What an Array Junction Box Is, and What We Build

An array junction box (AJB) combines the DC output of several PV strings into one organised, protected connection point, mounted on or near the array structure itself. String cables land in the AJB first — each on its own DC fuse — a DC surge protection device shunts lightning-induced surges at the closest possible point to the modules, and a disconnector lets the whole string group be isolated for maintenance without touching the rest of the array.

Wisdom Techno Solutions builds AJBs at our Vadodara works in UV-stable polycarbonate or powder-coated steel enclosures, IP65 for open structure mounting, with MC4 connectors and glands sized to the actual string cable schedule. Devices conform to IEC 60947 and IS 8623, and the assembly follows IEC 61439-1 practice and MNRE guidelines. Because the AJB lives outdoors on the structure — the harshest location any board in the plant occupies — enclosure execution and gland-plate detail matter as much as the electrical bill of material.

  • DC fuse per string in touch-safe holders, rated for string current and system voltage
  • DC surge protection device at the closest point to the array — where it does the most good
  • DC isolator so a string group is isolated without shutting the plant
  • UV-stable, weather-resistant enclosures with proper gland-plate detail
  • MC4 plug-in cabling — strings connect and disconnect without opening terminations
  • Labelled per string to the drawing, so fault-finding on the roof is not guesswork

Array Junction Box Technical Specifications

The table below is the standard build. String count, fuse rating and SPD class are set from the array layout, the string voltage at the lowest site temperature and the plant's lightning-protection design.

ParameterSpecification
Board type Array junction box — combines the DC output of PV strings into one organised, protected connection point on the array structure
Position in the plant On or near the module mounting structure, upstream of the DCDB and inverter
String inputs Configured to the array layout — typically 2 to 12 strings per box
String protection DC fuse per string in a touch-safe fuse holder, rated for string current and system voltage
Surge protection DC surge protection device rated for the string system voltage
Disconnection DC isolator or disconnector so the string group can be isolated safely
DC voltage built to the string system voltage stated in your design documents
Enclosure Polycarbonate or powder-coated sheet steel; UV-stable, weather-resistant
Ingress protection IP65 for outdoor structure mounting; IP54 where indoor
Cable interface MC4 connectors and cable glands sized to the string cable schedule
Component standards IEC 60947 and IS 8623 compliant devices; enclosure ingress per IEC 60529
Assembly practice IEC 61439-1 practice and MNRE guidelines for solar installations
Testing Routine tests and inspection at the works before dispatch, with test report
Facility Kotambi, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Delivery 6 to 7 weeks from drawing approval, subject to switchgear availability

AJB vs DCDB — Two Different DC Boards

Array Junction Box (AJB)DCDB
Where it sitsOn the array structure, at the stringsNear the inverter
JobCollects and protects strings at the sourceCombines AJB outputs into one protected DC feed to the inverter
EnvironmentFully outdoor — sun, rain, dustUsually sheltered or indoor
Typical enclosureUV-stable polycarbonate, IP65Polycarbonate or metal-clad, IP54/IP65

Small rooftop plants sometimes merge the two jobs into one box; larger plants keep them separate so a structure-level fault is isolated at the structure. The DC-side chain is: strings → AJB → DCDB → inverter, and the whole package is described on the solar BOS electrical package page.

What to Send for an Array Junction Box Quotation

The array layout (strings per AJB, modules per string), the string voltage at the lowest expected site temperature and the string short-circuit current, the mounting location (structure, wall, height), the SPD class from the lightning-protection design, and the cable and connector schedule. With these the box is engineered without assumptions — send them through the Get a Quote form.

Common Mistakes in AJB Specifications

  • Fuse rating copied from the module STC current — it must account for irradiance enhancement and the fuse manufacturer's derating
  • SPD omitted "because the DCDB has one" — the AJB sits closest to the modules and sees the induced surge first
  • IP54 specified for open structure mounting — an AJB in the open needs IP65 and UV-stable material
  • Glands sized before the cable schedule is final — re-drilling a sealed enclosure on the roof costs the IP rating
  • No string labelling requirement — unlabelled boxes turn every string fault into an afternoon of measurement

How Wisdom Techno Solutions Builds Array Junction Boxes

AJBs are built at the Kotambi works with the same discipline as our LT switchboards: devices per the approved bill of material, wiring verified against the drawing, insulation resistance and functional checks in routine testing, and the test report shipped with the boxes. Repeat orders for the same plant design ship against the proven drawing, which is what solar EPCs running multiple sites actually need.

Related Technical Guides

Related Panel Types

If this is not the right fit for your layout, these are the related products we build to the same standard:

Send Your Single Line Diagram

Email your single line diagram, load list and system fault level and our engineers will come back with a technical offer. Not sure what to send? See what a panel manufacturer needs in order to quote accurately.

Manufacturer Wisdom Techno Solutions
Works Plot 9, Nilkanth Industrial Park 1, near Kotambi Stadium, Kamrol, Kotambi, Vadodara, Gujarat 391510, India
Email connect@wisdomtechnosolutions.com
Phone +91 80002 29727
Working hours Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm IST
Delivery lead time 6 to 7 weeks from drawing approval, subject to switchgear availability

Frequently Asked Questions About Array Junction Boxes

What is an array junction box in a solar plant?
It is the DC collection box mounted on or near the module structure. PV string cables land in it, each string gets its own DC fuse, a DC surge protection device protects against lightning-induced surges, and a disconnector allows the string group to be isolated. From the AJB, one combined DC output runs to the DCDB or inverter.
Is an AJB the same as a DCDB?
No. The AJB sits at the array, on the structure, collecting strings at the source; the DCDB sits near the inverter, combining AJB outputs into one protected DC feed. Small plants sometimes merge the jobs into one box, but on larger plants they are separate boards in separate locations.
How many strings can one AJB take?
Typical configurations run 2 to 12 strings per box, set by the array layout — how the strings group physically on the structure — rather than by an electrical limit. The right grouping keeps string cable runs short and fault-finding simple.
What protection does an AJB carry?
A DC fuse per string in a touch-safe holder, a DC surge protection device rated for the string system voltage, and a DC isolator for the group. All DC-rated — an AC device of the same frame is not a substitute, because DC arcs do not self-extinguish.
What enclosure does an outdoor AJB need?
IP65, UV-stable — polycarbonate or powder-coated steel — with proper gland-plate detail and, ideally, a small rain canopy. The AJB occupies the harshest location of any board in the plant, so enclosure execution matters as much as the electrical components.
Which standards apply to array junction boxes?
Devices conform to IEC 60947 and IS 8623, enclosure ingress protection per IEC 60529, and the assembly follows IEC 61439-1 practice and MNRE guidelines for solar installations.
Do you build AJBs to an EPC's approved drawing?
Yes — anything project-specific is built to the EPC's approved drawing, and repeat orders ship against the proven design. Standard configurations are available where the project does not carry its own drawing.
What should I send to get a quotation?
The array layout with strings per box and modules per string, string voltage at the lowest expected site temperature, string short-circuit current, the mounting location, the SPD class required, and the cable and connector schedule. Send it through the Get a Quote form.

Page updated: 17 September 2026