NFPA has said, unlike the utility, solar collectors are somewhat self protecting. If the conductors are sized to more than the maximum output of the collector the conductors are capable of handling anything the collector can throw at them.
Because this power is so expensive on a per watt basis they usually oversize for voltage drop to the point that overcurrent is seldom a problem.
I was always curious what happens when you have a bolted fault in a solar array.
If I have a 1kw array feeding a 1kw toaster wire heater it produces 3400 BTU of heat. (give or take)
If I have a 1kw array feeding a bolted fault where does the 3400 BTU go? Do the collectors burn up or does the imbalance of impedance cause the voltage to drop to close to zero, cutting off the current?
