Another problem in the USA is the lack of a compatible safety device called the grounding circuit or GFCI. They are usually built into sockets installed near water sources, such as sink, washing machine or bathtub. They are designed to minimize the risk of electric shock by cutting off the power when, for example, a hair dryer falls into the sink. However, in the United States there are no certified GFCI points designed with devices that consume energy, such as a mixer, and those that generate it, such as sunlight configuration. Andreas Schmitz, mechanic and YouTuber engineer in Germany, who in Germany, who in Germany, the equivalent of GFCI, called the residual current device, can detect two -way power flows, said Andreas Schmitz, mechanic engineer and youtuber in Germany.
Some people raised concerns about the shock to touch the metal teeth of the plug after disconnecting the ballroom sunlight. The German regulatory authorities took into account this by requiring a microinweter – which transforms the currents from the panel into electricity fed to the house – immediately down in the failure or when it is suddenly disconnected. Most of them already have this function, but each American standard will probably have to formalize this requirement.
Lack Standard Laboratories (UL) insurance is perhaps the biggest obstacle to the adoption of the sun’s balcony. The company certifies the safety of thousands of home electrical products; According to Iowa State University“Each bulb, lamp or socket purchased in the US usually has a symbol ul and says that the ul lists.” This ensures customers that the product is consistent with the guidelines recognized in the country and can be used Without the risk of fire or shock.
While some companies were selling sunlit devices in the USA without a ul. UL, felf of business approval is usually a condition for selling products on a wider market. Consumers can be careful about using something that does not approve it. For example, the novel solar policy of balconies in Utah specifies that the law only applies to products on the list of ul.
Achim Ginsberg-Klemmt, Vice President for Engineering in the Radiant Plug-in Radiant Startup GismopowerHe has been working on creating such a standard for over a year and a half. In 2023, the Energy Department awarded its company a subsidy for work with ul. To develop a standard.
Gismopower sells a mobile windbreaker with a roof of solar panels and an integrated electric vehicle charger. Unlike the solar on the roof, the system does not have to be mounted on the spot, but it can be rolled into the driveway and connected, producing electricity to the car, home and net. “Basically, we transfer Solar to a higher level,” thanks to which it is portable and available to tenants, said Ginsberg-Klemmt. The product is used in Pilot sites Throughout the country, although the lack of standardized rules regarding the Solar plugin, forced the company to negotiate connection contracts with local tools-time consuming and costly.
The Gismopower product avoids one of the biggest technical challenges with a solar balcony by connecting to a dedicated 240-volt outlet, typically used for dryers. Such a socket supports one device and uses a dedicated circuit, which bypassing the risk of overload. But it runs in the same obstacle of the lack of a compatible standard of Ginsberg-Klemmt ul. “We found so many road blocks,” said Grist.