If you have a problem with an afci arc fault circuit interrupter shutting off in you main electrical panel you re not alone.
Solar panel arc fault.
Combine the dc arc with a combustable material and fire is the result.
Unless alternative environmental factors are at play solar panel fires are caused by one thing dc arc faults.
Older inverters did not have arc fault detection but new generation inverters do.
You ll find afcis in the main electrical panel or a subpanel.
This arcing translates to heat which can break down the insulation surrounding individual conducting.
Solve an afci tripping problem.
When the sun rises the solar panels start producing power the bare conductors become live causing a dc arc fault and building fire.
Afci in main panel.
As required by the national electric code nec manual intervention is required to reset the inverter back to normal operation after an arc fault.
Everyone reading this is nodding along thinking of the times a system they installed was falsely tripped or even worse when an arc fault was completely missed by the detection system.
Replacing old inverters in an array with older solar panels may result in new arc fault errors.
It s worth understanding the 3 main types of.
Integrating afci functionality within the pv system inverter eliminates the cost and effort of installing additional arc fault circuit protection components to meet 2011 nec section 690 11 requirements.
Sma sunny boy us inverters are now available with integrated arc fault circuit interrupter afci functionality.
It is practically impossible for a solar installer to check all of the seals are waterproof preventing water ingress and to also check that all of the cable joints are not corroded and subject to high impedance.
Reset an arc fault breaker like you would a standard circuit breaker.