Arc Fault Circuit Breakers on SW iinverters [RE-wrenches]

[Doug Pratt]

Hi Nick,
  I went through this with a Sonoma Co. inspector a couple months ago.
Many of our residential inverters can't deliver the amperage that the
testing device requires. I emailed the inspector and attached the spec
sheet for DR inverters, as that's what the homeowner had. Once the
inspector looked at the specs for the tester (I think it required
something like a 70A surge), and looked at the specs for the inverter,
he immediately sent a very nice, "...oops! We sure missed that one! No
problem..." letter and passed the residence with his boss's blessing
thrown in.

Doug Pratt
Real Goods Technical Editor

PS: email me at work doug at realgoods.com, and I can probably dig up all
the particulars for you.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Nicholas [mailto:APS at SBCGLOBAL.NET] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 12:43 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: Arc Fault Circuit Breakers on SW iinverters [RE-wrenches]

Hello wrenches:
    We (APS) have powered off grid home which we have provided
electrical
contracting services for the residential wiring and solar / equipment
wiring.  As you may know, Arc Fault Breakers are required for bedroom
receptacle circuits.  The AFCI Breakers can be tested with a device
which
causes an arc, and makes the breaker to trip.
    The problem that we are having  is that the AFCI tester will not
cause
the breaker to trip in time.   The SW-5548 inverter is feeding a T-240,
therefore we only have 25 Amps available at 240 VAC at the residence.
This
may not be enough current available.  The county inspectors have
resisted
giving the home a final electrical inspection.
    Has anyone else seen anything like this?

            Nick Nicholas
            Chief of Engineering
            Alternative Power Systems, Inc.
            135 Colfax Ave. Grass Valley CA 959545
            530-274-0588 530-274-0589 530-913-5605
            aps at sbcglobal.net alternativepowersystems.com

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