Solar panel grounding

[Stevenfyeager]

We will install 4 solar panels 30’ away from a cabin. Should we install a ground rod for the panels and a ground rod for the cabin inverter system too ? Thank you

 

[Joe.B]

Oh boy, I can't wait to see what kind of answers you get with this question!

 

[jaggedben]

Per the NEC, yes.

If this is an offgrid system my opinion is that the ground rods don't do much, especially the one at the array.

 

[electrofelon]

Per the NEC, yes.

If this is an offgrid system my opinion is that the ground rods don't do much, especially the one at the array.

I've lost track, but doesn't it depend in code cycle? I thought at one point no rod was required for a ground mount array?

 

[Jerryjchagolla]

You must ground it if there are two rails you just ground one rail to the J-box. If there four rails you ground every other rail and then ground to the j-box

 

[electrofelon]

You must ground it if there are two rails you just ground one rail to the J-box. If there four rails you ground every other rail and then ground to the j-box

I would say those details will vary depending on the listing/design of the racking, use of WEEBS, etc.

 

[jaggedben]

I've lost track, but doesn't it depend in code cycle? I thought at one point no rod was required for a ground mount array?

I think that in principle it has pretty much always been the case that where you've had two structures you need a electrode at both per article 250. In some cycles 690 added additional requirements, including mentioning poles; nowadays it doesn't, but a pole is still a structure. The only exception in 690 I can remember was something like 'where the load is integral to the array', which wouldn't apply here.

 

[electrofelon]

I think that in principle it has pretty much always been the case that where you've had two structures you need a electrode at both per article 250. In some cycles 690 added additional requirements, including mentioning poles; nowadays it doesn't, but a pole is still a structure. The only exception in 690 I can remember was something like 'where the load is integral to the array', which wouldn't apply here.

I see 250.32 which is "buildings or structures supplied by a feeder or branch circuit". But I don't see that applying to a ground mount with only photovoltaic source and output circuits. What else you got?