<p>I have little experience with arc fault detection because I do not use them offgrid. Could it save one from starting a wildfire? My experience is I have never had a ground mount start a wildfire and even a bad panel is pretty contained in a failure.</p>
<p>I just know that I make a small fortune replacing grid tie inverter AFD's that failsafe in the no solar mode. Definitely do not want another way to lose power offgrid. There are plenty already:)</p>
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<pre><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines don't"
<a href="http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/" target="_blank">http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/</a>
e-mail <a href="mailto:offgridsolar@sti.net">offgridsolar@sti.net</a>
text 209 813 0060</span></strong></pre>
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<p>On Fri, 15 May 2020 11:03:11 -0700, Jay <jay.peltz@gmail.com> wrote:</p>
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<div dir="ltr">that warning isn't on the AFCI one,</div>
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<div dir="ltr">Jay</div>
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<div dir="ltr">Peltz power. </div>
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<blockquote type="cite" style="padding-left:5px; border-left:#1010ff 2px solid; margin-left:5px; width:100%">On May 15, 2020, at 10:41 AM, William Miller <william@millersolar.com> wrote:<br /><br /></blockquote>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span>On the <a href="http://outbackpower.com/products/charge-controllers/flexmax-100">FM100 landing page</a>. The warning is pasted below.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><em><span>Due to the different voltage ratings, OutBack Power does not recommend mixing the FM100-300VDC with the FM60 or FM80-150VDC controllers on the same battery bank.</span></em></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Interestingly the warning is not seen on the <a href="http://outbackpower.com/products/charge-controllers/flexmax-100-afci">FM100 AFCI landing page</a>.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I thought I saw this also in one of the Owner's manuals but I looked today and can't find it there. Interesting...</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I have a client that wants to add a fourth PV array to a system with three FM80s. This will require a fourth charge controller. Being able to run smaller wire in the existing conduits is an attractive proposition, making the FM100 a desirable approach. I now have to figure out if I can add the FM100-AFCI (which is apparently the only version available) to a system with three FM80s, and if I do, what do I do with the existing GFDI breaker and how do I arrange the DC bond? There is a lot to consider here.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span>BTW, I was told by a tech support person for an on-line sales firm that the original FM100 did not have the AFCI but those units have been discontinued. Now all FM100s have the AFCI capability. I am weighing if I want AFCI if it is not required. My territory includes central California wild lands so I suppose I should take advantage of any fire safety means at my disposal...</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span>William</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">From:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> Jay [mailto:<a href="mailto:jay.peltz@gmail.com">jay.peltz@gmail.com</a>] <br /><strong>Sent:</strong> Friday, May 15, 2020 7:34 AM<br /><strong>To:</strong> <a href="mailto:william@millersolar.com">william@millersolar.com</a>; RE-wrenches<br /><strong>Subject:</strong> Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback FM100</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi William</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Yes downsizing breaker to meet load is no problem. And getting wire that big into it with 1" KO is a pain. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I'm pretty sure any hub will work, needs 3S mate</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Where in the manual did you find the "don't mix with other 60/80 controllers? </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">On May 15, 2020, at 12:46 AM, William Miller <<a href="mailto:william@millersolar.com">william@millersolar.com</a>> wrote:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Friends:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have occasion to try the FM100 charge controller. I am wondering of anyone had found any quirks with implementing this device. I have a few specific questions:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I want to avoid AFCI unless mandated. Will this be defeated if I don't run the leads through the sense coil? (There is an AFCI and non-AFCI version but I can't seem to find the non-AFCI version anywhere.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I noticed the manual indicates you are not supposed to mix the FM100 with the FM80 or 60 in the same battery system. This negates it for one project I had in mind. I am curious as to why this is. Anyone know?</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Will the FM100 work with a standard hub?</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I suppose this unit requires a 125 amp breaker. If the PV array cannot support that full 100 amps I might down-size the OCPD accordingly. Anyone contemplate this question?</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Thanks in advance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">William</span></p>
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