Tripping breaker [RE-wrenches]

Darryl Thayer daryl_solar at yahoo.com
Fri May 4 04:52:10 PDT 2007


Thanks William
But does not the "breaker in the unit protect the
inverter?  I am not familiar with this unit.  Indeed
is the disconnect in the unit a breaker (OC device) or
a switch?  

As to external to inverter disconnects, I sure do like
them for service.  

Darryl

--- William Miller <wrmiller at charter.net> wrote:

> 
> Darryl:
> 
> Using a 40 amp breaker, regardless of wire size,
> violates the UL listing of 
> the inverter.  The inverter data sheet states:
> 
>          "Maximum AC over current protection
> Two-pole, 15 / 20 A circuit 
> breaker"
> 
> I know this-- I've been caught with the wrong
> breaker size.
> 
> You could, however, install a 40 amp feeder to the
> inverter as long as your 
> 15 or 20A breaker is in line before the inverter. 
> Unless you have lock-out 
> capabilities at the breaker panel, an AC
> disconnecting means within line of 
> sight of the inverter is advisable anyway (and same
> with the DC feeder).
> 
> William Miller
> 
> 
> At 07:07 AM 5/3/2007, you wrote:
> 
> >Hi Andrew
> >it sounds like overheat.  It is commom to have
> >breakers trip when next to other warm breakers or a
> >very warm panel.  Breakers are themal devices, they
> >trip because of heat or surge and a magnetic coil.
> >They are all thermal-magnetic.
> >
> >One idea is to place your breaker at the lowest
> >position in the cabnet.  Another is the change wire
> >and go with a 40 amp breaker.  The breaker trips
> >because of the combination of internal generated
> heat
> >and cabinet heat.
> >Darryl
> >--- Andrew Truitt <atruitt at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Wrenches,
> > >
> > > We are having issues with a backfeed breaker
> from a
> > > Fronious IG 3000
> > > tripping.  Here is the situation from what I
> have
> > > been told:
> > >
> > > - The 200A main panel is loaded with about 500A
> of
> > > breakers per pole
> > > (many tandems).
> > > - The initial 25A backfeed breaker was replaced
> with
> > > a 30A and moved
> > > further from the main breaker on the busbar with
> no
> > > effect.  The
> > > breaker is still only 1/2 way down the busbar,
> > > though.
> > > - The breaker trips about twice a month,
> generally
> > > on sunny days.
> > > - Fronious has examined the info from the data
> > > logger and can see
> > > nothing wrong with the inverter.  Even more
> telling:
> > > the 16A AC
> > > breaker in the Fronious hasn't tripped once.
> > > - None of the other breakers in the panel are
> > > tripping.
> > > - The run from the inverter to the main panel is
> 15'
> > > of #6 UF that
> > > runs behind a 900 lb refrigerator that has not
> been
> > > moved but the rest
> > > of the run has been visually inspected and
> appears
> > > fine.
> > >
> > > First off, I know that this is a jacked up
> inter-tie
> > > - it was done by
> > > an independent electrician a year ago who I
> would
> > > not ever let touch
> > > one of my systems on penalty of toenail removal
> > > Wierd-Al-Yankovic
> > > style.
> > >
> > > My guess - there is a ground fault in the UF
> behind
> > > the fridge that is
> > > so slight that it only occurs at max current.  
> But
> > > wouldn't that trip
> > > the Fronious breaker?  If an overheated busbar
> were
> > > the culprit then
> > > ours would not be the only breaker tripping,
> > > especially not after
> > > changing it and moving it.  If replacing the
> wire
> > > doesn't do it then I
> > > am inclined to try a supply-side tap but I'm
> just
> > > not convinced that
> > > it will help unless there is something about the
> > > fact that the breaker
> > > is backfeeding that makes it more prone to trip
> than
> > > the load
> > > breakers.
> > >
> > > Any other ideas?
> > >
> > > I am going down to take a look for myself later
> this
> > > week with some
> > > 10-2 MC-lite and bible.
> > >
> > >
> > > Andrew Truitt
> > > Standard Solar Inc.
> 
> 
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