TheFutureIsSolar
New Member
How should a completely off grid system be grounded? I tried doing my own research but it seems like there’s ton of contradicting information. Two 6000XP’s will be energizing the main panel. Also this is a metal building.
Off Grid Grounding
- Thread starter TheFutureIsSolar
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chandlox
New Member
Watching this thread because I am researching the same thing. I attached a guide someone posted on here. It may help, I wish there was a flow chart for grounding.
hwy17
Anti-Solar Enthusiast
Neutral and ground bonded in main panel (only), and main panel has a ground rod or ufer.
Metal building bonded to the main panel ground, or a ground wire, as normally prescribed by the building method.
Metal building bonded to the main panel ground, or a ground wire, as normally prescribed by the building method.
The main reason there is a LOT of contradictory info on the net is because there are a lot of places with different regs...
Varying from 'you don't need to actually have a earth for offgrid legally speaking' in some places to 'must be an approved earth connection installed and tested for ground conductivity' in others...
Depending on your location, it can vary between those extremes, but with a multitude of different interpretations legally speaking... Here in Australia, for an offgrid system, there is no legal requirements at all to even HAVE an earth connection on a totally offgrid system (stupid!!!) but at different times, grid tie or hybrid systems have needed a separate earth connection to the solar panels, an earth from the solar panels to the same earth stake as the mains earth to the frames, or no earth to the panels at all, same with steel framed buildings, it has varied depending on year of installation from 'totally illegal to earth the frame' to 'MUST have the frame earthed' and similar with the earth connection on the output of the inverter...
Best to check what (if any) local regs apply where you are and follow them...
(lots of people quote regs as 'the gospel truth' when they may actually be totally illegal in other cases...)
Varying from 'you don't need to actually have a earth for offgrid legally speaking' in some places to 'must be an approved earth connection installed and tested for ground conductivity' in others...
Depending on your location, it can vary between those extremes, but with a multitude of different interpretations legally speaking... Here in Australia, for an offgrid system, there is no legal requirements at all to even HAVE an earth connection on a totally offgrid system (stupid!!!) but at different times, grid tie or hybrid systems have needed a separate earth connection to the solar panels, an earth from the solar panels to the same earth stake as the mains earth to the frames, or no earth to the panels at all, same with steel framed buildings, it has varied depending on year of installation from 'totally illegal to earth the frame' to 'MUST have the frame earthed' and similar with the earth connection on the output of the inverter...
Best to check what (if any) local regs apply where you are and follow them...
(lots of people quote regs as 'the gospel truth' when they may actually be totally illegal in other cases...)
lolboer9999999
New Member
There is equipment grounding and system grounding. for equipment grounding all metal casings and non electrical parts need to be connected to ground using porper ground connecting lugs/washers (grounding washers have little spikes to penetrate anodized coating on metal parts, dont connect copper directly to aluminium because of galvanic corrosion) and that includes the building. From you main panel you connect a ground wire directly to your houses grounding rod or install a new rod next to your shed (new rod only if the shed is far enough from your house so that you cant touch metal parts on both, otherwise there could be a difference in potential when there is a lightning strike nearby). I assume its a shed but either way if its a big metal building or a shed, each part (like each beam, metal sheet, metal door, etc) needs its own wire connecting it to ground or a different grounded part. You can find the thickness of the wires you need to use etc in the code book specific to the country/area you live.
Now for system grounding, THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE NEUTRAL TO GROUND BOND, according to the manual of the 6000xp you can either connect or disconnect the internal neutral to ground bond, so when connecting them in parallel make sure only ONE has the internal neutral to ground bond or if you want to bond neutral to ground in your main AC panel i repeat AC panel make sure neither have their internal neutral to ground bond. Never connect the neutral wire to the ground, this is different for every inverter but in the manual for the 6000XP it says this
Also, just because something is grounded doesnt mean its safe here are some videos explaining ground faults
basics:
off grid:
in depth:
the guides posted by chandlox are also a good resource (seems extensive and didnt see any mistakes taking a quick look at them)
lastly im not an electrician im just an engineering student so this advice is just as i think it probably is i might be right i might be wrong so always have a certified electrician inspect your system before using it, dont risk the lives of you and your loved ones to save a little bit of money
Now for system grounding, THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE NEUTRAL TO GROUND BOND, according to the manual of the 6000xp you can either connect or disconnect the internal neutral to ground bond, so when connecting them in parallel make sure only ONE has the internal neutral to ground bond or if you want to bond neutral to ground in your main AC panel i repeat AC panel make sure neither have their internal neutral to ground bond. Never connect the neutral wire to the ground, this is different for every inverter but in the manual for the 6000XP it says this
Also, just because something is grounded doesnt mean its safe here are some videos explaining ground faults
basics:
the guides posted by chandlox are also a good resource (seems extensive and didnt see any mistakes taking a quick look at them)
lastly im not an electrician im just an engineering student so this advice is just as i think it probably is i might be right i might be wrong so always have a certified electrician inspect your system before using it, dont risk the lives of you and your loved ones to save a little bit of money
