SMA SUNNY TRIPOWER X 20-US - Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI); SMA Smart Connected

4 Product Overview
SMA Solar Technology AG
Operating manual STPxx-US-50-BE-en-11 27
ON THIS PV SYSTEM MAY ADVERSLY AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE PV RAPID SHUTDOWN
SYSTEM. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INSTALLER TO ENSURE THAT THE COMPLETED PV
SYSTEM MEETS THE RAPID SHUT DOWN FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS. THIS EQUIPMENT
MUST BE INSTALLED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTALLATION MANUAL.
4.5.13 Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)
The inverter is equipped with an integrated photovoltaic (PV) arc-fault circuit interrupter as required
for PV systems by National Electrical Code
®
ANSI/NFPA 70 (NEC). The inverters' arc-fault circuit
interrupter (AFCI) functionality is certified to Standard UL 1699B Edition 1 (August 2018),
Photovoltaic (PV) DC Arc-Fault Circuit Protection, which defines requirements for PV arc-fault
protection devices intended for use in solar photovoltaic electrical energy systems as described in
NEC 690.11.
The arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) is activated by default and set so that the inverter interrupts
the feed-in operation after 5 arc fault detections within 24 hours, and a manual restart must be
performed. If the installation conditions permit this, you can change the default setting.
The arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) can detect electric arcs in the PV modules and the module
wiring of connected strings. The arc-fault circuit interrupter ensures that the inverter ceases
operations and interrupts any electric arcs as soon as they are detected. This involves halting the
flow of current.
The arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) has proved extremely reliable, meaning that the inverter
dependably detects and interrupts electric arcs that actually occur in the PV electric circuit and is
generally not susceptible to false tripping. AFCI incidents output by the inverter should be regarded
as reliable indicators of actual errors in the PV electric circuit displayed and should be investigated
immediately and thoroughly by qualified persons to localize and rectify errors in the PV electric
circuit.
If the AFCI is configured without permanent operation inhibition, the system should be monitored
closely and recurring faults in the AFCI should be investigated immediately by qualified persons. If it
is not possible to identify the cause of the error, the inverter should be taken out of operation until
the investigation and corrective action can be completed. Recurring errors may cause damage to
neighboring conductors and system components, which could result in more extensive system
failures and damage and even to uncontrolled electric arcs and fires.
Also see:
• Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)⇒page65
• Manual restart after electric arc⇒page90
4.5.14 SMA Smart Connected
SMA Smart Connected is the free monitoring of the product via the SMA SunnyPortal. Thanks to
SMA Smart Connected, the operator and qualified person will be informed automatically and
proactively about product events that occur.
SMA Smart Connected is activated during registration in SunnyPortal. In order to use SMA Smart
Connected, it is necessary that the product is permanently connected to SunnyPortal and the data
of the operator and qualified person is stored in SunnyPortal and up-to-date.