Non-metallic enclosure from Stahlin meets stringent physical property performance standards for the Shoals Technologies Group solar combiner box
The Situation
Shoals Technologies Group is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of innovative, diverse Balance Of Systems (BOS) componentry for the photovoltaic industry. Product offerings range from simple cable leads to include nearly everything between the glass and the inverter.
One of Shoals’ product mainstays is the combiner box, which serves as an electrical aggregator for any photovoltaic installation.
The Challenge
The electrical equipment that populates the interior of Shoals combiner boxes must be protected from a variety of potentially damaging elements including corrosion, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, moisture, wind-borne dust and debris, abrasion and impact.
The Solution
Shoals Technologies Group selected non-metallic enclosures from Stahlin to protect the internal components of its combiner boxes. Stahlin enclosures provide unique protection from UV damage because of a proprietary molding compound: SolarGuard®, proven to be significantly more effective in substrate preservation than any other option.
Patented SolarGuard® requires no field maintenance, and is provided at no additional product cost. SolarGuard® meets NFPA No. 101 Class A flame spread index. Fire retardancy meets UL 94 5V standards.
“In addition to the inherent characteristics of Stahlin fiberglass enclosures there are multiple considerations that drove Shoals’ relationship with Stahlin. While we use an incredibly large amount of “standard” or “off-the-shelf” enclosures, we constantly have requests that are out of the norm for our normal product offerings. This could include hinges in alternate locations for entry, different locking mechanisms, or even custom sizing or colors. Stahlin takes all of our requests in stride and always accommodates our needs. Their ability to quickly and efficiently direct us to a specific product offering within their extensive catalog is a testament to their experience and history in the non-metallic enclosure industry.” - Adrian B. Maurer, National Account Manager, Shoals Technologies Group
