Firesky567
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2022
- Messages
- 25
I have recently been educating myself on the different approaches people take to earthing/grounding/bonding domestic low power (sub 1kw) systems not unlike my own, in best interests of the safety of the operator (myself) and equipment itself.
It would appear as though there is no straightforward rules of thumb for earthing as everyone's situation is different; It seems to me, to be a topic that is hotly debated. (or maybe not so much, given that I'm finding conflicting opinions, lol)
I have included images of my system so far. Nothing is being turned on until I'm sure it's 100% safe.
The reason nothing is grounded is I've never done any earthing jobs and I don't want to go and f*ck it up; I want to ask people more knowledgeable than myself about it prior.
I have 2x 4ft 3/8" copper plated steel rods, 3/8" clamp for each, 10mm² green/yellow jacket copper earth cable and an 8 port earth busbar.
I currently plan on installing the rods in 2 separate 4ft lengths (checking service lines drawings first) in nice compact wet soil, 6ft apart connected in series by 1 unbroken straight strand of 10mm² - in a spot that's well out of the way of any mechanical interference.
This will in theory protect me and my system against static buildup, lightning (to a degree) and surges/faults of any kind within said system AFAIK.
(I realize best practices around lightning protection vary, watched this last night, found it pretty interesting besides the relevant stuff.)
Yet to take soil resistivity reading but I believe they will be viable for my purposes given my local geology.
- How do I connect the ground rod(s) to my system?
- Do I need to do this?
- If so do I need to ground my PV array independently? Or do I earth the SCC? Or do I let the DC side of things just float?
- My inverter manual says that it needs to be grounded. I plan on feeding the AC live from inverter into an existing 6A breaker and dual 13A socket.
- Can my inverters' earth point connect to the existing mains circuits' earth? Or would this be a bad idea?
The setup is in a Cabin, at the top of the garden, and the mains supply is fed from a 13A socket, from the house main board up the garden in PVC pipe (20m ish) I'd presume the house has an earth rod of it's own, this I'm unsure of, got my homework for the night though I guess.
Any suggestions are immensely appreciated at this point. So frustrating to have it just sat there doing nothing.
I think I included the relevant details but if not and you need more to help I can happily elaborate.
Many thanks in advance.
It would appear as though there is no straightforward rules of thumb for earthing as everyone's situation is different; It seems to me, to be a topic that is hotly debated. (or maybe not so much, given that I'm finding conflicting opinions, lol)
I have included images of my system so far. Nothing is being turned on until I'm sure it's 100% safe.
The reason nothing is grounded is I've never done any earthing jobs and I don't want to go and f*ck it up; I want to ask people more knowledgeable than myself about it prior.
I have 2x 4ft 3/8" copper plated steel rods, 3/8" clamp for each, 10mm² green/yellow jacket copper earth cable and an 8 port earth busbar.
I currently plan on installing the rods in 2 separate 4ft lengths (checking service lines drawings first) in nice compact wet soil, 6ft apart connected in series by 1 unbroken straight strand of 10mm² - in a spot that's well out of the way of any mechanical interference.
This will in theory protect me and my system against static buildup, lightning (to a degree) and surges/faults of any kind within said system AFAIK.
(I realize best practices around lightning protection vary, watched this last night, found it pretty interesting besides the relevant stuff.)
Yet to take soil resistivity reading but I believe they will be viable for my purposes given my local geology.
- How do I connect the ground rod(s) to my system?
- Do I need to do this?
- If so do I need to ground my PV array independently? Or do I earth the SCC? Or do I let the DC side of things just float?
- My inverter manual says that it needs to be grounded. I plan on feeding the AC live from inverter into an existing 6A breaker and dual 13A socket.
- Can my inverters' earth point connect to the existing mains circuits' earth? Or would this be a bad idea?
The setup is in a Cabin, at the top of the garden, and the mains supply is fed from a 13A socket, from the house main board up the garden in PVC pipe (20m ish) I'd presume the house has an earth rod of it's own, this I'm unsure of, got my homework for the night though I guess.
Any suggestions are immensely appreciated at this point. So frustrating to have it just sat there doing nothing.
I think I included the relevant details but if not and you need more to help I can happily elaborate.
Many thanks in advance.
