Field Guide for Testing Existing Photovoltaic Systems for Ground Faults and Installing Equipment to Mitigate Fire Hazards

Technical Report · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1225963· OSTI ID:1225963

Brooks, William ^[1]; Basso, Thomas ^[2]; Coddington, Michael ^[2]

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1. Brooks Engineering, Vacaville, CA (United States)
2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Ground faults and arc faults are the two most common reasons for fires in photovoltaic (PV) arrays and methods exist that can mitigate the hazards. This report provides field procedures for testing PV arrays for ground faults, and for implementing high resolution ground fault and arc fault detectors in existing and new PV system designs.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1225963
• Report Number(s): NREL/SR-5D00-65050
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
Arc fault
blind spot
fire hazard
ground fault
National Electrical Code
NEC
PV array
photovoltaic system
residual current monitor
test procedures
testing