PV arc-fault detection using spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR)

A PV arc-fault detection technique using spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR) method has been introduced in this paper. SSTDR is a reflectometry method that has been commercially used for detecting aircraft wiring faults although SSTDR could be potentially used for many other applications. We have used SSTDR for detection of both ground and arc faults in a PV array. It has been demonstrated that SSTDR can be used for detection of both series and parallel arcs, and it has the potential to predict the presence of future arc faults by detecting the change in impedance - even in absence of light or at very low solar irradiance. This method does not require frequency domain analysis of voltage or current signal and can detect the presence of arc regardless of the operating state of the inverter.