Renogy GFCI fault with earth ground

I'm setting up a Renogy 2000W to an AC panel in my house.
Below image is the setup...
The system works fine when hooked up like this, with nothing connected to the Water Pipe.
If I hook up anything to the Water Pipe to ground the system, the Renogy stops with a GFCI error.
This is includes if I connect the...
- Ground Case Lug only to the Water Pipe
- The negative battery terminal only to the Water Pipe
- The G in the panel to the Water Pipe
- The G in the panel and the Ground Case Lug and the negative battery to the Water Pipe
- The Ground Case Lug and negative battery to the Water Pipe
Basically anything connected to the Water Pipe causes a GFCI error.
Could it be something to do with the Water Pipe connection?

I think those inverters are internally bonded, also they suggest 10AWG cable for the grounding. Is the panel connected to an earthing system? If so the breaker will trip if you bond the ground lug ( usually used in mobile use for chassis connection) to anything connected to earth. I'm sure someone more qualified will chip in.

The panel is not connected to earth.
I have THHN 12 AWG to earth (the water pipe). I have some 10 AWG so I'll give that a try.
In the current setup, which is working, I have nothing to ground.
If there is a fault, with the GFCI in the inverter trip and work as a ground?

StuGoss said:

The panel is not connected to earth.
I have THHN 12 AWG to earth (the water pipe). I have some 10 AWG so I'll give that a try.
In the current setup, which is working, I have nothing to ground.
If there is a fault, with the GFCI in the inverter trip and work as a ground?

Click to expand...

The panel isn't grounded ?
The AC circuit in the panel , is that grounded down the line at whatever is being powered ?
If the inverter has GFCI I would think it's bonded internally.

The AC circuit is not grounded.
Yes, the inverter manual said that neutral and ground are bonded inside the inverter.
The manual also says that 12 AWG is recommended for the 2000W.
In the manual is state, "In fixed locations, connect the ground lug to earth ground."
If I do this, the GFCI trips on the inverter with a yellow light next to the power switch.

StuGoss said:

The AC circuit is not grounded.
Yes, the inverter manual said that neutral and ground are bonded inside the inverter.
The manual also says that 12 AWG is recommended for the 2000W.
In the manual is state, "In fixed locations, connect the ground lug to earth ground."
If I do this, the GFCI trips on the inverter with a yellow light next to the power switch.

Click to expand...

Do you have a circut tester ? In a recent post we discovered an inverter was wired wrong from the factory , had similar issue .

See This thread . post 16 and on
It may not be the same but worth checking .
The ground in panel should go to to the load along with the L and N wire as well .
I feel we're missing something .

I tested continuity.
With the inverter off...
There is continuity between the N and G on the inverter.
There is continuity between the N and the grounding case lug and between the G and the grounding lug.
There is NO continuity in the panel between the neutral and the grounding bar, so I'm not double bonded.
Also tried 10 AWG for ground but still the GF tripped.

What happens if you turn off the breaker in the panel ?

Same thing.
GFCI trips with the break in the panel on or off.
So it works without connecting to earth ground.
When its powered on and working, if I touch the ground to the case grounding lug, the GFCI trips instantly.
I can connect the case grounding lug to the negative battery terminal and it works fine also.
Since it works without grounding, my question is that if there is a fault somewhere, will the GFCI on the inverter protect?
How can I test this?

StuGoss said:

Same thing.
GFCI trips with the break in the panel on or off.
So it works without connecting to earth ground.
When its powered on and working, if I touch the ground to the case grounding lug, the GFCI trips instantly.
I can connect the case grounding lug to the negative battery terminal and it works fine also.
Since it works without grounding, my question is that if there is a fault somewhere, will the GFCI on the inverter protect?
How can I test this?

Click to expand...

Two things need to be done to make sure it's safe .
You need to get a plug tester and make sure the inverter is wired correctly . Something like This

Second the ground needs to be wired all the way to the devices being powered by the inverter not just to the panel box .