Appendix D: Inverter Arc Detection and Interruption
Appendix D: Inverter Arc Detection and
Interruption
An electric arc is an ongoing high-energy discharge, resulting from a current through a normally non-
conductive material such as air.
When connecters or cables in a PV system are improperly connected or are damaged, the electric
current may pass through the air, causing an electric arc. Arcs generate heat which can cause fires and
they also pose an electrocution risk to those working near them.
SolarEdge inverters can detect arcs and interrupt production. A qualified person must re-enable the
inverter after properly checking the installation.
The arc detection option is disabled by default. It must be enabled when UL1699B compliance is required.
To enable/disable arc detection:
1. Enter Setup mode and scroll to the Maintenance menu.
2. Select AFCI è Enable or Disable.
To manually test the arc detection functionality:
1. Make sure the inverter ON/OFF switch is turned ON.
2. Use the LCD light button to select Maintenance è Manual AFCI Test.
If the test is successful, the following message is displayed:
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M a n u a l
The inverter production is then interrupted (as if a real arc detection has occurred), and
the following error message is displayed (numbered either 150 or 151):
E r r o r
A r c
Perform manual restart to resume system operation: Turn the inverter ON/OFF switch to
OFF and then to ON. The inverter performs an arc detection self-test and starts normal
operation.
If the test fails, contact SolarEdge support.
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SolarEdge StorEdge Installation Guide MAN-01-000262-1.2