This is very helpful . Thanks Mike! Still not 100% clear on how best to bond or ground the PV array. I assume, based on above ground bonding, it needs a suitable conducter "neutral" connecting the PV array bonded back to the AC meter input panel where earth/neutral are bonded for a single connection to earth ground. Thank you! -Jay
Let's say your solar array is built upon a wood structure. The only connections to the array are the DC positive and negative wires going to the charger at the house. What if anything should be grounded to the ground at the array and why. If all bonded together and grounded at the array this would seem to be a good excuse for lightning to vaporize the array. Would some grounded lightning rods above the array be a better idea?
Question in reference to the points made at 19:00. Lets say you have a commercial building that has multiple locations and tenants that may have transformers in each various unit changing the voltages down. I'm trying to wrap my head around the code requirements regarding different electrical systems in a facility. Is it not considered a different system requiring separate grounding means coming off the secondary side of the transformer? and wouldn't it be creating a potential lightening hazard then if you bond the grounding means of the secondary to the rest of the building when its already connected to ground back at the MC room of the entire building, or however the metal structure of the building is grounded? So if the point is you want to have everything above ground bonded and everything below ground boned with 1 point of reference in between... how do you deal with several transformer in 1 building location that require their own separate grounding means?
so you ground the inverter but not the solar panels. My solar panels are about 120 foot apart from my inverter. I already have my solar panels grounded, do you think I should remove this ground from the panels
Auxiliary Electrode should be renamed to Exhiliary Electrode, for that exhilarating experience when something goes wrong or blows up from the potential difference
I disagree with some points: I have a nearby roof at the house with a solar array. Yes, i dont want a ground loop and yes i don't want a lightning current through my house NOR through a long conductor. Therefore a second ground rod very close to the solar array should be fine. AND not to forget: there is always a potential difference if power dissipates into the ground, and all neighbor houses have also their own ground rod nearby.... Basically keep the house a faraday cage with its inside bonding and one time grounding and don't go outside when lightning is around. Therefore any current dissipates in the best possible way without guiding the current to far along expensive and eventually underrated conductors...
Hey Mike or viewers in 2011 690.47(C)(3) it says to run the combined GEC/EGC from the marked DC GEC Terminal. Is it necessary to run a ground wire from your EGC Output Terminal to your Inverter Ground Bar or Irreversibly splice the EGC Output Ground to the Combined EGC/GEC? Or should you just negate it altogether? It looks like in 2014 the wording is changed around to just run the combined GEC/EGC from the EGC Output Terminal. Thanks for the advice. These videos are awesome!
On a metal structure for pv can I use one ground from the structure to ground all the panels that are mounted to said structure. ie no grounding jumpers between panels.
my solar panels are attach to poles which are buried around 4 foot, to the poles are unistrut attach to the unistrut are the panels, so basically I have an electrical ground
![Grounding, System and Equipment [250.4, 2020 NEC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lyD6gzEze68/mqdefault.jpg)
![Grounding, System and Equipment [250.4, 2020 NEC]](/img/tr.png)
![Transformers - Understanding Delta/Delta Connections [250.4(A)] (26min:36sec)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dlscWJRm38M/mqdefault.jpg)
![Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, Scope, NEC 2020 - [690.1], (39min:21sec)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gZT9y0Ougao/mqdefault.jpg)
thanks mike..I've watched this a few times. got an unintelligent inspector trying to make me do unlawful things..greatly appreciated!
Excellent explanation. So many people are very confused about this, even the so called "experts". The "experts" need to watch this video.
Thanks.
So Smart! Thank you for that rational argument!
Thank you for the explanation Mike.
This is very helpful . Thanks Mike! Still not 100% clear on how best to bond or ground the PV array. I assume, based on above ground bonding, it needs a suitable conducter "neutral" connecting the PV array bonded back to the AC meter input panel where earth/neutral are bonded for a single connection to earth ground. Thank you! -Jay
Let's say your solar array is built upon a wood structure. The only connections to the array are the DC positive and negative wires going to the charger at the house. What if anything should be grounded to the ground at the array and why. If all bonded together and grounded at the array this would seem to be a good excuse for lightning to vaporize the array. Would some grounded lightning rods above the array be a better idea?
If you feel that lightning protection should be provided, then see NFPA 780 - Lightning Protection Code, not the NEC.
Question in reference to the points made at 19:00. Lets say you have a commercial building that has multiple locations and tenants that may have transformers in each various unit changing the voltages down. I'm trying to wrap my head around the code requirements regarding different electrical systems in a facility. Is it not considered a different system requiring separate grounding means coming off the secondary side of the transformer? and wouldn't it be creating a potential lightening hazard then if you bond the grounding means of the secondary to the rest of the building when its already connected to ground back at the MC room of the entire building, or however the metal structure of the building is grounded?
So if the point is you want to have everything above ground bonded and everything below ground boned with 1 point of reference in between... how do you deal with several transformer in 1 building location that require their own separate grounding means?
Hummm... had not thought about that angle. Yep you are right...
So if you have multiple ground rods only connected to the system in one spot through one wire, issue or no?
There is NO grounding required for PV systems other than the inverter output circuit equipment grounding conductor.
so you ground the inverter but not the solar panels. My solar panels are about 120 foot apart from my inverter. I already have my solar panels grounded, do you think I should remove this ground from the panels
Auxiliary Electrode should be renamed to Exhiliary Electrode, for that exhilarating experience when something goes wrong or blows up from the potential difference
solid! looking for an (update video)
Visit MikeHolt.TV, I think it contains an update.
Tks for sharing this.
I disagree with some points:
I have a nearby roof at the house with a solar array. Yes, i dont want a ground loop and yes i don't want a lightning current through my house NOR through a long conductor. Therefore a second ground rod very close to the solar array should be fine. AND not to forget: there is always a potential difference if power dissipates into the ground, and all neighbor houses have also their own ground rod nearby.... Basically keep the house a faraday cage with its inside bonding and one time grounding and don't go outside when lightning is around. Therefore any current dissipates in the best possible way without guiding the current to far along expensive and eventually underrated conductors...
Hey Mike or viewers in 2011 690.47(C)(3) it says to run the combined GEC/EGC from the marked DC GEC Terminal. Is it necessary to run a ground wire from your EGC Output Terminal to your Inverter Ground Bar or Irreversibly splice the EGC Output Ground to the Combined EGC/GEC? Or should you just negate it altogether? It looks like in 2014 the wording is changed around to just run the combined GEC/EGC from the EGC Output Terminal. Thanks for the advice. These videos are awesome!
On a metal structure for pv can I use one ground from the structure to ground all the panels that are mounted to said structure. ie no grounding jumpers between panels.
NO! See 690.43, all solar panels must be connected to the circuit equipment grounding. Also watch MikeHolt.com/Fundamentals
my solar panels are attach to poles which are buried around 4 foot, to the poles are unistrut attach to the unistrut are the panels, so basically I have an electrical ground
Not that grounding serves any purpose, but yes they are 'grounded.'