PV Grounding [RE-wrenches]

Sky Sims sky at ecologicalsystems.biz
Wed Apr 16 11:04:53 PDT 2008


The unfortunate fact is that most people, including quite a few
inspectors, have no idea what a proper ground is. This means that we as
the installer have to explain it to them. Some are receptive to
information some aren't. 

If I recall, an accepatable ground as defined by UL would have 5 ohms or
less of resistance and a grounding conductor that is sized
appropriately.


Sky Sims
Ecological Systems
www.ecologicalsystems.biz
220 County Road 522
Manalapan, NJ 07726
732-462-3858   fax)732-462-3962

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Frye [mailto:markf at berkeleysolar.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 8:46 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: PV Grounding [RE-wrenches]


I have taken to using 8# bare stranded from module all the way through
to
the point of connection at the ac system GEC. 

i too have heard of folks disallowing the #10 GRN STD as a PV equipment
ground, something about the insulation is not rated for UV exposure or
extreme current during lighting strike, but.....who needs insulation on
an
equipment ground? (isolated ground systems being a separate issue)

Would definently be interest in a good explanation why this should be
disallowed.
 
Mark Frye
Berkeley Solar Electric Systems
271 Vistamont Dr
Grass Valley CA 95945
(530) 401-8024
www.berkeleysolar.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Parrish [mailto:peter.parrish at calsolareng.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 5:31 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: PV Grounding [RE-wrenches]


After all these years I must confess I was stymied by the comment of a
self-styled expert on grounding. He said that grounding of roof mounted
PV
modules cannot be accomplished with stranded wire -- period. We were
discussing 10 AWG, 19 strands vs 10 AWG solid, so I didn't venture
beyond
the case at hand. 

We normally use 10 AWG solid but occasionally we run out and use 10 AWG
THHN
Green 19 strand in a pinch (module to module, rail to rail or sub-array
to
sub-array)

For the record, the PV modules had a series fuse rating of 15A and we
were
paralleling two strings at the inverter, which was a Xantrex GT4.0 with
a
600 volt 1-Amp ground fault protection fuse.

Is he right?

- Peter 

California Solar Engineering, Inc.
CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
peter.parrish at calsolareng.com 


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