Cooper Industries to Demonstrate Complete "Balance of System" Solar Solutions at Intersolar North America 2011

HOUSTON, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), a global provider of electrical products and solutions, announces it is exhibiting its integrated solar mounting and wiring, power management, and circuit management and protection solutions at Intersolar North America 2011 through July 14 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

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Building on its history of expertise and innovation, Cooper Industries develops solutions that fulfill complete balance of system needs, helping to decrease overall installation and ongoing maintenance costs of solar systems. Multiple Cooper divisions, including Cooper B-Line, Cooper Bussmann, Cooper Crouse-Hinds, Cooper Power Systems and Cooper Wiring Devices will showcase Cooper's range of solar products at Intersolar North America in Booth #7722.  

Cooper Bussmann will exhibit several new products at the event. The introduction of the Lightning Current and Two Module Surge Arrester for photovoltaic installations follows the October 2010 release of the three module surge arresters for 600, 1000 and 1200Vdc systems featuring the patented Short-Circuit Interrupting (SCI) technology.  With encapsulated spark-gap technology, the lightning current arrester provides protection of the PV cells, strings, arrays and inverters in case of direct or indirect lightning currents and is rated to SPD Class I according to IEC 61643-1.  The prewired combined lightning current and surge arrester is for use in photovoltaic installations up to 1000V UCPV.

Also, on display for Cooper Bussmann will be the new 1500Vdc Photovoltaic Fuses. With the highest single rating ever achieved by a fuse manufacturer in this package size, the new line represents a breakthrough in fuse design and performance. Selected fuses are UL and CCC accredited to support a global application design.

Cooper B-Line will showcase its versatile ARISTATM Monolithic Solar Mounting System for solar PV commercial rooftop applications as well as its new EnviroShield Type 3R Wireway System. The innovative ARISTA racking system offers several key advantages including decreased installation and labor cost, high flexibility to support wide-ranging project needs, and building code compliance in both the United States and Canada. The ARISTA Monolithic Racking System is designed with a limited number of components and features pre-assembled fittings, which yield significant installation time and labor savings. In addition, the ARISTA system readily adapts to both portrait and landscape panel mounting and accommodates virtually any PV panel size. Also on display will be the EnviroShield Type 3R Wireway System the industry's first quick-connecting, code-compliant Type 3R cable management system for outdoor commercial, industrial and solar photovoltaic (PV) applications. The system features removable covers and a lay-in design to ease cable installation, and Cooper B-Line's patented "quick-connect" feature eliminates the need for loose hardware.

In addition, Cooper Interconnect, a leading manufacturer of interconnect solutions for industrial harsh environment applications and part of Cooper Wiring Devices, will be at the show displaying its SUNNECTOR™ solar assemblies and harnesses. The product line includes whip and jumper assemblies, parallel circuit array harnesses, home run harnesses, and custom solutions to meet the needs of complex solar projects. SUNNECTOR products were designed for quick and easy installation and to lower costs of a solar installation. They can be used in wide-ranging applications including combiner boxes, portable power systems, and inverters, and in a variety of settings from rural residential applications to industrial or utility applications.

Already working with top solar PV developers, integrators and inverter manufacturers on projects throughout North America, Cooper Power Systems offers innovative and customizable Envirotran™ Solar transformers for greater efficiency and reliability in medium voltage step-up applications. Envirotran Solar transformers are filled exclusively with Envirotemp™ FR3™ dielectric fluid, a sustainable alternative to traditional mineral oil, offering exceptional fire-resistant properties and a reduced environmental impact.

In addition, Cooper Power Systems offers a full line of molded rubber parts and substation products such as capacitors, arresters, relays, switchgear, and automation communication systems to ensure that the quality of the electricity generated meets the grid interconnection requirements. Cooper Power Systems also has an extensive line of CYME Power Engineering Software that features advanced analysis tools for transmission, distribution and industrial power systems.

"Cooper Industries is proud to be exhibiting at Intersolar North America 2011, which is sure to be one of the biggest solar exhibitions to date," said Cooper Industries CEO Kirk Hachigian. "We are excited about the continually advancing solar technologies and strive to develop products that exceed the industry's needs. Products like Cooper B-Line's ARISTA Monolithic mounting system and Cooper Bussmann's Surge Protective Devices are indicative of our commitment to being a leader in the industry, and of our dedication to providing superior products and expertise to our customers."

In addition to Cooper Industries' latest products, a variety of solutions comprise Cooper's balance of system offerings, including combiner boxes.  Available from both Cooper Bussmann and Cooper Crouse-Hinds, combiner boxes provide the housing to combine and connect the conductors from several arrays or solar panels into one main buss or feed.

With a variety of fusible configurations up to 1000Vdc with 50kA IR, Cooper Bussmann Combiner Boxes provide the ultimate in protection for sensitive photovoltaic systems.  Customers are able to protect and connect two to 24 photovoltaic strings or arrays with complete flexibility in enclosure types and fusing options.  Whether standard, compact or integrated disconnect, all configurations are ETL Listed to UL 1741 and include IP20 finger-safe CH Series modular fuse holders.

For remote applications, solar kits from Cooper Crouse-Hinds eliminate the need for expensive utility power investments. Solar kits are installed in weatherproof enclosures to withstand harsh weather conditions and high wind loads.  

Intersolar North America will host over 800 exhibitors and 22,000 visitors and is a continuation of the world's largest series of exhibitions by Intersolar, which also holds shows in Munich, Mumbai and Shanghai. Intersolar North America focuses on photovoltaics and solar thermal technologies and hosts exhibitors that include PV cell, module and inverter manufacturers, components and mounting systems suppliers, manufacturing system suppliers, service companies as well as manufacturers of solar thermal applications including heating and cooling, among others.

With more than 100 years of experience in the traditional power generation market, Cooper Industries has always worked with its customers' changing energy needs and is committed to being a trusted business partner as the solar power market continues to grow. Cooper Industries recognizes the benefits that complete balance of system solutions provide, and offers innovative, cost-effective solutions for customers by providing a complete line of products for commercial solar projects.

Representatives from Cooper Industries and its divisions will be on hand throughout Intersolar North America 2011. Attendees and interested media are encouraged to visit Cooper at Booth #7722 or www.cooperindustries.com to learn more.

About Cooper B-Line

Cooper B-Line, a subsidiary of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), is a global provider of innovative, labor-saving support systems and enclosure solutions for engineered facility subsystem applications.  Cooper B-Line's products are used in a variety of settings for the commercial, industrial, utility and OEM markets.   For more information, visit www.cooperbline.com.

About Cooper Bussmann

Cooper Bussmann, the industry leader in critical circuit protection, power management and electrical safety, is a division of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The company is committed to the development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative circuit and power electronics protection and power management products; and provides engineering, training and testing services globally for the electrical, electronics and transportation industries. The company provides superior brands, including Cooper Bussmann^® circuit protection products and services, Coiltronics^® magnetics, and OMNEX Trusted Wireless^® systems. Additional information about Cooper Bussmann is available online at www.cooperbussmann.com.

About Cooper Crouse-Hinds

Headquartered in Syracuse, N.Y., Cooper Crouse-Hinds integrates a comprehensive line of electrical and instrumentation products with expert support, industry insights and local availability to improve safety and productivity in the most demanding industrial and commercial environments worldwide.  Cooper Crouse-Hinds manufactures over 100,000 electrical construction materials, including conduit and cable fittings; enclosures; plugs and receptacles; industrial lighting fixtures; controls and electrical apparatus and commercial outlet boxes and hubs. Cooper Crouse-Hinds electrical construction products are used in general construction or in harsh and hazardous environments across the globe, performing to the highest standard of safety and reliability. For more information, visit www.crouse-hinds.com.

About Cooper Power Systems

Cooper Power Systems, Inc., with 2010 revenues of approximately $1.2 billion, is a division of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE). Cooper Power Systems is a global manufacturer of world-class power delivery and reliability solutions for the electrical and industrial markets. Through its Energy Automation Solutions group, it is also a leading provider of software, communications and integration solutions that enable customers to increase productivity, improve system reliability, and reduce costs. For more information, please visit www.cooperpower.com or www.cooperpowereas.com.

About Cooper Wiring Devices

Cooper Wiring Devices, a trusted name in electrical products, features Arrow Hart commercial and industrial solutions, CORE Lighting Controls, residential wiring devices and Cooper Interconnect industrial, military, aerospace, and subsea connectivity solutions. Cooper Wiring Devices is committed to providing products that increase productivity, energy efficiency, safety at work and in the home, and provide reliable performance. Cooper Interconnect, a Cooper Wiring Devices' business unit, is a leading manufacturer of sophisticated interconnect solutions for demanding environments and features well-known brands such as G&H, WPI, Burton, General Connector brands  Cam-Lok, and Thorkom. A division of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), Cooper Wiring Devices is headquartered in Peachtree City, GA with international manufacturing and distribution facilities. For more information on Cooper Wiring Devices visit www.cooperwiringdevices.com.

About Cooper Industries

Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE) is a global electrical products manufacturer with 2010 revenues of $5.1 billion. Founded in 1833, Cooper's sustained success is attributable to a constant focus on innovation, evolving business practices while maintaining the highest ethical standards and meeting customer needs. The Company has seven operating divisions with leading market positions and world-class products and brands including: Bussmann electrical and electronic fuses; Crouse-Hinds and CEAG explosion-proof electrical equipment; Halo and Metalux lighting fixtures; and Kyle and McGraw-Edison power systems products. With this broad range of products, Cooper is uniquely positioned for several long-term growth trends including the global infrastructure build-out, the need to improve the reliability and productivity of the electric grid, the demand for higher energy-efficient products and the need for improved electrical safety. In 2010 fifty-nine percent of total sales were to customers in the industrial and utility end-markets and thirty-nine percent of total sales were to customers outside the United States. Cooper has manufacturing facilities in 23 countries as of 2011. For more information, visit the website at www.cooperindustries.com.

SOURCE Cooper Industries plc