Photo voltaic Breaker Reference Design

The answer for single-phase residential photo voltaic installations is designed for operation underneath excessive temperatures and consists of superior energy monitoring and fault detection capabilities.

Photo voltaic breakers and elements of solar energy methods guarantee security and effectivity. As protecting gadgets, these circuit breakers shield in opposition to electrical overloads and brief circuits, stopping injury to tools and fireplace hazards. Photo voltaic breakers additionally isolate photovoltaic panels for upkeep or emergencies, supporting operational management and compliance with electrical rules. Photo voltaic breakers optimise efficiency and prolong the lifespan of photo voltaic installations by mitigating dangers resembling arc faults and sustaining system integrity. Microchip has launched the Residential Photo voltaic Breaker Reference Design, utilising the HV9901 to supply a reference answer for single-phase residential photo voltaic installations. 

Parts of the design, together with the HV9901, have a temperature tolerance of as much as 125°C. This ranking ensures the sturdiness of those methods when working in high-temperature environments typical of photo voltaic panels. The design incorporates the MCP39F511A for power monitoring, which facilitates energy monitoring and provides advantages resembling fault monitoring. This function detects points with inverters or panels that would result in hazardous situations and gives alerts for efficiency drops. Further security and robustness are provided by the non-compulsory integration of the MCP9701, which helps handle system efficiency underneath excessive temperature situations, resembling disconnecting the inverter from the load throughout over-temperature occasions.

The design combines two functionalities: the HV9901 as a relay driver to attach or disconnect the photo voltaic inverter from the grid and the MCP39F511A to observe real-time energy—each energetic and reactive—output from the inverter. Energy monitoring is executed utilizing the Energy Monitor Utility software program, which connects to the board by way of USB for information measurement. This software program helps system calibration and monitoring, that includes an automatic calibration course of that enables for fast and environment friendly calibration of energy metres.

The appliance options embrace defending photo voltaic microinverters from fluctuations in grid voltages via a relay disconnect mechanism. Moreover, it provides reliability and operation at excessive temperatures, as it’s designed to be mounted underneath photo voltaic panels the place situations are sometimes harsher resulting from elevated temperatures.

The Reference Design options embrace an enter voltage vary of 195 Vac to 264Vac and an RMS present capability of as much as 15A via the relay. It incorporates an exterior relay for join/disconnect alerts and enter energy measurement capabilities. Moreover, the design makes use of optically remoted digital alerts for management and standing updates.

The design provides advantages, together with the flexibility to face up to harsh situations and supply an extended working life, which is appropriate for environments typical of photo voltaic panel installations. It facilitates shorter design cycles and reduces the necessity for a number of prototyping spins, enhancing growth effectivity. Furthermore, the answer is compact and strong, making it appropriate for becoming underneath photo voltaic panels, optimising house, and guaranteeing sturdiness.

Microchip has examined this reference design. It comes with a invoice of supplies (BOM), schematics, meeting drawing, printed circuit board (PCB) structure, and so forth. You’ll find further information in regards to the reference design on the corporate’s web site. To learn extra about this reference design, click on right here.