diy solar

diy solar

10K PV and Solark Install

ArthurEld said:
I saw the video. But it is old and probably a million people have done it since then.
I honestly have no understanding of this 2nd ground and probably never will.
If I decide it is unsafe, I will disconnect it. Irreversible crimp my eye!
Click to expand...
As I understand it, it isnt unsafe. It is safer. Just don’t connect anything else to it. Two rods. One connection between them (parallel circuit to ground). Just don’t futz around having a bunch of wires strung off them. 1 connection from ac panel, one connection to second rod. Anything you need to ground should probably go through the main panel, anyway, right? I’m not an electrician, that’s just my understanding. You just don’t want to create a ground loop.
 
DerpsyDoodler said:
As I understand it, it isnt unsafe. It is safer. Just don’t connect anything else to it. Two rods. One connection between them (parallel circuit to ground). Just don’t futz around having a bunch of wires strung off them. 1 connection from ac panel, one connection to second rod. Anything you need to ground should probably go through the main panel, anyway, right? I’m not an electrician, that’s just my understanding. You just don’t want to create a ground loop.
Click to expand...
There is a ground cable from the main breaker panel to the ground rod.
I plan to install another ground rod 6 feet away. I am hoping to splice a cable to the existing cable so I have a continuous cable from the main breaker panel to the existing ground rod then to the new ground rod.
The cable installer attached a ground to the existing ground rod.
 
The 811 guys are here marking the area. Looks like I'll have to start pounding in that ground rod soon.
I'm planning to use the Cadweld One Shot to splice to my existing ground wire. I'm planning to use one to attach the ground wire to the new rod too. They cost about $15 each.
1616530352603.png
 
He stated irreversible clamp on the existing rod.

This is what the correction notice says -

"Need to have grounding electrode system up to current 250 code per 690.47 NEC
Two rods 6' apart. GEC needs to be continuous NEC 250 .52-.53"

The Cadweld makes the GEC continuous and it is irreversible.
 
I read they want it irreversible because people steal the copper. Nobody in my neighborhood is going to dig up that copper and steal it. And if my neighbors did want that wire they'd bring wire cutters. :rolleyes:
 
"GEC needs to be continuous"

That is, grounding electrode conductor to be one wire, or added length of wire fused to the first one (not just spliced with a bolt.)
Pretty sure that isn't saying fused to rod.

(And if you want to reverse the irreversible connection, you can just take clamp off second rod.)

When this was written, recycling wire off working powerlines wasn't a thing.

PV panel ground in particular is supposed to be a continuous conductor or at least done in such a manner that you can remove one panel without interrupting the ground conductor, because that is a foreseeable occurrence. I think joining at a clamp on the rack rather than on the panel takes care of that since no need to unclamp.
 
I sent an email to the inspector describing everything I plan to do. Hopefully he'll answer.
If not, I will just go ahead because I think it is right. Besides, changes probably wouldn't be difficult.
 
I picked up the 5/8" x 8' ground rod from Home Depot.
Then I pounded it in with a hammer. Much more of that crap and I'd have a headache for sure.
 
I think the CADWELD is a bit overkill. But what the code here did call for was that the wire to the far ground rod had to be in one piece, with no splice. And they just had that same wire go through the clamp at the first rod. So if someone did remove the clamp (or if it failed) at the first rod, the second rod would still be connected. This is the same idea of having the one wire loop past all of the solar racking for grounding. If one is removed, the rest are still connected.
 
Thanks GXMnow. The Cadweld looks fairly easy. I plan to leave the wires long in case I need to change something.
It will be a couple days before the Cadweld kit arrives so I might change my mind by then.
 
I got the Cadweld kit and did it today. I have an inspection tomorrow.
It's ugly but the original wasn't anything to look at either.
I'll put a plastic pipe over it. And I have broken pavers to arrange around it.
The orange wire is cable and it's not connected to the ground rod. The cable ground is connected to the ground wire.
1617052264207.png

Here's the new ground rod. I'm burying the orange cable too.

1617052377789.png

This is my AC disconnect and rapid shut down. I have a sign to attach above the RSD

1617052687723.png

My stuff isn't very exciting but it functions well so far.

1617052798595.png
 
Last edited:
ArthurEld said:
I got the Cadweld kit and did it today. I have an inspection tomorrow.
It's ugly but the original wasn't anything to look at either.
I'll put a plastic pipe over it. And I have broken pavers to arrange around it.
The orange wire is cable and it's not connected to the ground rod. The cable ground is connected to the ground wire.
View attachment 43016

Here's the new ground rod. I'm burying the orange cable too.

View attachment 43017

This is my AC disconnect and rapid shut down. I have a sign to attach above the RSD

View attachment 43018

My stuff isn't very exciting but it functions well so far.

View attachment 43019
Click to expand...
Solar porn. ?
 
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