cloud and ProCon 4G Cloud), allowing SMS, voice messages, monitoring alerts, email, and push notifications. We can differentiate the alerts and provide custom messages. There is also a solution if power supply is interrupted due to sabotage, as the system operates on a single 2000mA internal battery that can function for 4-6 days. The standby time can be doubled by connecting another 2000mA battery. An optional external 12VDC power supply can also be provided, though it is not mandatory. The internal battery(s) charge automatically, even in cloudy weather, before the inverter starts. The Solar Sentry can handle an input voltage of 500VDC/string, while the Solar Sentry PRO can manage 1500VDC/string per string.
Related products for solar protection can be found on our website:
https://www.ascglobal.hu/products/pv-solar-systems
