How to ensure safe and effective solar grounding

Learn how to ensure safe and effective solar photovoltaic grounding.

⏱️Timestamps:
0:06 Intro

1:13 Electrical reference
1:35 --- Zero volt reference
3:15 --- Phase voltage

3:40 Ground fault
4:05 --- Ground fault
5:52 --- Shock hazard
6:52 --- Ground fault path
8:45 --- Ground fault protection

10:02 External high voltage
10:20 --- Lightning protection
12:13 --- Arc and side-flash
12:43 --- Lightning path
13:23 --- Auxiliary electrode

15:07 Other videos and resources

📝Resources:

[TiredOfTheGarbage]

Excellent video! You even covered multiple ground scenarios which is something even a lot of electricians get wrong.

[cancerman]

Totally Brilliant. 5 Stars. This video has viral potential from what I have seen on YouTube and DYI channels.
Should be mandatory in all high schools and electrical courses. Looking forward to grounding solar disconnect breaker box and inverter/battery for a off grid set up but the inverter is supplied with AC.🇨🇦

[wonkychris]

Thanks for this, i really improved my understanding from watching the video.

A tip for anyone else watching who wants to take in the (huge amount of detailed) information more easily - change the video play speed to 75% ;-)

[ЮрійФедорович-уд]

most informative video on grounding. watched few times to fully grasp everything. thanks

[ykak]

Super explanation! Please also comment on transformerless vs transformer based solar inverters and the various types of PV panels.

[niallvbrennan]

Fine video, thoughtfully presented. I would suggest also showing Ground protection on a real world system, and also touching on conductor sizing for eg PV grounding. Thank you for this very helpful vid.

[AJTarnas]

could you make a video or describe what to do for an off-grid solar PV + battery (not-grid-tied, no-grid) situation?

[samsungw]

Good video, thank you. How would I ground a standalone system not connected to the main?

[aloksharma]

excellent video again! Do you do professional solar system installations or assist in inspecting the systems? or refer someone to install the system that I am buying? thanks a lot!

[flyingjeff]

Excellent. Now, why do the PV installers not run a ground from the ground mount, via the wiring trench, to the ground rod which is going to be near the entrance panel/meter base?

[alanbutterworth]

Thanks for the video. Are you saying that there should be a grounding system on the roof that covers the perimeter of the solar panel array, and that should be connected to its own copper rod in the ground? The frames of the panels themselves should then all be tied together and be presented to the earth terminal in the solar controllers or if using a solar inverter, to the inverter itself? I am completing a 40ft catamaran which has a 6kw solar panel array, two 10kw solar inverters, two 45kwh LiPO4 lithium battery banks and two 15kW electric outboard motors. I will be running the two hulls independent of each other, with 3kW of solar going to each solar inverter. I was thinking of doing four spike charge dissipators at the corners of the catamarans roof which would be linked together with 70mm2 cable. During weather that posed a risk of a lightening strike, I was going to then fit 4 removable large copper cables which would be attached to the spikes and draped into the water. None of this grounding would be attached to the frames of the solar panels, but would be to try to keep the charge of the localised sea area and the surrounding air above it, at an even voltage thereby reducing the risk of attracting a lightening strike. The cat is a solar cat so no mast to worry about. Does that solution sound likea good idea?

[alanw]

Yeah this is extremely helpful, but how about isolated 12v solar setups that are not tied into a homes main panel. Does having grounding rods around panels help in a lightning strike? Im just setting up a couple batteries with a couple 100watt panels, for a back up during power loss, but not hooked into the house in any way.

[kennethwilson]

Would be nice to see a battery in the system.

[amythinks]

I'm always so impressed with electricians' ability to quote and cite code off the top of their heads. Wish I could quote the Bible with that kind of alacrity.

[mauroattilionosenzo]

thank you for this video I have know clear view

[Terrathrax]

I'm curious that if I ground my roof mounted solar array, doesn't that create the potential to attract lightning to the higher grounded point now?

[liwei-gswd]

does an ac disconnect consider a main panel if installed before this main serice panel? my ac disconnect doesn't have any breaker its a manual switch for disconnecting the meter from the main service manually it has 2 200amp fuse inside. so my question is if do i need a ground neutral bond in ac-disconnect switch and isolated the ground neutral bond in main service panel. or is going to be ok just ground wire into my main service panel with breakers? the existing grounding system?

[stardave]

What about a pure DC battery bank system with no inverters?

[novatrajana]

Hello, DoI need separate earth rod for dc and ac in case of a solar system installation?

[aloksharma]

Hi, do you provide services like inspection of solar system for a fee?