AFCI for AC and DC systems
An arc can burn without tripping a breaker.
Your product has to find arcs in AC and DC circuits and break the circuit, without tripping on normal switching. We help you build that in.
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How it works
From the current to an arc decision
Converters and loads switch constantly, and the switching can look like an arc. AI arc detection tells the two apart in the current, in AC and DC circuits.
Your system: Application current
From your AC circuit or DC system.
Your system: Current sensing
A current transformer or another sensor you choose.
Our solution: Arc detection
AI that tells an arc's signature from switching noise.
Our solution: Arc decision
Arc or normal, in AC and DC circuits alike.
Your system: Protection
Opens the circuit through your breaker, relay or contactor.
What it handles
Finds arcs, not switching noise
Cases come from what certification checks and what real sites put a product through. We run them on your hardware and add the conditions you've seen.
What it catches
- Loose connectors
- Arcs at a connector or joint that has worked loose.
- Your operating range
- Arcs at every AC and DC current and voltage you run at.
- Near and far
- Arcs near your product and far down the cable.
- Cable types
- Arcs in the cable and connector types you use.
- Changing output
- Arcs that start while power is ramping up or down.
What it ignores
- Start-up and shutdown
- Your converter connecting and disconnecting.
- Power tracking
- Output adjusting as sunlight or demand changes.
- Passing clouds
- Fast swings in sunlight across a solar array.
- Your own switching
- Converter switching noise at every load level.
- Appliance loads
- Motors, dimmers and power supplies on the same AC circuit.
Applications
Where it's built in
Detection sits where it can see the current an arc would disturb, close to the protection that has to act.
Solar inverters
On the string inputs, before the inverter converts the power.
Energy storage
On the battery side, through charging and discharging.
DC chargers
On the DC output, through every charging session.
Circuit breakers
In AFCI breakers that protect home branch circuits.
Evaluation
Interested in this solution?
Get in touch with our engineering team to evaluate it for your system.
Evaluation solution. Detection performance depends on the target application, sensing architecture, operating conditions and system validation. Customer protection and safety functions remain subject to product-level validation and applicable requirements.
Other use cases
More on arc fault detection
See how we build detection into AFDDs for AC circuits.
AFDD for AC circuits
Arc fault detection devices, built into circuit breakers for homes and buildings.
