Giandel inverter neutral-ground bond in off-grid system

[NordicNerd]

Ok, so I spoke with my electrical engineering friend about this grounding and yes, you would only ground at the panel. You would treat the panel as a main panel where the neutral bar has a lug that screws down to the panel and the ground lug goes to earth ground. So when the ground bar/lug is attached the the panel this creates your ground neutral bond as you would in a normal house service panel. I would use a GFCI with this arrangement.

Again, I would definitely check that there is no ground - neutral bond in the inverter as a precaution. As Giandel states in the manual only the ground and chassis are bonded. Use this with caution and do your own research as always. This will suit my off grid needs.

 

[Drew888]

I have the same issue. What I have found is that most small inverters are internally bonded. This means that the panel should be wired as a subpanel to prevent having a double bonded scenario. I do not know how well this will work. Some say the panel could become a conductor because of the type of output of the invertor.

One thing that I have found is that some of the smaller inverters, < 3kw have the bond with a relay that is normally closed which can be checked by measuring the continuity between the neutral, ground and chassis lug. Other units as in the some of the Victron units have a relay or relays that are normally open and will close when the unit is turned on. These are hard to evaluate if they are internally bonded.

Also if the invertor has an AC input, when in use this will unbond the AC output. Maybe this is not an issue if the AC in source is from a bonded source, but what about if it is a generator that is not bonded. Then nothing would be bonded in the circuit.

 

[NordicNerd]

I have the same issue. What I have found is that most small inverters are internally bonded. This means that the panel should be wired as a subpanel to prevent having a double bonded scenario. I do not know how well this will work. Some say the panel could become a conductor because of the type of output of the invertor.

One thing that I have found is that some of the smaller inverters, < 3kw have the bond with a relay that is normally closed which can be checked by measuring the continuity between the neutral, ground and chassis lug. Other units as in the some of the Victron units have a relay or relays that are normally open and will close when the unit is turned on. These are hard to evaluate if they are internally bonded.

Also if the invertor has an AC input, when in use this will unbond the AC output. Maybe this is not an issue if the AC in source is from a bonded source, but what about if it is a generator that is not bonded. Then nothing would be bonded in the circuit.

Thanks. I have checked the inverter manual. There is no internal ground neutral bond and it does not 'float' or switch. The ground of the inverter (Giandel 24V 3000W) is only attached to the ground plugs of the AC output.

 

[Drew888]

Thanks. I have checked the inverter manual. There is no internal ground neutral bond and it does not 'float' or switch. The ground of the inverter (Giandel 24V 3000W) is only attached to the ground plugs of the AC output.

Using the breaker panel as a main with a bonded neutral and ground would be correct.

I may have to sell my inverter and by one of those units. I chose the Jupiter 3kw because it had a provision to be wired instead using the typical 110 receptacle. There is no way I can see to un-bond the unit I have.

 

[outboard1196]

I'm in the same situation looking for clarity , I just received a new giandel 3k inverter. after reading the manual which is different then the one listed on the website it stated for indoor condition which is my situation for off grid and the original question it states to hook ground to mains grounding system . so to me this sounds like bonding N and G in a panel which has an earth rod is correct .

 

[NordicNerd]

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I'm in the same situation looking for clarity , I just received a new giandel 3k inverter. after reading the manual which is different then the one listed on the website it stated for indoor condition which is my situation for off grid and the original question it states to hook ground to mains grounding system . so to me this sounds like bonding N and G in a panel which has an earth rod is correct .

Yep. That’s what I did. Just check continuity (or lack thereof) between ground and neutral. My G-N bond is in the panel and goes out to a grounding plate (all my grounds go to it).

 

[outboard1196]

I check and inverter isn't bonded .
I called a friend who's an electrician, he hasn't run into an inverter system but said all power sources need to be bonded .
My next question is should my DC side be grounded ? Panels , charge controller ?