Dave911
Solar Enthusiast
No one I know of would try to bend 1" rigid with a hand bender. I think the Harbor Freight hydraulic bender would do it. Its not that expensive.
Emt or rigid conduit for PV on outside of house?
- Thread starter ElkPicture
- Start date
That is what I do as I am not strong and big enough to do any bending or wire pulling.
Dave911
Solar Enthusiast
You can run conduit exposed. Are you trying to meet code? If its exposed to possible physical damage they will want rigid steel. You might be able to fasten it right to the rock. Id probably just use rigid steel conduit.
Not necessarily code but want to be safe. I think rigid is the best option with water tight connectors to a weather head a few feet off the ground at panels. Depends on which way I run the conduit but I’m sure there are several rock anchor points I can use.
Dave911
Solar Enthusiast
If you have exposed solid rock, you might be able to chip a flat area and anchor unistrut brackets onto the surface.
Is there a rule that says you can't do more than 10ft runs with the titan? I need over 50 ft.Your emt MUST be grounded to the house system as do the panel frames.
There can be no other path to ground or a different rod or something else. The NEC states that when an EGC is used you MUST run it in the same conduit as the current carrying wires and it must be connected to the inverter ground which is tied to the house ground.
There are Titan water tight connectors that attach to the emt and flexible. They are expensive, but you only do it once. Make sure to get the correct ones and not the stuff for the non-metalic liquid tight. These will all be metal with a seal verse plastic. There are also connectors for standard knock-outs on an electrical panel.
Both emt and lfmc work fine with any panel. There is a minimum turn radius on the conduit so it doesn't collapse. You can make a loop-de-loop to do the radius of the turn tight.
Titan cuts with a standard pipe cutter like you would use on copper, emt, or you can use a hacksaw. Watch a few videos on the use. You have to trim and debur the ends inside and out.
This kit is worth the cost, just get one for the size you use.
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And when in doubt if the cost is similar always get the larger conduit. If you ever need to run larger or extra wire it is simpler to not have to replace the conduit.
Now, there is a derating of current carrying capacity if more than 2 current carrying conductors are in the conduit. The ground conductor doesn't count. The EGC should be the same size as your panel wires.
Here is a link to a fill chart - lists conductors in the conduit allowed.
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robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
Support every 4.5ft and within 12 inches of an electrical box. If the run is more than 6ft you MUST run a EGC inside it verse using it as the ground conductor.
The only thing else that limits it is less than 3% voltage drop.
The only thing else that limits it is less than 3% voltage drop.
Can I just put some wood blocks every 4.5ft and fasten it to that?
I'm definitely glad I went with 3/4" instead of 1/2".
Can I run bare copper wire as the EGC?
I am one of those you don't know.
Used to bend 1" rigid all the time with a hickey bender, bending in segments. Faster than trying to drag around a Greenlee 555 bender.
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
Yes you can, the EGC needs to be the same awg as the current carrying conductors
Nice. I already have that. But it's not quite long enough. Can I connect 2 together? I'm talking about just the bare copper wire
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
In a box anywhere along the way
Wait so the ground from PV array needs to be the same size as the PV wires themselves?
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
Yes
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
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- 21,898
My present setup had multiple 12 awg runs, and I included one 12 awg ground per physical array (couple of strings.)
My new one will have a ground with ampacity equal to Isc x number of strings x 1.56
Timselectric said EGC tables for undersized grounds could be used because ground-fault will shut off inverter load, even though breakers/fuses won't.
So follow your preferred "expert".
Same size as PV wires should usually be sufficient, unless I get in there and introduce multiple faults to maximize current.
My new one will have a ground with ampacity equal to Isc x number of strings x 1.56
Timselectric said EGC tables for undersized grounds could be used because ground-fault will shut off inverter load, even though breakers/fuses won't.
So follow your preferred "expert".
Same size as PV wires should usually be sufficient, unless I get in there and introduce multiple faults to maximize current.
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
EGC matches to AWG 10 for the PV conductors
Above that the EGC can be smaller
Same EGC sizing table as for AC circuits
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
I asked @timselectric this specific question recently and if I could downsize the ground and he said not to. Tagged him to see if he will come read it.
kscessnadriver
Solar Enthusiast
What would be limiting about a 3% voltage drop? It's not code, unless it's some locally adopted code in addition to the NEC.
So, if I have panels connected as shown below with the ground wires shown in green and the conduit/box in orange.
Do I have to do the top picture or am I allowed by NEC to do the bottom picture. And if so, can I insert the ground wire at box labeled HERE?(2) or do I need to insert it at HERE?(1)?
Also, do I need to ground the rails(in yellow) also?
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 21,898
Ground mount panels grounding questions.
I am setting up some ground mount panel arrays, how are you supposed to properly ground them, where do you run the ground connection from the panel frames to exactly? Thanks!
diysolarforum.com
Ground mount panels grounding questions.
I am setting up some ground mount panel arrays, how are you supposed to properly ground them, where do you run the ground connection from the panel frames to exactly? Thanks!
diysolarforum.com
Ground mount panels grounding questions.
Thanks for posting again. I’ve been trying to find this.
diysolarforum.com
Ground mount panels grounding questions.
Thanks for posting again. I’ve been trying to find this.
diysolarforum.com
Dave911
Solar Enthusiast
I don't see hickey benders being used much anymore. Probably require too much skill. I remember them from the 70s and 80s.I am one of those you don't know.
robbob2112
Doing more research, mosty harmless
Ground mount panels grounding questions.
I am setting up some ground mount panel arrays, how are you supposed to properly ground them, where do you run the ground connection from the panel frames to exactly? Thanks!
Ground mount panels grounding questions.
I am setting up some ground mount panel arrays, how are you supposed to properly ground them, where do you run the ground connection from the panel frames to exactly? Thanks!
Ground mount panels grounding questions.
Thanks for posting again. I’ve been trying to find this.
Ground mount panels grounding questions.
Thanks for posting again. I’ve been trying to find this.
I can see in this specific post where he says exactly what you are. When I asked the question I must have mistated the problem or not understood the answer.
Ground mount panels grounding questions.
Thanks for posting again. I’ve been trying to find this.
diysolarforum.com
I'll look for the reference I was thinking of and see if I can find it.
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
It feels like you haven’t done some basic research yet. Common way to do this with modern racking is to bond the EGC to rails first. With #6 after exiting conduit and cable since that is the minimum size for exposed runs in solar arrays. And then use bonding clips that work with the panel mounts to bond the panels to the rails.
You also seem to be doing a very unusual number of home runs in that conduit
Did you read the grounding section in the manual for your racking? IMO the manual for Unirac does a good job (but that is from the angle of me already understanding bonding somewhat well).
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
With how rambly this thread has become, it behooves you to seize the initiative and summarize exactly how you are planning to do it.
Otherwise if we say “Yes” that is likely a terrible quality answer because it’s unlikely most people will go back and scrutinize each statement.
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