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<p class=MsoNormal>Wrenches,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Questions: Does the PV GEC have to be bonded to the
ground electrode system at the same point as the utility service equipment GEC?
Is there a code section to back this up?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Additional info:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]>The DC side of the inverter is a separately derived
system and therefore needs a GEC to a ground electrode.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]>The AC side of the inverter is not a separately derived
system therefore 250.30(A)(7) does not apply. This section states that AC
separately derived systems should be grounded to the nearest ground electrode
(building steel in many cases) and therefore does not need to be bonded to the same
point as the utility service GEC.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span><![endif]>My thought process is this: The PV GEC can be
bonded to the nearest ground electrode as long as this electrode is tied to the
same ground electrode as the utility service electrode, forming one complete ‘ground
electrode system’. My opinion is that this setup is analogous to this
example which is regularly seen in the field. High rise building with
structural steel bonded to water main with utility service GEC bonded as well. Delta-wye
step-down transformer on an upper level with the derived neutral on the
secondary bonded to closest building steel. Yet there is still an equipment
grounding connection to both the primary and secondary sides of the transformer.
This implies that it is OK and even preferable to tie the PV GEC to the nearest
ground electrode, but I can’t find any evidence or section in the
code that confirms or denies this.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Thanks for any input,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Jason<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#244061'>Jason M.
Szrom, PE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#244061'>Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#244061'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#244061'>Solar Energy Systems, LLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#244061'>1205 Manhattan Ave<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#244061'>Suite 1210<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#244061'>Brooklyn, NY 11222<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#244061'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#244061'>718-389-1545 x13<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#244061'><a href="http://www.solaresystems.com/"><span style='color:#244061'>www.solarEsystems.com</span></a></span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#244061'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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