PV Grounding [RE-wrenches]

[graham at solarexpert.com]

Dear Wrenches,

My typical installation utilizes Siemens SP 65 or 75 series modules and 
hopefully I am grounding them correctly.  We use 10 gauge flat braided 
wire secured across the underneath side of the modules with stainless 
steel washers and the Siemens provided grounding screws.  We panelize 
the modules in the shop in groups of 4 and a wire lug is installed at 
the same end of the grouping that the conduit to the inverter is 
located.  A #10 green insulated wire is secured to the wire lug and 
tucks neatly under the module and is routed into the small knockout on 
the junction box.  The wire is then able to be contained within the 
conduit leading off of the roof.  A typical installation uses 40 modules 
in ten groups of 4.  The system is split in half with 20 modules feeding 
a GC- 1000 inverter.  The conduits from the modules are connected on the 
roof with exterior rated boxes.  Inside each box the ground wires are 
combined.  So we have 2 ground wires coming off the roof, one to each 
inverter location.

I hope this is a good method, the Los Angeles Department of Building and 
Safety has been passing our installations but the inspectors are still 
learning what to look for.

Graham Owen
GO Solar Company


info at backwoodssolar.com wrote:
>  grounding, only slightly better than the bare copper loops under screws 
>  is
> to attach a small al/cu wire lug to each module oriented in the 
> direction of
> ground wire. Thus a straight bare wire can be passed straight through 
> the
> lug on each module in the row and secured.  A little faster and neater 
> roof
> labor, same wire path.
> Steve Willey
> Backwoods Solar Electric Systems
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <mrousso at urbanrefuge.com>
> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 11:02 AM
> Subject: PV Grounding [RE-wrenches]
> 
> 
> > Fellow wrenches,
> >
> > I have been growing dissatisfied with the equipment
> > grounding method we have been using on roof top
> > arrays.  It is the basic green wire whose bare copper
> > loops have been screwed to the panel frames and racks.
> >  While this method is code compliant and works, I find
> > that it leaves me aesthetically void.  With more of
> > our projects being on high-end homes, I am open to
> > more elegant solutions.
> >
> > Does anyone use a system that facilitates an
> > efficient, yet "clean" install?  We have been
> > considering pre-loading the panels in the shop with a
> > quick-connect type system.  Thanks in advance.
> 
> 
> 

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

==^================================================================
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9
Or send an email To: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================