Where Should Grounding Conductors Be Installed in Solar Arrays?

Grounding Requirements for Solar Arrays

To ensure safe and reliable operation of solar arrays, grounding conductors must be installed properly. The National Electric Code (NEC) requires grounding conductors to be sized in accordance with Table 250.66 in the NEC, which specifies the minimum size of grounding conductors based on the array’s voltage and current.

Installation Guidelines

Grounding conductors should be installed at the every meter of each array section, typically near the junction box or equipment mounting bracket. This ensures that the grounding system can effectively drain fault currents to the ground rod or plate. It’s also essential to ensure that the grounding conductors are sized correctly for the array’s voltage and current. For example, for a 1,000-volt array, the minimum grounding conductor size would be 1/0 AWG, according to the NEC.

Bonding the Array

The grounding system must also be bonded to the inverter and other equipment in the array. The bonding conductor should be sized in accordance with the NEC, typically 1/0 AWG or larger. The bonding conductor should be connected to the grounding conductor at the point of warranty connection to the inverter. This ensures that any fault currents in the array are properly drained to the ground rod or plate, protecting the inverter and other equipment from damage.