National Semiconductor Corp. recently introduced the SolarMagic™ arc detection reference design, comprised of analog front end integrated circuits (ICs) and multi-band dynamic filtering firmware, the first commercially available chipset to detect hazardous DC arc faults in photovoltaic (PV) systems.In PV systems today, intermittent connections or insulation deterioration (faults) can cause DC circuits to generate arcs of considerable energy. The arc, reaching temperatures of over 3,000 degrees C, poses safety risks to surrounding infrastructure and personnel. The 2011 U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC) 690.11 requires an arc-fault circuit detect and protect system as part of all new PV system installations. National’s new SolarMagic arc detection reference design includes analog front end ICs and multi-band dynamic filtering (MBDF) firmware. Together, they detect the arc fault condition and provide an alert to shutdown system power, extinguishing the arc.http://www.national.com/news/en/2011june8_sm73xxx.html
Chipset, Firmware Detect Hazardous Arc Faults in Photovoltaic Systems
