We’ve seen random AFCI trips with SB-TL-22 inverters. After going through the last system checking all connections including the possibility of a loose MC4 connection the fault was still present. SMA then told us they had a new firmware release, when it was installed the problem went away.
Gary [cid:55B44DB1-8648-4A44-97C2-50FBD3E2B4BD] Gary Bassett Engineering Manager Hudson Solar 13 Hook Road Rhinebeck, NY T: (866) 452-7652 x113 NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional HudsonSolar.com From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dave Tedeyan Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2016 8:38 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AFCI trip on metal roof Recently we have had the AFCI trip in a couple SB-TL-22 inverters. Restarted the inverter, the fault was not still present. It has not tripped in the month since at either site. Maybe an issue with the inverter? Only time will tell. Cheers, Dave -- Dave Tedeyan Project Engineer Taitem Engineering, PC 109 S. Albany Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 Voice: (607) 277-1118 x121 www.taitem.com<http://www.taitem.com/> On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 6:24 PM, AE Solar <autonomousenerg...@gmail.com<mailto:autonomousenerg...@gmail.com>> wrote: We had that issue once. It was after a night of heavy rainfall and the error only read for the first few early hours of the day. SMA told us it was a poor connection in an MC4 connector that most likely got some dampness in it... Adam Katzman Autonomous Energies PO Box 1245 Kingston, NY 12402 www.autonomousenergies.com<http://www.autonomousenergies.com> (518) 567-1468<tel:%28518%29%20567-1468> On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 5:16 PM, August Goers <aug...@luminalt.com<mailto:aug...@luminalt.com>> wrote: Hi Drake, What model SMA inverter(s) and modules do you have? We had one case where a MC4 connector under the array was not making good contact. It was not seated properly when the installer made up the connector and the arc fault sensor in the inverter did its job. We had another site where some electrical noise on the AC side, presumably a sump pump, caused the issue and we could not solve it so had to switch to another inverter manufacturer. There were other cases where the impedance or other electrical characteristics of the solar modules where the likely culprit. Is your roof and array totally equipment grounded? Best, August From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org>] On Behalf Of Drake Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2016 2:08 PM To: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Subject: [RE-wrenches] AFCI trip on metal roof 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<tel:740-448-7328> http://athens-electric.com/ [https://ipmcdn.avast.com/images/2016/icons/icon-envelope-tick-round-orange-v1.png]<https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=oa-2115-v2-c> No threats detected. www.avast.com<https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=oa-2115-v2-c> _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm<http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org<http://www.members.re-wrenches.org> _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm<http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org<http://www.members.re-wrenches.org>
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