Looking for DC circuit breaker, ~80v

[685eric]

I'm having trouble locating DC circuit breakers for around 80 volts? I'll have 8 12v panels, two sets of 4 panels in series. So I'd be around 80v, under 20 amps total. Everything I find is only good up to 48vdc. I'm I stuck using a fuse for this application? Is there anything available? This will be mounted out at my panels. Thanks

[Mike90250]

Midnight Solar sells them, about $20 each, 150VDC rated for use as a switch too.
DIN rail mount: http://midnitesolar.com/productPhoto...Order=18&act=p
Panel mount http://midnitesolar.com/productPhoto...Order=13&act=p


MidNite's breakers are rated to break the full rated load at the rated voltage repeatedly, with NO DAMAGE. Always use a properly sized breaker for disconnecting.

[685eric]

Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for!

[inetdog]

I believe that the Midnight breakers are still polarized models, meaning that, at least when used as a switch, the current they interrupt must be flowing in the right direction. I suspect that they will operate as breakers to interrupt an overload in either direction, but maybe only once if the direction is wrong. The breaker internals are designed to safely interrupt without damage only when the interrupted current is in the right direction.

If they have changed to a non-polarized design, please correct me.

[Mike90250]

Yes, they have a polarity marking on them, which is supposed be installed with the + terminal connected to the largest current source, ie ,
your breaker for use on the charge controller, the + goes toward the battery
(The reasonable failure mode is the charge controller fails, shorts and battery power goes toward it))

on the PV combiner the + goes toward the Panels.
( in this mode the panels are the power source, and when used as switches, will be correctly polarized .) In the rare case of a panel failure, and the array dumping power into the panel, it will still trip off, but could be damaged, and should be replaced.