Click on the Orange "Download" button to get the file.
This paper discusses in some detail the NEC code that requires ground fault protection on PV arrays.
The following is a copy of the introduction in the paper:
This paper discusses in some detail the NEC code that requires ground fault protection on PV arrays.
The following is a copy of the introduction in the paper:
1. INTRODUCTION
Ground-faults and ground-fault protection in solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays are discussed in this Tech Topic. Ground-faults in PV arrays could potentially result in large fault current which may increase the risk of fire hazards. To better understand ground-fault scenarios, a typical ground fault in a PV array is introduced, followed by PV current flows explanation and current vs. voltage (I-V) characteristics analysis. To protect PV arrays from damages due to ground-faults, the National Electrical Code® (NEC) requires ground-fault protection devices (GFPD) in PV arrays. In most cases, the GFPD is a fuse rated at 0.5-1A within the PV inverter. Finally, the Tech Topic explains how to clear ground-faults by installing fuses and fuse protection characteristics.
