[RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark 15k solar panel frame grounding

[Brian Mehalic]

2020 NEC® identification requirements in 690.31(B)(2) state that "Only
solidly grounded PV system dc circuit conductors shall be marked in
accordance with 200.6." (200.6 is Means of Identifying Grounded Conductors")

If the circuit is nonsolidly grounded, then positive conductors can be
identified with +, POSITIVE, or POS if color coding is not being used; if
it is, they can be any color other than green white or gray. Nonsolidly
grounded negative conductors can be identified with -, NEGATIVE, or NEG if
color coding is not being used; if it is they can be any color other than
green, white, gray, or red.

Brian Mehalic
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ R031508-59
National Electrical Code® CMP-4 Member
(520) 204-6639

Solar Energy International
http://www.solarenergy.org



On Wed, Jun 5, 2024 at 2:08 PM William Miller via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Friends:
>
>
>
> On a related subject, I was researching the question: What color should my
> grounded PV conductor be?
>
>
>
> History:
>
>
>
> In the beginning, negative leads were always black.
>
>
>
> When it became apparent that negative PV leads were indeed grounded, the
> requirement to have them white or grey became enforced per 200.6(A)(3).
>
>
>
> When transformerless inverters were implemented it was assumed the
> negative was floating, so white/grey was no longer acceptable.
>
>
>
> Then the NEC recognized that some leads were kind of grounded, not
> solidly, but through some components, either OCPD, resistors, sensor or a
> combination.  A new term was created,  functionally grounded.  This
> grounding was most often done to implement ground fault detection and
> interruption, or GFDI.  I always assumed that if PV equipment had GFDI it
> had to feature a grounded polarity, most often indirectly, or functionally.
>
>
>
> Grounded conductors need to be white or grey.  Therefore we are back to
> needing grey/white, most often for the negative lead.
>
>
>
> I wanted to verify if the Sol-Arc PV inputs established a grounded lead.
> They have GFDI so I assumed it likely they did.  In order to verify, I
> called Sol-Arc.  Their tech support had no idea what I was talking about.
> They did not know the term functionally grounded and could not verify if
> their equipment established a ground connection, solid or otherwise, to
> either polarity.
>
>
>
> This distinction applies here because it may help determine what is
> causing the GFDI fault.  I can’t tell you for sure if one side of the PV
> circuit is functionally grounded, but if it is, grounding it elsewhere will
> defeat the GFDI and may cause nuisance tripping.
>
>
>
> Does anyone know if Sol-Arc PV inputs have a functional ground bond?
>
>
>
> Side note:  I called my local Greentech distributor, who sells plenty of
> Sol-Arc inverters and asked if they carried white PV wire.  They said none
> of their customers are asking for white PV wire.  I suspect they should be
> using white for negative leads.  I can’t confirm that because Sol-Arc can’t
> tell me it the PV circuits are functionally grounded or not.  Frustrating!
>
>
>
> Fortunately the manual for Outback charge controllers specifically says
> the negative lead is functionally grounded.  So if you are installing
> Outback CCs you must use white or grey.  PV-Cables sells white PV wire.
>
>
>
> Confusing?  Yeah, a bit.  But as my local roofing companies say:  “Solar?
> It can’t be that complicated!”
>
>
>
> William Miller
>
>
>
> Miller Solar
>
> 17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422
>
> 805-438-5600
>
> www.millersolar.com
>
> CA Lic. 773985
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches
> *Sent:* Wednesday, June 5, 2024 6:02 AM
> *To:* RE-wrenches
> *Cc:* Jason Szumlanski
> *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark 15k solar panel frame grounding
>
>
>
> Can anybody clarify the following instruction from the manual?
>
>
>
> "GND the panel MOUNTS/FRAMES to any GND outside the circuit via 12AWG wire"
>
>
>
> Does this mean do not connect the array equipment grounding conductor to
> the grounding terminal in the inverter? Where would be the suggested place
> to connect the equipment grounding conductor, and why does it make a
> difference? It would still be electrically bonded to the grounding terminal
> in the inverter.
>
>
>
> I'm asking because I do, in fact, have an equipment grounding conductor
> from the array connected to the ground terminal in the inverter at a home.
> I am getting an F08 GFDI fault. The manual doesn't say anything about the
> DC side with respect to this error. It suggests it is an AC current leakage
> to ground. But Sol-Ark tech support suggested that I disconnect the PV to
> rule it out as a source of the fault.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Jason Szumlanski
>
> Florida Solar Design Group
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