Hi Jason - I know I've mentioned this before, but were you able to verify that the branch trunk cable end caps are properly installed? We've had a few cases of intermittent breaker tripping where the end caps were not installed, had fallen off, or not properly installed. A little moisture leads to shorts.
August On Mon, Jun 1, 2020 at 7:23 AM Jason Szumlanski < ja...@floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote: > Well, that didn't resolve it. The main breaker and a branch circuit > breaker tripped again a few days ago. It was the same branch this time. > > As my next diagnostic step I swapped two circuits (on which breaker they > are landed). If history is a guide, it will work for about two weeks and > then trip again. > > I'm dumbfounded. I really don't want to have to tear this whole system > apart. At this point, if I have to remove all the modules, I feel that I > need to replace all of the trunk cable which is an expensive proposition. I > really don't know what else to do at this point. > > Jason > > > On Mon, May 25, 2020, 10:43 AM Jason Szumlanski < > ja...@floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote: > >> I strongly suspect the CH240 combined breaker was compromised (we will >> see). Since it happened that two different strings tripped, I doubt I have >> two microinverters with internal faults. It has to be the combined breaker. >> I was just surprised that branch circuit breakers were tripping >> simultaneously with the combined output breaker. >> >> Of all the supply side connected systems I have installed, I have never >> seen a combined output fusible disconnect fuse blow, but I have seen many >> combined output breakers tripped. I was worried early on that I would be >> replacing fuses constantly, but that has not been an issue whatsoever. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Thu, May 21, 2020 at 11:15 AM <scot.a...@solarcentex.com> wrote: >> >>> Actually, we had a IQ7 string loaded up to its max panel size and max >>> string length and in the spring on cool, clear day, it tripped the string’s >>> associated breaker in the Enphase combiner. >>> >>> >>> >>> We reset but of course that breaker was impaired and it tripped again. >>> We replaced and never had an issue going forward. We suspect the breaker >>> was less than perfect from the start as we’ve add equally nice days since. >>> >>> >>> >>> This almost reminds me of loading up Outback FM80. It says 4,000 watts >>> but in reality, 3,600 is the max when amps spike. I will be extra careful >>> going forward on IQ7 string length when going to the max published… >>> >>> >>> >>> My story. >>> >>> >>> >>> Scot >>> >>> >>> >>> *From:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org> *On >>> Behalf Of *Jason Szumlanski >>> *Sent:* Thursday, May 21, 2020 8:57 AM >>> *To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> >>> *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Enphase intermittent breaker trippjng >>> >>> >>> >>> I'm trying to resolve an intermittent frustrating problem with and >>> Enphase IQ system. There are three AC Branch circuits of 9 microinverters >>> each coming into an Enphase AC combiner. >>> >>> >>> >>> What has been happening is one of the BR220 branch circuit breakers and >>> the combine CH240 breaker in the main backfed load center have been >>> tripping simultaneously. It has happened about four times in the last 6 >>> months. It was always the same branch circuit breaker, so we kept >>> investigating that string, checking the junction box, trunk cable, and cap, >>> etc. Finally we swapped out the BR220 breaker. >>> >>> >>> >>> Fast forward 4 weeks, and we got another call. This time a different >>> branch circuit breaker and the main breaker tripped simultaneously. We >>> checked that branch circuit and could not find any fault. It seems unlikely >>> that two branch circuit breakers would be faulty, so we have now switched >>> out the CH240 main breaker in hopes that it is the culprit. >>> >>> >>> >>> I'm not totally confident in this resolution and I have my fingers >>> crossed. If that doesn't work, does anyone have any suggestions on another >>> diagnostic step? These intermittent problems are a major hassle. One >>> thought I had was to switch to a supply side interconnection with a fusible >>> disconnect. Maybe the intermittent fault would blow one of the two line >>> fuses so at least I could narrow it down to which line the fault is on if >>> there is in fact a fault. >>> >>> >>> >>> I have experienced two other tripping breaker issues with Enphase >>> systems in the past. Neither of them were systems I installed. One turned >>> out to be branch circuits that were not properly paired up and landed on >>> different breakers. Another time we had an inverter with an internal fault >>> which eventually"blew up" with a loud popping noise and smoke billowing out >>> of it. That happened after resetting a trip breaker multiple times. This >>> case seems to be unrelated to those issues. I'm perplexed. >>> >>> >>> >>> Jason Szumlanski >>> >>> Florida Solar Design Group >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >>> <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/796b1796eb4c075a74298513a530f62e4a496cb2?notrack=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.re-wrenches.org%2Foptions.cgi%2Fre-wrenches-re-wrenches.org&userId=1613865&signature=c7dea131fd9cb45a> >>> >>> List-Archive: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>> <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/c06e48af2da3d129a58c08ef2043bd2d8fcbef6f?notrack=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mail-archive.com%2Fre-wrenches%40lists.re-wrenches.org%2Fmaillist.html&userId=1613865&signature=06899a19621f54d8> >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/215cb4d0fcfb04e4124aae9b2616249f1eef5542?notrack=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.re-wrenches.org%2Fetiquette.htm&userId=1613865&signature=8bc84049c81c183c> >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/27c3e706e7f2b4836b1669b31c9454db7fee1b52?notrack=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.members.re-wrenches.org&userId=1613865&signature=4a75a2d55681f39a> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ > 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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