[RE-wrenches] AFCI trip on metal roof

[Kirk Herander]

Drake,

I am in the middle of debugging a AFCI error on a SMA 5000US-12 inverter.
Installed by others. The fault does NOT have to be on the DC side. The
inverter checks both AC and DC circuits for faults. There are more specific
fault messages related to DC arc faults then just "AFCI", BUT a DC fault can
still only trigger the AFCI message. All this is according to SMA. Check the
wiring on the AC side also. If all is good, do some of the common sense
things, which you may have done already.

If multiple strings are into the inverter, disconnect completely all but one
at time and see if any one string faults exclusively. I literally saw
several loose MC connectors "blow up" when I was debugging string-by-string
and the inverter started to pull current. Why they didn't when paralleled at
the combiner I don't know. 

It can be very difficult to pin down. I agree with others to also check any
field-crimped plug-and-play connectors for continuity. Despite all the
issues I repaired in my case, the error still exists, and SMA has agreed to
send a replacement.

 

Kirk Herander

Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC 

Celebrating our 25th Anniversary 1991-2016

www.vermontsolarnow.com

dba Vermont Solar Engineering

NABCEPTM  2003 Inaugural Certificant

VT RE Incentive Program Partner

802.863.1202

 

 

 

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
Behalf Of Drake
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 9:30 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AFCI trip on metal roof

 

Hi Jay,

Yes, they are the same, MC4.

Drake

At 11:11 AM 3/24/2016, you wrote:



Hi drake. 

I've been researching problems with using the wrong connectors. 
Are your home runs using same brand connectors as the modules?

Jay

Peltz power. 

On Mar 23, 2016, at 2:08 PM, Drake < drake.chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org
<mailto:drake.chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org> > wrote:




Hello Wrenches, 

We have a project with an array on a large metal roof. The AFCI has been
tripping. Investigating the system, there is no evidence of any arcing: the
wiring and connections are all very tight. 

SMA tech support says it is likely that the nuisance tripping comes from
electrical noise getting picked up by the large metal roof. 

What has been your overall experience with nuisance tripping of arc fault
protection? What were the suspected causes? What was the solution?

Thanks,

Drake 

Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric LLC
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
NABCEP Certified Solar PV 
740-448-7328
http://athens-electric.com/ 


 
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