what will happen?

11JAGAN
11JAGAN Solar Expert Posts: 34 ✭✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
what will happen if i use Ac circuit breaker instead of dc circuit breaker in Pv system at input side?
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: what will happen?
    11JAGAN wrote: »
    what will happen if i use Ac circuit breaker instead of dc circuit breaker in Pv system at input side?

    Quite simply it may not work right.
    It's a matter of being able to safely interrupt the Voltage. It is more difficult to 'shut off' DC than AC because AC hits zero Volts all on its own as a regular part of cycling.
    Some devices are rated for both, but at different Voltage levels.
    But if it's not right the DC can just arc across the gap between the contacts creating a hazard instead of preventing one.
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  • bill von novak
    bill von novak Solar Expert Posts: 891 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: what will happen?
    11JAGAN wrote: »
    what will happen if i use Ac circuit breaker instead of dc circuit breaker in Pv system at input side?

    Worst case?

    Breaker trips, and an arc forms. (AC current stops 120 a second and extinguishes any arc; this doesn't happen with DC.) The arc heats up the breaker until a fire starts. (And during that time the power hasn't even been interrupted.) Good video of the result here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLX9cdB4TFQ
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  • peakbagger
    peakbagger Solar Expert Posts: 341 ✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: what will happen?

    I agree, great video
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