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

Rich Nicol rich at solartechvt.com
Tue Sep 13 03:17:25 PDT 2011


Hi Wrenches

Is there a connection between lightening strikes and ground fault fuses
popping? Can lightening strikes energize the grounding electrode and thereby
pop a ground fault fuse? 

Thanks for your input,

Rich

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Darryl
Thayer
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 10:39 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Designing PV systems for lightning prone areas

 

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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