Release notes 2.55

📢 What's new

New features

Harness manager

The new Harness manager brings several updates to the previous harness logic in Ground Mount.

Harnesses are no longer included in the system types; they are now configured via the Harness button in the Electrical devices tab.

To design a layout with harnesses:

1. Go to the Electrical devices tab
2. Click on the Harness button to enable the harness manager (in the Actions section)
3. Select the Enable harness system checkbox

You will know that harnesses are active when the harness indicator switches from red to green.

Harness system options

For fixed-tilt layouts, only the End harness option is available. For trackers, in addition to the End harness type, Parallel harness and Motor harness are also available.

End harness
This is the traditional harness system, where strings are collected across a row of frames in a single collection point.

Parallel harness
With this system, strings are collected along the harness in multiple collection points.

Motor harness
This harness system places the collection points in the motor area of the tracker frames.

In addition to the changes in harness configuration, there is now a new system type available: Trunk to Central Inverter.

For all harness connection types, cable extensions from harness to their connection points are also available in the Bill of Materials in new tabs.
Voltage drop and suggested cable cross-sections are also calculated for these new cable extensions, if the option for voltage drop is toggled on in the cabling tab.

Improvements

Middle connection stringing

This new custom stringing method enables you to create strings with connections in the middle of the frame. In order to create the middle connection custom stringing, follow the steps below:

1. Select custom stringing and your frame in the design
2. Select the starting position for the stringing plan in the middle of the frame
3. Click on one end of the frame, and then on the opposite end
4. Finish with a double click on where you want the string to end, near the starting middle point
5. When the endpoint of the string is put next to the starting point, you will see a pop-up asking for a stringing type for the middle connection. Here, you can choose between single row and leapfrog stringing types.

Effective area coverage in Layout information

We added an optional Effective area coverage metric to the Layout Information table.It’s calculated as the ratio of projected frames area (m²) over the installation area (m²), where the installation area is defined as the single hatch that encloses all frames in the PV area.
This new indicator supports French regulatory requirements for agrivoltaic installations ("Taux de couverture").

Minor updates & bug fixes

Transformers no longer removed when generating devices for a different system type

When you switch system types and then generate electrical devices, transformers will no longer be removed if you select the Remove option in the dialog.

Toggling an area off in Layout Information no longer hides electrical devices

Disabling an area in the layout information now only affects the visibility of mechanical layers, ensuring that electrical devices remain visible. This way, you can clearly distinguish mechanical and electrical design stages.