> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learning.kent.co.in/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Kent M1 PV Wiring — Strings, Connectors, DC Protection

> PV envelope table, 500 V open-circuit ceiling, two-MPPT string rules, step-by-step connector assembly, and DC protection sizing for the Kent M1.

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.

<Warning>
  **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.
</Warning>

## The PV envelope

Use this table to validate every string design before installation:

| Parameter                                | Value                                       |
| ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Max string open-circuit voltage          | **500 V** (absolute ceiling — never exceed) |
| Operating MPPT window                    | 125–425 V (startup 125 V, rated 370 V)      |
| Full-power operation                     | Below 480 V (480–540 V = limited power)     |
| Max input current per MPPT               | 18 A (short-circuit 27 A)                   |
| MPPTs / strings                          | 2 MPPTs, **1 string per MPPT**              |
| Voltage difference between the two MPPTs | Keep **\< 250 V**                           |
| Recommended max PV — 3 kW model          | 4800 Wp                                     |
| Recommended max PV — 5 kW model          | 8000 Wp                                     |
| Recommended max PV — 6 kW model          | 9600 Wp                                     |

<Warning>
  **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.
</Warning>

## 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.

## Connector assembly

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select the cable">
    Use outdoor PV cable, **4–6 mm²**, rated for the string Voc and short-circuit current.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify before plugging in">
    Assemble the connector body, then measure the string voltage (must be ≤ 500 V) and confirm polarity with a multimeter.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect to the inverter">
    Push the connector into the inverter PV input until you feel and hear it **click** into lock.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cap unused inputs">
    Fit the supplied **waterproof covers on every unused PV input**. An open PV socket breaks the IP66 rating.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## PV DC protection

Every Kent M1 installation requires a **DC-rated PV breaker or isolator** upstream of the inverter:

| Specification | Minimum rating          |
| ------------- | ----------------------- |
| Current       | ≥ 32 A                  |
| Voltage       | ≥ 500 V                 |
| Rating type   | DC-rated (not AC-rated) |

<Note>
  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.
</Note>

## 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.

## 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.

## Related pages

* [Kent M1 Battery Wiring](/m1/battery-wiring)
* [Kent M1 Commissioning](/m1/commissioning)
* [Kent M1 Overview](/m1/overview)