Junction box and contact element for photovoltaic modules

A junction box for a conductor board, in particular for a solar module, comprising:

• a base carrier with at least one opening area for inserting at least one electrical conductor of the conductor board;
• at least one contact element for electrical contact with at least one conductor of the conductor board;
• and
• at least one electrical output for outputting electric power of the conductor board, which is electrically connected with the at least one contact element, wherein:
• each contact element is integrally or monolithically fowled of metal and comprises a clamping area, a contact device, a terminal contact spring receptacle, an insertion area and a resilient terminal contact spring arranged in the insertion area, said insertion area being a hollow which is formed by the terminal contact spring receptacle;
• the terminal contact spring receptacle comprises two terminal contact spring fixing areas and a terminal contact area, said terminal contact area being located in the insertion area;
• the terminal contact spring comprises two fixing areas, each of which is to engage with the corresponding terminal contact spring fixing area of the terminal contact spring receptacle
• by application of a force to the terminal contact spring along a direction of force, the at least one terminal contact spring is resiliently operable such that the at least one electrical conductor is arrangeable in at least one area between the terminal contact area and the at least one terminal contact spring;
• and wherein:
• each contact element comprises the following contact configurations:
• first contact configuration:
• the contact element is configured such that the at least one electrical conductor is insertable into the insertion area of the contact element along a first insertion direction and the at least one electrical conductor is contactable with the contact element by means of the terminal contact spring in the insertion area;
• second contact configuration:
• the contact element is configured such that the at least one electrical conductor is insertable into the insertion area of the contact element along a second insertion direction and the at least one electrical conductor is contactable with the contact element of the terminal contact spring in the insertion area, wherein the first and the second insertion direction are opposite to each other;
• third contact configuration:
• the contact element is configured such that the at least one electrical conductor is insertable into the clamping area of the contact element and contactable with the contact device of the contact element along a third insertion direction, wherein the contact device is arranged outside the insertion area and the third insertion direction is oriented substantially perpendicular to both of the first and the second insertion directions.