The Aswich DC mini circuit breakers are installed in fuse boxes that have a rail specially designed for them. They can be used to protect individual loads that work with direct current, or they can be used to protect main circuits such as those of inverters, solar PV arrays, or battery banks. The physical installation of DC circuit breakers has many similarities to AC circuit breaker:
1.Direct current circuits will be connected to a fuse box and the cable will typically be protected by an adequate plastic or metallic duct.
2.The circuit can be connected directly to the direct current device and controlled with a switch, or it can be a plug-in electric outlet.
3.Direct current circuit breakers are connected in series with the live conductor for each individual circuit.
However, DC mini circuit breaker wiring is simpler than in AC circuit breakers. This is because AC current can have up to three different live conductors, but DC current only has one. In alternating current, each live conductor must be connected to the correct pole of the circuit breaker. Errors in connection can cause electric accidents or make motors to run in the opposite direction. With direct current, on the other hand, all applications work with just one live conductor and there is no risk of confusing connections.
DC mini circuit breaker installation is very important if the user has a solar PV system. It requires protection at several points:
Solar PV panels are connected in series circuits, and one installation may have one or more circuits depending on its capacity. All of the circuits are connected to a PV combiner box, where each is protected by a DC circuit breaker. Protecting the solar panel circuits is critical, since they are the most expensive part of the system.
Once the power supplied by all solar panels is combined into a single direct current output, a main DC circuit breaker will be needed.
If the system uses a battery bank, it must also be protected by a DC circuit breaker.
The inverter, which converts direct current to alternating current, requires a DC circuit breaker at the source.
Finally, if the user has an exclusive electric panel for DC loads, an array of DC circuit breakers will be required.
