[RE-wrenches] how would you measure a partial short circuit

[Marv Dargatz]

Come on, Bob.

It’s a ground fault in the array.  Just one more example why ungrounded arrays are FAR safer.


See ya!

Marv
Director of Technology and Support, North America
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc.
Tech Support Mobile:  +530.798.6770
Mobile: +530.392.0356

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of boB Gudgel
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 10:19 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Cc: Nick Vida
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] how would you measure a partial short circuit

On 6/30/2011 8:35 PM, Nick Vida wrote:
Hi wrenches.

I had an interesting case today that I have been thinking about since it happened. I dont have all the details because the homeownter had to leave before I was done with the service call, but here is what I do know. SB5000 with 2 strings of 15 modules. String one was 437 vdc, and string 2 was 247vdc. I decided to look for a ground fault, and I turned off the inverter. I measured for ground faults and found no evidence of anything wrong in that regard. As the homeowner was out of time and wanted me to go, I re-landed the wires in the dc disco, and when I replaced the fuses, I noticed a minor arc when one of the fuses was going it. Although I had no time to measure it, I think that there might be a partial short circuit, possibly with one complete string and some panels of the other string, and the remaining panels on the second string. My mind was racing with how I could have measured for a partial short circuit without seeing it as an arch. I can imagine such a thing on a bigger system being a dramatic electrical event.
needless to say, I cant wait to get back there and go through the signal path properly and find out what the electrician did. And of course i realized that replacing the fuses in such a questionable situation was probably not the best idea.
Do any of you have any thoughts on how one would measure for such a thing?

nick vida


I'd probably use a DC clamp on ammeter.  Clamp on and measure the top and bottom current of each string...   What comes in ~should~ come out.

If it's much different on one end vs. the other end of one string, maybe that string is conducting around the path somehow.  Remember that
sometimes just turning the clamp around and measuring the opposite polarity may measure slightly differently than the opposite polarity and
that zero calibration is usually necessary.

boB
鮑勃



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