Positive and Negative Wires

Electricians are more used to AC wiring

because all building wiring is in AC. During
building wiring, the electricians connects a
load between a live wire and a neutral wire.

However, in DC wiring of a solar system there

may be many positive and negative wires
coming from the different strings. This can
cause confusion and mistakes.
Difference between AC and DC Side wiring
• In DC current continues to flow in one direction,
which makes it difficult to pull your hand away, if you
come in contact with DC, whereas AC continuously
changes polarity, which gives a repulsive shock and
makes it easier to pull your hand away.

• In AC, Voltage can be easily stepped up or stepped

down with Transformer. But In DC, we add voltages
by connecting solar modules in series. When we
connect identical Power Sources in Series, it adds up
voltage, and in parallel it adds up current.
Difference between AC and DC Side wiring
• In DC wiring, to make Series Connection positive of source V1 is connected
to negative of next source v2. The equivalent output voltage is V1 Plus V2.

• Now since polarity of AC output reverses constantly, there is no concept of a

series connection. It is therefore easier to understand.
Series Connection

AC1 AC2 AC3

V1=5V, 1A V2=5V, 1A V3=5V, 1A V1=5V, 1A, V2=5V, 1A, V3=5V, 1A,

50Hz 50Hz 50Hz

AC System
DC System

15V, 1A ?
Parallel Connection V1=5 V, 1 A V2=5 V, 1 A V3=5 V, 1 A

• In DC wiring, to make parallel

V6=5 V, 1 A
connections positive Terminals of all V4=5 V, 1 A V5=5 V, 1 A

power sources are connected together

to give one positive output, and all DC System AC1
negative terminals are connected to give
V1=5V, 1A,
one negative output. In the equivalent 15 V, 2 A 50Hz
source voltage remains same, and
output current is sum of current Synchronizer

received from all power sources.

AC2
• Now in AC wiring take the example of a grid tied inverter being
connected to as the polarity of terminals of AC Source AC1 V2=5V, 1A, 50Hz
changes continuously, which does not match with the polarity of
other power source AC2. Devices called Synchronizers are used AC System
which match polarity of one AC power source to other and then
join them.
?
Difference between AC and DC Side wiring
• Positive wire is always identified by its red colour, and black colour wires are used for
negative wires.

• Even after that if you get confused which terminal is Positive and Negative, test it with
Multimeter in Voltage mode. If Multimeter gives positive voltage value, red wire of
Multimeter is correctly connected to positive wire.
Difference between AC and DC Side wiring
DC Voltage Risks
• Risk on accidently touching a power Source like battery or Solar Panel output, is
proportional to the voltage from the source. Higher the voltage, more life-threatening
will be the risk. As more number of DC Power Sources are connected in series, voltage
of the system keeps on increasing.

• DC Voltage above 72 Volts is dangerous, and should never be directly touched

DC ELV LV HV
32 V 72 V
AC ELV LV HV
50 V 110 V
Difference between AC and DC Side wiring
Earthing of Panels
• If string voltage of Panels is above 72 Volts DC,
Earthing must be provided to all the
components for personal safety.

• Connect Earthing Wire of the respective

building to one of the panel, and then
interconnect all panels with green earthing
wires of minimum thickness 0.75 mm as shown
here.