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    • Breaker??

    Solar Expert Posts: 81 ✭✭✭
    in General Solar Power Topics #1
    I have a 1750 Eliminator Inverter, made by Xantrex
    for Canadian Tire.

    My question is about installing a breaker to the
    DC side of the inverter, I have a 600V 3 Phase breaker,
    could I use this since I already have it?
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
      #2
      Re: Breaker??

      no. you need a breaker rated and approved for dc operation. you might even consider a fuse as that is sometimes a cheap alternative to a cb.
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 81 ✭✭✭
      #3
      Re: Breaker??

      What if all 3 legs of the breaker are wired
      in series to break the load, as is done
      with relays to lengthen contact life?
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    • Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
      #4
      Re: Breaker??

      Nope.
      DC current is able to 'jump' further than AC. In order to safely interrupt the circuit, DC rated equipment has to 'break a larger gap' to prevent arcing. This can't be done by breaking it in three places, which is what would happen wiring the 3-phase the way you suggest.

      Fuses aren't that expensive: http://store.solar-electric.com/infubr.html
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    • Solar Expert Posts: 1,485 ✭✭✭✭
      #5
      Re: Breaker??

      Technically most high voltage, high amperage AC breakers will work fine.

      The problem is they have not been DC approved by UL so regulatory wise they can not be used.

      There just isn't enough demand for DC breakers for the companies to pay the extra expense and time to get the additional DC rating UL approval. The exception is Square-D has a line that has both AC and DC use UL approval. Believe the designation is QOU breakers.
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