Pole mount on steel pipe - Do I need a ground?

[billwiens]

I've bought this DPW TPM2-H pole mount and I'm mounting it to a 3" steel pipe set in concrete. Since the whole system is metal, do I need a separate grounding rod and wire?

 

[Shimmy]

You shouldn't, but technically I believe you do need to run a ground wire back to the main ground system. You do not need a separate ground rod though. Does it add any value? Not really, especially if you don't put any AC power out there.

Personally I would just bond everything together and be done with it. Are you putting any kind of disconnect at the pole?

 

[x98myers7]

earthing and grounding are two separate things

panel and racking ground needs to go back with the feed lines to the system for GFP. you can't detect a ground-fault if the racking and panels aren't grounded to the detection device.

do NOT run a separate "earthing" rod for your mount. all of the earthing and grounding should be bonded together and connect back to a common earthing rod with the components and (assuming residential) the main panel.

 

[Ptom]

I have always thrown some bare copper wire in the hole when pouring the concrete, run up along the pole, then bonded to the J box/combiner box. Can't hurt, inspectors seemed to like it.

 

[missingegg]

I have always thrown some bare copper wire in the hole when pouring the concrete, run up along the pole, then bonded to the J box/combiner box. Can't hurt, inspectors seemed to like it.

Unfortunately, inspector approval and good design aren't always the same thing. The topic is a bit complex, and I probably don't have the expertise to do it justice. But my belief is that you shouldn't casually create additional grounds in an electrical system, and running a copper wire into the ground at the panel mount may be a bad idea. I'd consult with an electrician who has expertise with solar systems before I did that.

 

[dmkjr]

I believe inspectors like it because they lack advanced knowledge. "Grounding" to most seems like a protection piece -- inspectors where I live are "general" at best. Book say it should be white wire, it better be white because black carries a different load.