Evaluating the Incident Energy of Arcs in Photovoltaic DC Systems: Comparison Between Calculated and Experimental Data

Incident energies in photovoltaic (PV) systems are modeled using a variety of methods. These methods are referenced in NFPA 70E and other publications. Direct-current (dc) systems, such as PV systems, may not follow the conventional model used in the present standards. Using experimental data, we will correlate and refine the incident-energy calculations for PV systems. This article proposes a methodology for validating the latest 70E methods for dc PV systems. A forthcoming article will present more of the test results after we improve the test setup and procedures. This article will only discuss dc arcs in PV systems and will not cover arcs in other types of dc systems (e.g., batteries, capacitors, etc.).