Translations:Basic stand-alone PV system components/18/en

All equipment in a PV system - conductors and all components - have a maximum amount of current that they can handle and should therefore be protected from currents that could exceed their maximum rated current. Otherwise, an electrical fire can result. Devices that protect equipment from excess current are called overcurrent protection devices (OCPDs), the most common of which are breakers and fuses. Additionally, in any system it is necessary to isolate all components of a PV system from all potential power sources in order to be able to work safely for maintenance or troubleshooting. Both of these functions can be often be performed by an overcurrent protection device, but a seperate means of disconnection may be necessary in some cases.