Guidance on Proper Residual

Current Device Selection for Solar

Inverters

by K. Ajith Kumar and Jim Eichner

Executive summary
Some country-specific installation codes require a Type
B Residual Current Device (RCD) in the AC circuit
external to the photovoltaic (PV) inverter to protect
against ground faults. Inadequate or malfunctioning
ground fault protection can pose a danger to people
and property. This paper describes the types of RCDs
and explains the role of the PV inverter residual current
detection functions. Guidance is provided regarding
selection of the proper external RCD for the AC circuit.
998-2095-12-31-13AR0
 Guidance on Proper Residual Current Device Selection for Solar Inverters

Introduction “Residual current” refers to the leakage current from an electrical system to the ground, often
as a result of a “ground fault”. Leakage currents can flow through a human body to ground
resulting in a risk of electric shock, injury or burns, and can cause overheating and risk of fire.

A Residual Current Device (RCD) is used to detect these currents and disconnect the circuit
from the source automatically when the values of these residual currents exceed the pre-
defined limits. A Residual Current Monitoring Unit (RCMU) is similar to a RCD except it does
not contain the disconnection function, and can only activate an alarm.

The residual current may be a pure alternating current (AC), a pure direct current (DC), or a
current with both AC and DC components. The proper functioning of an RCD or RCMU is
only ensured if the type of RCD or RCMU is matched to the type of residual current expected:
AC, DC, or mixed.

In some jurisdictions, RCD’s are required to be installed on AC circuits in which photovoltaic

(PV) inverters are connected. In a grid-tied PV system with a non-isolated inverter, it is
possible for a ground fault on the PV system to cause DC residual current in the AC part of
the system. Therefore, if an RCD is required on the AC circuit, its proper selection requires
awareness of the properties of the inverter.

Many inverters contain RCD or RCMU functions to protect against or warn of ground faults in
the PV array, and of the limitations of such PV residual current functions.

Definitions
Following is a list of definitions for key terms utilized in this white paper:

• Residual current: A vector sum of the currents flowing in the normally current-carrying
conductors of a mains circuit, expressed as an RMS value (as defined in EN/IEC
62109-1).
• Residual Current Device (RCD): A mechanical switching device or association of
devices designed to make, carry, and break currents under normal service conditions
and to cause the opening of the contacts when the residual current attains a given
value under specified conditions (as defined in IEC 60755).
• Residual Current Monitoring Unit (RCMU): A device which monitors the residual
current in an electrical installation and activates an alarm when the residual current
exceeds the operating value of the device (as defined in IEC 62020).

RCD types The IEC) 60755 standard specifies three different types of RCDs, defined by their ability to
sense, properly trip, and withstand different types of current:

• Type AC - sensitive to residual sinusoidal alternating current (AC).

• Type A - sensitive to residual sinusoidal alternating current (AC) or pulsed direct
current (DC).
• Type B - sensitive to residual AC, pulsed DC, or smooth DC currents.

Only Type B RCDs are able to withstand and properly function in the presence of a DC
residual current component exceeding 6 mA. These different types of RCDs are marked with
specific symbols, as defined in IEC 60755 (see Figure 1).

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 Guidance on Proper Residual Current Device Selection for Solar Inverters

Figure 1
Symbols that indicate the
type of RCD in use

In order to protect against ground faults, photovoltaic (PV) systems are required by numerous
regulations to be equipped with residual current detection and/or monitoring. To fulfill this
requirement, RCD’s and/or RCMUs are often integrated into PV inverters.

The RCD / RCMU’s integrated into non-isolated grid-tied inverters are required to have both a
continuous residual current detector set at 300mA (or higher for larger systems) and a
sudden change detector with limits as listed in Table 1 (based on DIN/VDE 0126-1-1, EN/IEC
62109-2, and other standards).

Maximum time to inverter

Residual current sudden change
Table 1 disconnection from the mains
Existing standards for
RCMU’s that are integrated
30 mA 0.3 seconds
into photovoltaic inverters 60 mA 0.15 seconds

150 mA 0.04 seconds

As can be seen by the numbers in Table 1, the RCD / RCMU in a typical non-isolated inverter
does not by itself prevent DC residual currents exceeding 6 mA.

The RCMU in the inverter can only help protect against residual current on the array side of
the inverter. Therefore, the RCMU does not replace the requirement in some regulations for
the AC circuit to also be protected by an RCD. The RCMU helps protects the PV circuit, while
the RCD protects the AC circuit. However, the presence of a non-isolated inverter, which
provides a connection between the DC and AC electrical systems, affects the choice of which
type of RCD is needed.

Buyers and installers of photovoltaic solutions often pose the following questons:
Inverter
impact on 1. Can the RCMU internal to the inverter replace the RCD for the AC circuit?
2. Do we need to install an external Type A, Type AC, or Type B RCD?
RCD
selection The answer to the first questions is “no”. The RCMU in the inverter cannot protect the circuit
between the mains and the inverter--the protection needs to be at the source (mains) end of
the circuit. For regulations requiring RCD protection of external circuits, an external RCD is
still required.

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 Guidance on Proper Residual Current Device Selection for Solar Inverters

Regarding the second question, how the inverter affects RCD selection needs to be
understood, and the regulations governing RCD selection need to be interpreted in the proper
manner.

Depending on the design of the inverter, it may or may not provide a current path through
which DC residual currents can flow in the AC circuit. An inverter with isolation between the
AC and DC circuits cannot pass DC residual currents through to the AC side. An inverter
without isolation can pass DC residual currents through to the AC side, unless the design of
the inverter prevents this in some manner (see Figure 2).

Figure 2
The design of the inverter
impacts the selection of RCD

Consider a PV system containing a non-isolated inverter and an AC mains circuit with an

earthed (grounded) neutral. A ground fault in the DC part of the system will create DC
residual current that can flow from ground into the AC mains circuit, by way of the AC neutral-
to-earth connection, and back to the DC circuit through the non-isolated inverter. The RCMU
in the inverter will detect this current. However, as Table 1 illustrates, the RCMU is allowed to
be set for residual currents much higher than the 6mA maximum tolerated by a Type A or
Type AC RCD. Therefore the use of a Type A or Type AC RCD would only be acceptable
if the RCMU were set to trip at 6mA or less, or if the inverter or system contained some other
device that opened the circuit at this threshold.

Regulations such as VDE-100-0712 and IEC 60364-7-712 state the following:

“Where an electrical installation includes a PV power supply system without at least simple
separation between the AC side and the DC side, an RCD installed to provide fault protection
by automatic disconnection of supply shall be type B according to IEC 60755, amendment 2.
Where the PV inverter by construction is not able to feed DC fault currents into the electrical
installation, an RCD of type B according to IEC 60755 amendment 2 is not required.”

Purchasers and specifiers of inverters for use in systems that conform to these regulations
must determine whether or not the inverter prevents or limits DC residual currents into the AC
circuit. They must also determine the maximum resulting DC residual current on the AC
circuit before determining the type of RCD required on the AC circuit. While inverter
manufacturers usually specify the RCD type that may be used with their inverters, it is a
sensible precaution to check with them to determine the maximum DC residual current their
inverter can allow to flow into the AC circuit, and how they limit such current.

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 Guidance on Proper Residual Current Device Selection for Solar Inverters

Not all installation codes require an RCD on the AC circuit of an inverter installation. Where
Conclusion an RCD is required, or used on the AC circuit, however, selection of type AC, A, or B must be
based on knowledge of the type of residual currents that can be present in the AC circuit.

In an inverter installation, the possibility of a DC component of residual current on the AC

circuit is present, unless the inverter limits this (e.g., if the inverter is isolated by design or if a
special design is in place that specifically limits the DC residual current).

Proper operation of the RCD is only ensured if a Type B RCD is selected, unless the inverter
design limits the DC residual currents to 6 mA or less. The RCD or RCMU in a PV inverter
protects the PV array and therefore does not replace the RCD on the AC side of the inverter.
The RCMU in a typical non-isolated inverter is set for 300 mA steady residual currents, and
for sudden changes in residual current of 30 mA and larger, and therefore does not by itself
prevent DC residual currents exceeding 6 mA on the AC side of the system.

© 2013 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.

About the authors

Ajith Kumar is a Staff Compliance Engineer at Schneider Electric’s residential and small
commercial solar inverter design center. He holds a bachelor degree in Electrical
Engineering and master degree in Operations Management.

Jim Eichner is Compliance Engineering manager for Schneider Electric’s solar

business, and has worked extensively on international standards development for solar
inverters and systems. He holds a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering.

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