Solar inverters in Brazil must include arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) from December 1, according to new regulations from Brazil's Inmetro.

AFCI: (Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter) is an arc fault interrupter. It is a protective device that disconnects the power circuit before the arc fault develops into a fire or a short circuit occurs in the circuit by identifying the characteristic signal of the arc fault in the circuit.

In addition, AFCI also has the following features: 1. It has effective DC arc recognition capability, allowing a maximum DC current of 60A; 2. It has a friendly interface, which can remotely control circuit breakers or connectors, etc.; 3. It has RS232 to 485 communication function, which can monitor the module status in real time; 4. LED and buzzer can be used to quickly identify the working status of the module, and sound and light alarm; 5. Functional modularization, easy to transplant to various series of products.

Consequences Of Non-compliance

Certification test results for AFCI inverters show that there is still work to be done. According to Riccardo J.F. Bortolini, technical advisor at INRI, a laboratory in Brazil found that only 18% of products passed the initial test, and 64% passed after adjustments. He stressed the importance of equipment certification, Inmetro laboratory certification, and local inspections.