JamesTheCrow
New Member
Hi all,
I'm trying to wrap my head around grounding our PV componenents. Would appreciate your input on this.
Context
We're still connected to the electrical grid. At the moment, we only have a home battery backup, since I haven't installed the solar panels, yet. This panel-less system connects to our house's transfer switch to tide us over during outages. At 7.2 kW it's enough to run most appliances, even our deep well pump (but not everything at once, of course). Sans panels, our PV system consists of
I plan to spread the solar panels into five arrays across three locations on our property:
Questions
1) How do I go about grounding the solar panels?
Assumptions:
2) How do I go about grounding the remaining PV components?
Assumptions:
I'm really stumped on this. Looking forward to your feedback. Thank you.
James
I'm trying to wrap my head around grounding our PV componenents. Would appreciate your input on this.
Context
We're still connected to the electrical grid. At the moment, we only have a home battery backup, since I haven't installed the solar panels, yet. This panel-less system connects to our house's transfer switch to tide us over during outages. At 7.2 kW it's enough to run most appliances, even our deep well pump (but not everything at once, of course). Sans panels, our PV system consists of
- 2x Ecoflow Delta Pros: PV inputs connected to two busbars; AC out connects to our house's transfer switch via the double voltage hub (split phase)
- 3x 48V, 100Ah server rack batteries: connected in parallel to the aforementioned busbars
- 4x SCC: not connected, yet (but to be connected to the same busbars once I've installed the solar panels)
- 1x 48V 20A battery charger: connected to the busbars
I plan to spread the solar panels into five arrays across three locations on our property:
- Array #1: ground mount; 6 340W panels in 3S2P config: 113.4 V, 19.52 A; 250 ft run
- Array #2: ground mount; 6 340W panels in 3S2P config: 113.4 V, 19.52 A; 250 ft run
- Array #3: ground mount; 6 340W panels in 3S2P config: 113.4 V, 19.52 A; 250 ft run
- Array #4: RV roof mount; 10 180W panels in 5S2P config: 119.2 V, 18.42 A; 100 ft run
- Array #5: ground mount; 6 355W panels in 3S2P config: 121.8 V, 22.5 A; 150 ft run (this won't be connected to a SCC, but rather be used for mini splits powered by both solar and AC)
Questions
1) How do I go about grounding the solar panels?
Assumptions:
- Since I'm going to build the ground mounts with lumber, I plan on using grounding clamps to connect each array's panels with grounding wire.
- Having read @FilterGuy 's primer (thank you), it's my understanding that I have to run grounding wire from each solar panel array to our house's grounding rod (i. e. the grounding rod that our service panel is grounded to).
- What size would I need for the grounding wires for 250 ft and 100 ft runs, respectively?
2) How do I go about grounding the remaining PV components?
Assumptions:
- I plan on running grounding wire from each SCC to the negative busbar. And from the negative busbar to the grounding bar of our service panel.
- I assume there's no additional grounding required for the Delta Pros, since they're being grounded via their connection to the transfer switch.
I'm really stumped on this. Looking forward to your feedback. Thank you.
James