Patent ID: 8536741
Filing Date: 2013-09-17
Classification: H01H,H01L,H02S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A thermostatically controlled terminal box, comprising: a housing comprising a base with a first surface structured to be attachable to a photovoltaic module, wherein temperature of the first surface increases when the photovoltaic module is exposed to solar radiation; a bypass diode disposed in the housing and structured to be electrically connectable to a set of photovoltaic cells in the photovoltaic module, wherein temperature of the bypass diode increases when the set of photovoltaic cells is shaded from the solar radiation; two output terminals structured to be electrically connectable to the photovoltaic module to output voltage generated by the photovoltaic module; and a thermal switch comprising two terminals electrically connected to the two output terminals, operable to detect temperature rise of the terminal box to a threshold temperature and short-circuit the two output terminals in response to the temperature rise of the terminal box to the threshold temperature, wherein the terminal box is structured to prevent the thermal switch from erroneous short-circuit due to influence of the temperature rise of the first surface and the bypass diode.