Hi Dane, It was a few years ago, but I believe we had an arc fault with the same type of array setup (although I'm wondering now if they were -12s - I'm pretty sure they were -22s). After checking everything twice, we ran 1 string at a time and still got the arc fault. After badgering tech support for too long, they had us run a couple of perfunctory tests and finally agreed to replace them. Problems gone. I believe this is an undocumented hardware out firmware problem with some of these. I assume you've been dealing with sma on this, just thought I'd mention this...
Howie Howie Michaelson NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ Sun Catcher Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service VT Solar Electric Incentive Partner 802-272-0004 On Nov 11, 2016 7:33 AM, "Dave Tedeyan" <dtede...@taitem.com> wrote: > This array is a ground mount, so not on a roof, and no radio towers nearby. > > As for grounding, The array and the shed with the interconnection point > are in the same area. > There are a couple ground rods there, which everything on the AC side is > connected to, > including a #6 wire from each inverter. there is just a #10 ground coming > from the array to the inverters. > The house is a couple hundred feet away and has its own grounding > electrode system. > > Jerry, > The inverters are new (replaced 2 months ago), but it is a good idea to > check firmware. > As for AC loads, nothing stands out as the types of things you mentioned, > although there > may be a well pump. They also do have a large water storage tank for > heating, but they > say that they have not needed to use it yet this year. Then there is also > the generator... > > Thanks for your recommendations. > -Dave > > > > *--* > > > *Dave Tedeyan* > *Project Engineer* > > *Taitem Engineering, PC* > 109 S. Albany Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 > Voice: (607) 277-1118 x121 > www.taitem.com > > On Thu, Nov 10, 2016 at 9:51 PM, Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarag...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Dave. >> We have many TL-22 in the field and they will detect faults even when >> they are normal contactor faults, have you made sure the SW is the latest, >> last I checked it is 2.65.3R and it may have a patch in there, you can turn >> off the feature for testing only and see if you melt something down but if >> you do please be on site as a arc may happen. Do you have a well, AC system >> with contacts, welders, compressors, anything that has a dry contacts that >> brakes under load, this is another place I would look. Every time we have >> had a code out it was real weather from something normal or a wire issue. >> Not to brag but we have hundreds in the field from the 3's to the 24's and >> as much as I dread getting a call with this issue I can usually find the >> problem and it can be either AC or DC. >> Jerry >> >> On Thu, Nov 10, 2016 at 8:14 AM, Dave Tedeyan <dtede...@taitem.com> >> wrote: >> >>> Hi All, >>> >>> Maybe someone will have some ideas for why a couple inverters keep arc >>> faulting: >>> >>> -There are two SB7000TL-22 inverters, Sunpower branded. >>> -3 Strings of 7 SPR-327's to each inverter. Kept separate until the >>> inverter. >>> -Ground mount about 50' from the shed where the inverters are located >>> (indoors) >>> -Simple grid connected system, no batteries. >>> -There is a whole house generator co-located in the shed. >>> -We interconnect by using piercing taps on the line side of the >>> generator transfer switch >>> -There has been only one power outage there since the system was >>> installed in April, but the generator fires up weekly. >>> >>> -The arc faults have been happening on both inverters. Sometimes only >>> one at a time, sometimes both will go within a day of each other. >>> -The events have been approximately one a month, but sometimes more, >>> sometimes less. >>> >>> -We have already checked every single connection in the system twice, by >>> two different people. >>> -We have replaced the underground wires (and they looked just fine) >>> -We have replaced all home runs. >>> -We have replaced both inverters. >>> -Arc faults are still happening. >>> -Arc faults are not always on the same day/time of the week. >>> >>> I am wondering if this can be caused by the generator? >>> Has anyone run into a situation like this or something similar? >>> >>> Thanks for your help, >>> Dave >>> >>> *--* >>> >>> >>> *Dave Tedeyan* >>> *Project Engineer* >>> >>> *Taitem Engineering, PC* >>> 109 S. Albany Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 >>> Voice: (607) 277-1118 x121 >>> www.taitem.com >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> List Address: 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 >>> -wrenc...@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: 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 >> -wrenc...@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: 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 > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > >
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