Texas Instruments has introduced the industry’s first fully programmable DC arc detect reference solution. The RD-195 makes it faster and easier for designers to address a growing need to safeguard high-power DC systems against the catastrophic damage that can result from arc faults.
Problem
Electrical arc faults, predominantly due to faulty junction box components and/or design, have been known to cause PV module system fires.
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Solution
Designers can program the RD-195 to optimise the balance between arc detection accuracy and false detection prevention to meet their system needs. The RD-195 is accompanied by a software application tool that enables alteration of threshold detection parameters. The RD-195 detects different types of arcs, including series, parallel and ground arcs. It is designed to operate in noisy environments with RF interference. Additionally, all signal chain components in the solution operate across the full industrial temperature range of -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C.
Applications
PV modules arc detection and prevention.
Platform
The RD-195 reference solution features a software application tool that allows designers to fine-tune the system’s arc detection threshold levels to increase its accuracy in detecting valid arcs and avoiding false detects. Also included are reference design CAD files. Technical support is available on the Precision Data Converters Forum in the TI E2ETM Community, where engineers can ask questions and get answers from TI experts.
Availability
March 2013 onwards.