Magnetek has unveiled a new generation of photovoltaic (PV) inverters for commercial and large residential solar power installations.

Magnetek has unveiled a new generation of photovoltaic (PV) inverters for commercial and large residential solar power installations. The new Aurora 5.0 and 6.0kW inverters recently passed compliance tests qualifying them for connectivity to the utility power grid in Germany, the largest solar power market in the world. Due to their excellent energy-harvesting capability, smaller Aurora inverters have been used in commercial installations, such as Whitehall Terminal in New York City, Manhattan's largest functioning building-integrated photovoltaic power system.

Like their smaller predecessors, the new Aurora inverters have been certified under VDEW and VDE0126 (Germany), but are designed expressly for commercial and large residential installations.

The 5.0kW model has a nominal output rating of 4.6kW to meet the single-phase capacity requirement in Germany.

Aurora transformerless inverters, which are more compact and lighter in weight than transformer-types, offer 97% peak efficiency (96% combined Euro efficiency) and an exceptionally wide DC input range - from 90 to 600V.

In addition, by means of proprietary maximum power point tracking (MPPT) circuitry and software, Aurora inverters can draw energy from multiple solar panels at different orientations to the sun.

This combination of features enables Aurora inverters to harvest more energy from practically any PV power installation, whether silicon-cell or thin-film based, and often allows solar system integrators and installers to use fewer inverters, thus reducing overall system cost.

Weighing only 25kg, the 5.0 and 6.0kW Aurora transformerless models offer the highest power density of any commercial outdoor inverters on the market today.

With IP65 (NEMA 4X) enclosures, robust waterproof construction, LCD and RS485 port for computer control, these inverters offer a wide range of communications options, allowing monitoring of up to 31 units working in parallel on a network.

Onboard data loggers come standard on all units.

In addition to the highest power density in the industry, the new 5.0 and 6.0kW Aurora models enable easy installation thanks to front-panel terminal access.

The new commercial Aurora models expand Magnetek's line of string inverters for the German market (from 2.0 to 6.0kW), and will soon be certified and available in the fast-growing Italian, Spanish and North American markets as well.