[RE-wrenches] Designing PV systems for lightning prone areas

[Darryl Thayer]

Lightening has a high voltage and HIgh current and High frequency.  The lightening has gathered it energy over a large area, It has either picked up electrons or lost electrons to generate this large Potential The electrons want to return to the earth, So you do not want that path to be through your equipment.  
1) ESTABILSH A GOOD GROUND ROD ( i had a system that had blown up about 3 times, I drove a 3/4" sectioned ground rod 80' and then drove another about 20  feet away.  Tied the two together and to the frames of my modules.  Then I took aand connected to the module conductors, using a MOV similar to what Midnight solar sells.  The system is in a higher relative area, this I did in 2003 it has never blown up since   

From: James Rudolph <jamesrudolph99 at gmail.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Friday, September 9, 2011 11:32 AM
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Designing PV systems for lightning prone areas



Dear Wrenches,

Does anybody have any best practices for designing large PV arrays on metal building in lightning prone areas? Lightning arrestors on the DC side and Surge suppressors on the AC load side? Any input or resources would be greatly appreciated.

Sunny Regards,
 
James Rudolph
NABCEP Certified Installer
Master Electrician
SF Energy




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