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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