Arc Faults with Enphase AC Coupled Solark 15k with KiloVault HAB 7.5 even when PV breaker is off

[budgetsolarinstall]

I am getting arc faults on my Solark 15k. It started happening during the windy days this week.

First time, it happened at night - Only the dishwasher was running.

Then it happened during the day at 9 am. That’s when I turned off the solar panels breakers, still got a fault at 11am.

The only time it did not happen was when the battery was disconnected.

Today it was on and connected in voltage control mode because the BMS integration never really worked and Solark support thought maybe this was a phantom fault. Then it happened again at 9:34 pm.

Now, I have turned off the battery, running the Solark in no battery mode to see if it will happen again.

This has ac coupling with Enphase, but no errors from that side.

Support says it could be the battery, or the AC side, even the grid.

Has anyone heard of an arc fault happening due to a problem with the KiloVault HAB 7.5?

On a side note, I saw posts with people successfully getting the BMS to work with Solark. I did have the modified cable sent by KiloVault support when they were still live. Never got it to work. Now, given up trying.

My installer is faraway in VT. Would appreciate if someone could take a look at it, if they live near Nashua, NH.

 

[budgetsolarinstall]

Turned out to be a new device. Not using it anymore, all good.

 

[robbob2112]

What new device? Others may learn

 

[WrenchLight]

I'm curious if this new device was a radio transmitter. The PV lines go through an arc fault detector that detects noise on the lines. Loose connections will create noise on the lines. The arc fault's purpose is to shut off PV production to prevent fires. So when it happens at night, it's a big clue.

 

[budgetsolarinstall]

No. It was a lamp.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I'm trying to understand how there was an arc fault error from a plug-in lamp, and when your PV is AC coupled not connected to the MPPT. Does the Sol Ark have arc fault detection on the AC lines too?

 

[teal95]

I had a GFCI outlet tripping the PV arc fault on my 15k. The GFCI kept tripping also so I replaced it and no more PV arc faults.

 

[robbob2112]

I kinda wonder just how many bad GFCI outlets are installed in homes. People think they are protected but not really.

I took a nose on lightning strike and had the electrician out the next day to check things over.... he ended up replacing ever GFCI outlet in the house, some had scorch marks at the blades, others had issues on the back side.... A couple of normal outlets with fried equipment ended up replaced from the scorch marks

Then he meggered out the different wires to verify the insulation was still good. Very thorough and charged the insurance company almost a grand for the whole day's work... this was about 15 years ago.

 

[budgetsolarinstall]

I'm trying to understand how there was an arc fault error from a plug-in lamp, and when your PV is AC coupled not connected to the MPPT. Does the Sol Ark have arc fault detection on the AC lines too?

I have DC PV too. The arc fault was not detected by the arc fault breaker on the main home panel, but Solark did. Solark support said sometimes arc fault errors can show up from the AC side as well. Which is why I asked Enphase if they had seen anything. That was normal.

Thanks for replying people! I thought nobody here anymore.