Earthing battery banks [RE-wrenches]

Howie Michaelson howie at suncatchervt.com
Wed Oct 3 11:40:03 PDT 2007


So if one has a roof mounted battery based system (and therefore the GFDI
is required) how do folks deal with lightening protection issues?

Howie Michaelson
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™

Sun Catcher, LLC
Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service
http://www.SunCatcherVT.com
(cell) 802-272-0004
(home) 802-439-6096


>
> Hi
> If you have the GFDI used with your modules/system,
> you are not allowed to ground except through the GFDI.
>  That is the module frames and racking should be
> "earthed" of course, but neither of the current
> carrying conductors should be connected to ground
> "earth" EXCEPT VIA GFDI circuit.  So you should not
> ground the positive or negative of the battery.  If I
> do not have a GFDI then I usually ground the negative
> side, note if you ground the current carrying system
> at the battery negative, this is the only place the
> conductors should be grounded other wise you will have
> parallel paths.
> Darryl
>
> --- Ron Schroeder <wd8cdh at optonline.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> If you have to float the system, earthing thru a
>> spark gap will provide some
>> protection.
>>
>> Ron Schroeder
>> WD8CDH
>> NABCEP Certified PV Installer
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Warren Lauzon" <windsun at wind-sun.com>
>> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 7:18 AM
>> Subject: Re: Earthing battery banks [RE-wrenches]
>>
>>
>> >
>> > We have been having that debate among ourselves
>> for years :P
>> >
>> > Electrically it seems like it is 50-50, sometimes
>> better to float.  But
>> > lightning protection with a floating system can be
>> a real problem, and
>> > with ungrounded batteries stuff can flash around
>> all over looking for a
>> > path to ground, even on nearby strikes.
>> >
>> > So 98% of the time we opt for a negative ground
>> >
>> >
>>
> ..................................................................................................
>> > Northern Arizona Wind & Sun - Electricity From The
>> Sun
>> >
>>
> ..................................................................................................
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Carl Emerson, Free Power Ltd."
>> <freepower at freepower.co.nz>
>> > To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
>> > Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 5:54 PM
>> > Subject: Earthing battery banks [RE-wrenches]
>> >
>> >
>> >>
>> >> Hi Group,
>> >>
>> >> Has someone out there done a Scirocco MWI install
>> and did they earth the
>> >> battery bank negative ??
>> >>
>> >> I understand that if the PV input is connected
>> then earthing the battery
>> >> will upset the GFI on the solar.
>> >>
>> >> There is a general debate going over here as to
>> whether to earth battery
>> >> negative or leave the battery bank to "float"
>> >>
>> >> Up to now I have earthed negative in every
>> install.
>> >>
>> >> Comments appreciated
>> >>


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