Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies safety requirements applicable to Photovoltaic Earth-Fault Protection Equipment (PV-EFPE) whose function is to detect, interrupt where applicable, and warn system operators of earth faults in solar photovoltaic array DC circuits with maximum open circuit system voltages up to 3 kV DC, where the PV-EFPE is fixed equipment in the PV installation.

For integrated PV-EFPE the host equipment performs some of the functionality of this document, and in some cases is controlled by the PV-EFPE.

NOTE Photovoltaic arrays can consist of a single PV module, a single PV string, several parallel-connected strings, or several parallel-connected PV sub-arrays and their associated electrical wiring and components, including DC-DC converters up to the terminals of the final power conversion equipment.

This document specifies:

– the types and levels of the monitoring and protection functions that may be provided;

– the nature and timing of responses to earth faults;

– test methods for validating the monitoring and protection functions provided;

– requirements for functional safety and fault tolerance; and

– requirements for product safety including construction, environmental suitability, markings, documentation, and testing.

NOTE This document does not specify the need for PV-EFPE for a given PV system, or the settings required for a particular site: that is typically covered by installation standards such as IEC 62548 and IEC 60364-7-712.