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Wiring the PV array into the Kent M1 starts with confirming the strings sit inside the electrical envelope, then assembling the connectors correctly. Get this wrong and you risk destroying the inverter in daylight — get it right and the array runs safely for decades.
DANGER — PV strings are live in daylight. Measure every string and verify polarity before any connector goes in. Wrong current, voltage, or polarity can destroy the inverter and endanger people.

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The PV envelope

Use this table to validate every string design before installation:
ParameterValue
Max string open-circuit voltage500 V (absolute ceiling — never exceed)
Operating MPPT window125–425 V (startup 125 V, rated 370 V)
Full-power operationBelow 480 V (480–540 V = limited power)
Max input current per MPPT18 A (short-circuit 27 A)
MPPTs / strings2 MPPTs, 1 string per MPPT
Voltage difference between the two MPPTsKeep < 250 V
Recommended max PV — 3 kW model4800 Wp
Recommended max PV — 5 kW model8000 Wp
Recommended max PV — 6 kW model9600 Wp
Pending Kent validation — do not use for string design without review. [KNB-VAL-09] The full-power MPPT band per Kent M1 model is under OEM confirmation. Until published here, design strings to sit comfortably inside the operating window at record cold and record hot site temperatures, and log the Voc temperature-corrected calculation in the design pack.

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Rules before the first connector

Read every rule before you pick up a connector:
  • Polarity first. String positive goes to PV+, negative to PV−. Verify with a multimeter before plugging in.
  • PV conductors are never earthed. This is a non-isolated topology. Module frames are earthed; PV+ and PV− are not — ever.
  • One module type per string, one orientation per string. No mixed makes, mixed tilts, or mixed azimuths within a string or across two strings sharing an MPPT.
  • Use only the PV connectors supplied in the accessory kit. Mixed-brand or off-specification connectors void warranty coverage for any resulting damage.
  • Do not open the PV DC switch under load. Shut the machine down first, then open the switch.

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Connector assembly

1

Select the cable

Use outdoor PV cable, 4–6 mm², rated for the string Voc and short-circuit current.
2

Strip and crimp

Strip 7–8 mm of insulation and crimp the PV terminal with the correct PV crimping tool — never use a generic ferrule crimper.
3

Verify before plugging in

Assemble the connector body, then measure the string voltage (must be ≤ 500 V) and confirm polarity with a multimeter.
4

Connect to the inverter

Push the connector into the inverter PV input until you feel and hear it click into lock.
5

Cap unused inputs

Fit the supplied waterproof covers on every unused PV input. An open PV socket breaks the IP66 rating.

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PV DC protection

Every Kent M1 installation requires a DC-rated PV breaker or isolator upstream of the inverter:
SpecificationMinimum rating
Current≥ 32 A
Voltage≥ 500 V
Rating typeDC-rated (not AC-rated)
The inverter includes built-in Type II DC surge protection, PV insulation-resistance detection, PV reverse-polarity protection, and DC-arc detection (AFCI). An external DC SPD is still good practice on sites with high surge exposure.

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Common mistakes

  • Calculating Voc at 25 °C and ignoring cold-morning voltage rise — the 500 V ceiling is absolute at all temperatures.
  • Paralleling two strings into one MPPT because “they fitted” — one string per MPPT, always.
  • Hand-tightened or mixed-brand PV connectors — loose connectors are a documented fire cause.
  • Leaving the second PV input open to the weather on single-string sites — cap it.

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When to escalate

Escalate to Kent New Energy service only — through your registered Kent partner channel or the Kent service desk details on your work order. Do not contact any third-party or component-manufacturer support line for a Kent-branded system: tickets outside the Kent channel are not tracked, not covered, and can void warranty handling.