MPP Solar, GFCI AC input

coss1600 · May 21, 2020

Hey guys,

I recently purchased a MPP Solar 1kw box for fun. The AC input is currently tripping the GFCI breaker. The seller is saying I should short the neutral wire as the ground is already bridged internally. I am guessing the board controls the hot only. What do you guys think of the suggestion? Safe or not safe?

The funny thing is that the it charges off my Goal Zero, but won't work with my GFCI garage. AHHH

Supervstech · May 22, 2020

If the GFCI is tripping, there is voltage leaking to ground.

coss1600 · May 22, 2020

Shorting the neutral didn't work, GFCI is still tripping. Charging off the Goal Zero is fine.

doctorcupcakes · May 23, 2020

coss1600 said:
Shorting the neutral didn't work, GFCI is still tripping. Charging off the Goal Zero is fine.

Anyway you can put use a non-GFCI protected circuit for the input?

coss1600 · May 23, 2020

No, garage is GFCI protected. The rest of the house is AFCI protected other than some far away plugs. I am kind of stuck at this point as to what to do.

doctorcupcakes · May 24, 2020

coss1600 said:
No, garage is GFCI protected. The rest of the house is AFCI protected other than some far away plugs. I am kind of stuck at this point as to what to do.

The only thing I could think to do is to run a new circuit from your panel and use a regular breaker. If the unit is in your garage I'm not sure if that would be an NEC violation though. Garages receptacles are supposed to be 100% GFCI protected, and for good reason, however I don't know if these units would count as a receptacle. I've heard of these things tripping GFCIs like crazy.

coss1600 · May 24, 2020

Sounds like I am screwed at this point?

doctorcupcakes · May 24, 2020

coss1600 said:
Sounds like I am screwed at this point?

Do you have a GFCI breaker or a GFCI receptacle?

coss1600 · May 24, 2020

It's a GFCI receptacle. The breaker for the other circuit in the house are AFCI breakers

Luke13172 · May 24, 2020

you can bypass it then, goto home depot and get a standard receptacle and replace it however you will loose GFCI for the garage and any other plugs piggy backed off of it. You could alternately add another box next to it and wire up a standard receptacle on it's own just need another 2s box receptacle bit of wire and three wire nuts.

CBush · May 24, 2020

Luke13172 said:
you can bypass it then, goto home depot and get a standard receptacle and replace it however you will loose GFCI for the garage and any other plugs piggy backed off of it. You could alternately add another box next to it and wire up a standard receptacle on it's own just need another 2s box receptacle bit of wire and three wire nuts.

Hi guys.First solar system.Total newbie.Mpp 2424 , same problem, tripping GFCI , ran wire to outdoor house plug and large 10 gauge extension cord, tripped house circuit, confused...was able to get it to not trip GFCI..by plugging in a power strip to my garage GFCI circuit then plugging the Mpp into the power strip.
I'm totally new to this so any advice or comments?

Luke13172 · May 24, 2020

CBush said:
Hi guys.First solar system.Total newbie.Mpp 2424 , same problem, tripping GFCI , ran wire to outdoor house plug and large 10 gauge extension cord, tripped house circuit, confused...was able to get it to not trip GFCI..by plugging in a power strip to my garage GFCI circuit then plugging the Mpp into the power strip.
I'm totally new to this so any advice or comments?

Does the power strip have a ground plug? Sometimes I have been able to get around gfci issues by ripping out the ground (not advised obviously) but as long as the 2424 is grounded properly then it might get you around it. The GFCI is measuring the difference between the load side and the neutral if it differs by xx number of mV (i forget what the limit is) then it thinks power is going to someplace it shouldn't and trips it.

doctorcupcakes · May 24, 2020

Luke13172 said:
Does the power strip have a ground plug? Sometimes I have been able to get around gfci issues by ripping out the ground (not advised obviously) but as long as the 2424 is grounded properly then it might get you around it. The GFCI is measuring the difference between the load side and the neutral if it differs by xx number of mV (i forget what the limit is) then it thinks power is going to someplace it shouldn't and trips it.

Yea. I think these MPP Solar units have some current leakage to ground. I have an LV2424 on the way, I'll check for any current on the ground wire when I get it.

CBush · May 24, 2020

Luke13172 said:
Does the power strip have a ground plug? Sometimes I have been able to get around gfci issues by ripping out the ground (not advised obviously) but as long as the 2424 is grounded properly then it might get you around it. The GFCI is measuring the difference between the load side and the neutral if it differs by xx number of mV (i forget what the limit is) then it thinks power is going to someplace it shouldn't and trips it.

Yes it does. It's your standard power strip..3 prong plug..15 amp surge. I really don't know if this is kosher..I figured thr garage is a 20 amp ..so though I would try a power strip/surge protector. The manual says to have a circuit protection on the 120 ac input, so I started my system with the power strip and didn't learn about the GFCI when I removed the power strip and plugged into wall outlet.

Supervstech · May 24, 2020

All outdoor and garage recepticals must be gfci protected. UNLESS you have a dedicated purpose secured receptical.
Current NEC rules are requiring more and more AFCI protection and GFCI protection.
If you un-gfci protect a circuit, you need to LABEL it so unprotected, and it should have a cover on it requiring opening to use.
don’t replace a gfci outlet with a standard receptacle, but you could install an unprotected outlet inside a labeled cover.

coss1600 · May 25, 2020

Yeah it kind of sucks. I guess reading from this, I have to run a box under my current GFCI outlet. I would then have to run an extension cord to power this. Dang it.

Supervstech · May 25, 2020

coss1600 said:
Yeah it kind of sucks. I guess reading from this, I have to run a box under my current GFCI outlet. I would then have to run an extension cord to power this. Dang it.

Ok... look, if the place you wish to power this device has a GFCI receptical, any electrician can install a NON GFCI receptical under a cover adjacent to this on that circuit that would work for you.

coss1600 · May 25, 2020

I could do it, just prefer not to as I have to run another extension cord that is much farther away.

coss1600 · May 25, 2020

Ahh I have an easy solution but it cost $50. I have a 14-50 plug underneath that I am no longer using for car charging. I can get a 14-50 to 5-15 adapter and just plug this in. I just can’t believe that thing is $60!!!

coss1600 · May 25, 2020

I found a cheaper one on Amazon, but it is not fused. I am going to use this on my existing 220, remove the double pole 40 from my sub panel and install a 20a circuit breaker to make that into a dedicated circuit for this MPP

Amazon.com

MPP Solar, GFCI AC input

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