Solar panel alarm sensor

LiteSUN/LiteSUN PLUS for the protection of each individual panel, in any type of photovoltaic system (from small rooftop installations to large solar parks).

How the anti-theft system for photovoltaic panels works

For over 15 years, plastic optical fiber technology has been successfully used to prevent the theft of solar panels in systems of any size, installed both on the ground and on roofs, on trackers and shelters, at any latitude and in any climatic condition.

The solar panel anti-theft system works like a chain: the LiteWIRE plastic optical fiber cable is attached to each panel using specific bolts and connected to LiteSUN/LiteSUN Plus Easy/LiteSUN Plus Smart analyzers capable of detecting the cutting and/or bending of the fiber. When a theft attempt deforms or interrupts the fiber, the analyzer transmits the signal to the alarm control panel through a normally closed clean contact.

This system does not generate false alarms: only deformation and cutting of the plastic optical fiber during a theft attempt generate an alarm signal. The sensors are insensitive to vibrations (due to adverse weather conditions, birds, moving vehicles) and are compatible with any alarm control panel, siren or telephone dialer.

Plastic optical fiber is an insulating material, so the system is immune to electromagnetic interference.

The solar panel protection system is modular and adaptable to any type of installation:

Large photovoltaic fields manageable with LiteSUN/LiteSUN Plus boards (even with a combination of EASY and SMART analyzers depending on the configuration and length of the sails), customized offers and installation via the Termination Kit, reusable on multiple sites.
Small systems (max 24 panels) on the ground or roof/shelters manageable with LiteSUN/LiteSUN Plus EASY boards, in pre-assembled kits with a coil of plastic optical fiber, bolts and quick connectors to facilitate installation without the Termination Kit.

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The alarm system for photovoltaic systems consists of three elements:

Analyzer:
- LiteSUN Plus Smart (upgrade of LiteSUN Plus) is the top-of-the-range analyzer.
  Sensitive to cutting and deformation of the fiber, it manages up to 300m of cable. It can be configured as a master, transmitter or repeater according to the installation and alarm contact management needs: it allows loop, cascade, series, and hybrid installations. It allows monitoring of the installation phases (integrated Power Meter on each board to check the attenuation of the fiber at each step), adjustment of sensitivity and management of the alarm history through a Bluetooth APP on the field.
- LiteSUN Plus EASY is the analyzer suitable for small plants or with short rings. Sensitive to cutting and deformation of the fiber, it manages up to 180m of cable; low power consumption board.
- LiteSUN is the entry-level analyzer (recommended for hard-to-reach systems, such as rooftop ones, or as an integration of other alarm systems). Sensitive to cutting the plastic fiber, it manages up to 300m of cable, generates an alarm when the cable is interrupted. It can be configured as a master, transmitter or repeater according to the installation and alarm contact management needs: it allows loop, cascade, series, and hybrid installations.
LiteWIRE: plastic optical fiber cable with anti-UV additives for effective protection against material aging due to solar exposure; suitable for outdoor installations (tested from the cold of Mongolia to the heat of Mali).
Fasteners, made to our design: they serve to bind the fiber to the solar panels through the frame mounting holes (we advise against drilling the panels to avoid damaging the fiber and voiding the warranty on the modules):
- conical drilled bolt, makes it difficult to break and cannot be unscrewed when the fiber is fixed;
- drilled pin, for fixing on rooftop installations where the back of the panel is difficult to reach;
- fast bolt, to be used only with all LiteSUN Plus sensors, allows quick installation and easy maintenance of the panels; the fiber can be easily removed from the bolt, when the alarm is deactivated, allowing the panel to be replaced by authorized personnel.

Advantages of the solar panel alarm system

Fast and easy to install.
Protects all solar panels.
Zero false alarms (not sensitive to vibrations and electrical discharges).
Requires no maintenance.
Uses plastic optical fiber robust and very easy to repair (with a few tools, a connector is made, without the use of any measuring instrument).
Also suitable for existing systems.
Compatible with any alarm control panel/telephone dialer/siren.

Frequently asked questions

How many solar panels can I protect with an analyzer?
A range from approximately 100 to 200 photovoltaic panels. It depends on how the solar panels were installed (landscape or portrait), the sensor chosen, the distance between the panels and between the rows, whether single or double rows…Contact us to get a free quote and installation layout hypothesis for your project, which optimizes price and system efficiency.
Can I repair the plastic optical fiber?
Yes, the fiber can be easily repaired with two connectors and a mechanical joint. Everything can be done on the field in a few minutes, in any environmental condition, with simple tools as shown in this video.
Which alarm control panels are the LiteSUN, LiteSUN Plus Smart and LiteSUN Plus Easy analyzers compatible with?
The analyzers signal the alarm condition through a normally closed clean contact: they are therefore compatible with any alarm control panel.
Can I install this system on existing systems?
Yes, plastic optical fiber and sensors can be installed without problems on existing systems; it is only necessary to verify the possibility of fixing the bolts to the frame on the back of the panel. We can provide customized solutions in case of non-standard installations (e.g. bolts with different diameters).