PV Panel Grounding
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NEC 690 - Covers PV Systems
- 690.41 - Equipment Grounding Conductor requirements [1]
- 690.41(B) also requires ground fault protection except if there are no more than 2 strings (PV source circuits [2])
- Since NEC 2020, ground fault indicator must be readily visible (but not necessarily readily accessible?) [3]
- 690.45 - size of PV equipment grounding conductors - Table 250.122 + no less than 14 ga.
- 690.41(B) also requires ground fault protection except if there are no more than 2 strings (PV source circuits [2])
- 690.9(A) says that we don't need overcurrent device for PV if the wires can handle short current capacity of PV. But good luck trying to convince a code official.
- PV Grounding PDF [4]. Although the NEC does not specifically require all equipment to be certified/listed, many local jurisdictions and many AHJs establish requirements that all equipment be certified/listed because they feel unqualified to examine uncertified/unlisted equipment for safety as the NEC requires.
- Good overview doc. Read it from p. 6 on to understand equipment ground, system ground.
- Additional issue for PV is that in cloudy conditions, if you get a fault, a breaker may not trip because current is too low. For this reason, extra ground fault protection devices may be required.
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Solar PV standards and certifications - [5]. Class II means frames grounded, no system ground.
Equipment Grounding
- PV panels should follow electrical grounding conductor sizes - [6]
- Ie, for 30A DC, we need 10 ga ground.
- PV frames must be connected to PV system equipment grounding conductor [7]
- After leaving the PV array, the equipment ground must run together with the power wires. [8]
What Size Grounding Conductor on PV Panels?
- Australia rules - appear to say 6 ga for lightning protection, and 12 ga for frame grounding [9]
- 6 ga USA if 'subject to damage'?