[RE-wrenches] Breaker trip

[Matthew Sirum]

Greetings Mac,

If you haven't already done so it may be interesting to check the
actual current when the circuit breaker trips.  Put a reliable DC
clamp-on current meter on one of the charge controller's output
conductors, set it to log the maximum current, and operate the load in
question.  See what the max current is when the circuit breaker trips.

Also; I am curious if the existing charge controller output circuit
breaker is a model which is rated for 100% continuous duty?   If it is
not and the max current measured is not too great it may be possible
to swap it out for one which is 100% continuous duty rated and still
maintain the same amperage circuit breaker.

Best regards,

----MATT

Matthew Sirum
P.O. Box 1227
Greenfield, MA 01302-1227  USA
phone: +1.413.773.0611
email: MatthewSirum at gmail.com


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[RE-wrenches] Breaker trip

Mac Lewis maclewis1 at gmail.com
Wed Dec 6 04:18:11 PST 2017

Hello wrenches,

I've got a mysterious breaker tripping that I need some ideas on how to fix.

Original system:
Array 6 x 235W Kyocera modules
1 x Outback FM60 charge controller
1 x Magnum MS 4024 PAE inverter

Upgraded system we stacked a second inverter to accommodate an air
compressor:
Array 6 x 235W Kyocera modules
1 x Outback FM60 charge controller
*2 x Magnum MS 4024 PAE inverter*

There have been no changes to the solar array, just to the inverter side of
the system.  We have been getting intermittent breaker tripping (a couple
of weeks between) on the battery breaker side of the charge controller.
The basics have been checked and rechecked.  Torque is good on all sides of
the breaker all the way to the battery bussing.

The only thing that I can think of is that during a surge on the AC side
its sucking enough current out of the charge controller caps to trip this
breaker occasionally.

Has anyone experienced this?  The only way I can see to fix it is to go
with a larger breaker ampacity, but maybe there is something better.  Does
anyone no how quickly the max current setting in the Outback can respond,
would dropping this help?

Thanks

-- 

Mac Lewis

*"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*