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Does mini field need surge protection?

Gotshocked!

Gotshocked!

Solar Enthusiast
Joined
May 16, 2023
Messages
340
Location
Missouri
I made a couple posts asking for SPD advice. I believe Midnight Solar is what I'll use.

This is what they recommend for my house, eg4 18kpv, batteries & pv's...

"For your system we would recommend an MNSPD-300-AC outside with a 2p 30a breaker in the outside breaker box to protect everything coming from the grid. On the EG4 we would recommend 1 MNSPD-600 on each MPPT that you are using and if you are using a lithium battery we recommend an MNSPD-115 for that to protect your BMS."

but it seems excessive.
My question: With the panels literally mounted on the ground, grounded together with said ground terminating at the main home ground at the meter, aren't 3 of these SPD's for the panels silly?
 

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A little spare time here and there as I try to see the fog and bullshit that I believe surge protection might be.
Someone's always trying to sell someone something.

anybody shutdown during electrical storms? - Solar Panels - Solar Panels Forum

For people who have experience with solar panels and/or work in the industry. Discuss installation questions here.
www.solarpaneltalk.com

"Did you ever shut down before you had solar connected to the grid? Why would that change with Solar? Adding Solar does not increase your chances of being hit. And if you are really worried about it there are things that you can do that are far more effective then adding surge protections and in some case are less expensive or free. A simple flag pole that puts your home under the Cone of Protection is the most effective device known to man. A large tall tree on the north side does the same thing. The best lightning protection is to give lightning a target away from your home. Do that then the only protection required is at your AC service with a simple Meter Collar SPD installed by your POCO. There is no better TVSS than what the POCO uses"
 
SPD's are recommended for all circuits that enter your home.
To protect your equipment and appliances.
Close to the point that they enter the home. Or at least before they connect to anything that you want to protect.
 
PS: electrical grounding is for personal safety.
SPD's are for protecting equipment and appliances from external surge sources.
The two serve their own purposes and have no bearing on each other.
 
timselectric said:
SPD's are recommended for all circuits that enter your home.
To protect your equipment and appliances.
Close to the point that they enter the home. Or at least before they connect to anything that you want to protect.
Click to expand...

timselectric said:
PS: electrical grounding is for personal safety.
SPD's are for protecting equipment and appliances from external surge sources.
The two serve their own purposes and have no bearing on each other.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the feedback.

A direct hit to my house is not very likely due to being surrounded by much taller trees on 2 of 4 sides. The panels are hugging the ground and as I gathered from reading around, they're very unlikely to take a direct hit and if they did, these little spd's wouldn't stop the damage from occurring.

So, I'm looking to protect against power from a lightning struck tree in my example. As I think I understand it, that power isn't going to transfer from the ground to my pv's and then on to my inverter and if that's true, these three 600 spd's would be pricey christmas decorations.

I'm all about the 300 to a 2 pole 30 amp breaker in the meter box, but I'm not sold on the 115 for the BMS or the 3 spd's for the pv's.
 
Gotshocked! said:
Thank you for the feedback.

A direct hit to my house is not very likely due to being surrounded by much taller trees on 2 of 4 sides. The panels are hugging the ground and as I gathered from reading around, they're very unlikely to take a direct hit and if they did, these little spd's wouldn't stop the damage from occurring.

So, I'm looking to protect against power from a lightning struck tree in my example. As I think I understand it, that power isn't going to transfer from the ground to my pv's and then on to my inverter and if that's true, these three 600 spd's would be pricey christmas decorations.

I'm all about the 300 to a 2 pole 30 amp breaker in the meter box, but I'm not sold on the 115 for the BMS or the 3 spd's for the pv's.
Click to expand...
Definitely not trying to control a direct lightning strike.
That would require a lightning protection system. Which is a completely different system that is expensive.
Only trying to avoid damage to equipment and appliances. Caused by surges on circuits entering the house.
These surges can be from the grid or a nearby lightning strike. A nearby lightning strike creates a gradient pulse across the surface of the earth. It ripples out from the location of the strike. Like ripples in a pond when you throw a rock in.
The earth is a terrible conductor. So if a better path is available, the pulse will be induced onto it.
This is what SPD's help to stop from entering into the house.

I recommend them for all wiring entering the house.
Unless your battery wiring enters or leaves the house, it's not on my list.
 
timselectric said:
Definitely not trying to control a direct lightning strike.
That would require a lightning protection system. Which is a completely different system that is expensive.
Only trying to avoid damage to equipment and appliances. Caused by surges on circuits entering the house.
These surges can be from the grid or a nearby lightning strike. A nearby lightning strike creates a gradient pulse across the surface of the earth. It ripples out from the location of the strike. Like ripples in a pond when you throw a rock in.
The earth is a terrible conductor. So if a better path is available, the pulse will be induced onto it.
This is what SPD's help to stop from entering into the house.

I recommend them for all wiring entering the house.
Unless your battery wiring enters or leaves the house, it's not on my list.
Click to expand...
Yep and that's what happened to me not long ago. I'll have a midnight solar MNSPD-600 installed on the lines from my panels this Saturday to help with indirect lightning surges.

One showing the small 12v inverter kicking off when it hits and you can see and hear the surging arcing.




Then an outside shot from when it happened.

 
timselectric said:
Definitely not trying to control a direct lightning strike.
That would require a lightning protection system. Which is a completely different system that is expensive.
Only trying to avoid damage to equipment and appliances. Caused by surges on circuits entering the house.
These surges can be from the grid or a nearby lightning strike. A nearby lightning strike creates a gradient pulse across the surface of the earth. It ripples out from the location of the strike. Like ripples in a pond when you throw a rock in.
The earth is a terrible conductor. So if a better path is available, the pulse will be induced onto it.
This is what SPD's help to stop from entering into the house.

I recommend them for all wiring entering the house.
Unless your battery wiring enters or leaves the house, it's not on my list.
Click to expand...
Thanks again for your replies Tim.

I just got done reading what you and others wrote on this thread... https://diysolarforum.com/threads/i...nels-a-good-idea-see-the-picture.64390/page-2

Can I install the 3 600's (3 strings/3 mppt's) in the inverter (I think I've got enough room) right where the pv wire enters the mppt's? My two little knife switches aren't exactly conducive to three 600's which would necessitate another box & I'd have to run the switches inside it.

My batteries go straight to the inverter.
 

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Crowz said:
Yep and that's what happened to me not long ago. I'll have a midnight solar MNSPD-600 installed on the lines from my panels this Saturday to help with indirect lightning surges.

One showing the small 12v inverter kicking off when it hits and you can see and hear the surging arcing.




Then an outside shot from when it happened.

Click to expand...
You're making me nervous.
 
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