DC-GFP/2 protection [RE-wrenches]

[David Palumbo, Independent Power & Light]

Jeff,

Wow! What a timely message for me to see. I have always gone by the book and
bonded DC negative to ground at one point in the system and have experienced
no more than the occasional lightning issues.

However I have been recently considering a change to a floating DC system. A
tech at one of my distributors had my ear on this issue and he was convinced
that floating the DC negative would help with lightning protection. He also
said that there was some sort of movement to do away with the language in
the code that mandates the DC negative bond to ground.

Dave Palumbo
IP&L


-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Yago [mailto:jryago at earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 9:12 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: DC-GFP/2 protection [RE-wrenches]


We just returned from inspecting a brand new 4 month old system (that we did
not install!!) that had BOTH SW5548 Trace inverters "fried" by lightning.
This was a 4800 watt totally off grid system.  The AC side of the inverters
supply a standard 120/240 volt house panel that was grounded properly.  The
ground mounted array frame was grounded properly also.  However, the
negative of the DC side of the inverter, batteries, and charge controllers
were not grounded.

The lightning was "nearby" but was not a direct strike.  Since there was no
grid connection, the surge could not have entered the AC side.  I for one
like grounding the DC side and wish this installer had done so also.

Jeff Yago

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