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<DIV><SPAN class=953394321-09092011><FONT face=Arial>James</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953394321-09092011><FONT face=Arial>It's hard to beat buried
copper. At an array of 4-14 foot high trackers we installed in 2005 we buried
over 700 feet of bare copper in the same trenches, a foot above
the conduit runs. The ground was limestone so driven rods were out of the
question. There was also a Ufer ground to each 8 foot pier.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953394321-09092011><FONT face=Arial>The site received a direct
lightning strike to a 24 ft weather station mast only 100 feet
from the nearest tracker. The arc jumped to a steel well casing another 100 feet
the opposite direction from the trackers. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953394321-09092011><FONT face=Arial>I'm convinced the lightning
never "saw" the trackers due to their low impedance to earth. The steel
casing didn't hurt either but the trackers were a much bigger target.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953394321-09092011><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953394321-09092011>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial><STRONG>Jim
Duncan</STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>North Texas Renewable
Energy</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>NABCEP Certified Solar
PV</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Installer
No.031310-57</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>TECL
27398</STRONG></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:ntrei@1scom.net"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><STRONG>ntrei@1scom.net</STRONG></FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>817.917.0527</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.ntrei.com/"><FONT face=Arial
size=2><STRONG>www.ntrei.com</STRONG></FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953394321-09092011></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
class=953394321-09092011><FONT face=Arial
size=3> </FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT><BR>Dear
Wrenches,<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>Sunny Regards,<BR> <BR>James Rudolph<BR>NABCEP
Certified Installer<BR>Master Electrician<BR>SF Energy<BR></DIV>
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