Over current protection for charge controllers [RE-wrenches]

[Gary Higbee]

William,

The arrangement you described has been a pet peeve of mine for a long time.
I think I worked out once that this actually meets code (maybe relating to a
short tap?), but it sure seems like a bad practice to me, and I'd like to
hear a good reason why this is safe.

I don't know what other Wrenches do, but once I figured this was a bad idea
started installing appropriate overcurrent protection on BOTH sides of the
charge controller. This meant reworking Power Panels. As far as I'm
concerned 250 amps doesn't cut it--by a long shot!

It's interesting that you mention the PV array input goes through a 30 amp
breaker prior to the C-40. Every Power Panel I've seen has a 60 amp.

How about it Wrenches, what do you think of the Xantrex practice of
"protecting" the C-40 with a 250 amp breaker?

Gary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Gary Higbee  (gary at windstreamsolar.com)
                     (541 )607-1818 (Eugene)
                        (541) 954-3881 (Cell)
Solar, wind, and hydro site analysis and system design
    Components dealer and installation assistance
 ~ WindStream Solar (www.windstreamsolar.com) ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

----- Original Message -----
From: "William Miller" <wrmiller at slonet.org>
Subject: Over current protection for charge controllers [RE-wrenches]


> Friends:
>
> I know this has been covered before, but in a different context.  I am
> installing a Xantrex Integrated Power Panel.  It has one C-40 charge
> controller. The battery positive lead connects to the bottom of the GJ250
> circuit breaker.  The top of the breaker connects to the inverter AND to
> the C-40.  Shouldn't the C-40 have over current protection of a lower
> value?  It is protected now at 250 amps.  I figure it needs to be about 60
> amps (40*1.56=62.4).
>
> Also, Xantrex prewires the C-40 input through a 30 amp DC breaker.  This
is
> not right either, to my knowledge.  That breaker should also be 60 amps.

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