MrM1
I'm Here, But I'm Not All There
I have read everything I can find about roof top panel grounding. I have watched the Mike Holt video several times. I have read conflicting interpretations of the video and of roof top panel grounding in general on different forums. Owners manuals from Schneider and Midnite solar are also someone unclear. So before I start I thought I would ask one more time for clarity.
I get confused as to if there should be a separate grounding electrode (rod) for the racking and panel frames run off the roof down the side of the house, separate from the main panel house grounding conductor and grounding electrode (rod) - creating 2 grounding points for the house, 1 for the array, 1 for the main panel
... OR ...
If the panel frame/racking ground should come into the house, to the inverter / SCC / Switchhgear and go from the inverter with the AC in/out ground wire (equiptment grounding conductor) back to the main breaker panel's neutral/ground bond, connected to the grounding electrode conductor and on to the main grounding electrode (rod) for the house. So that there is only 1 grounding point for everything.
MY PLAN: from what I can gleam, (and check my sanity here) is to ...
1. bond the racking and panel frames to a solid copper #6 ground wire and go into the attic to my combiner box.
2. Grounding the combiner box housing with that racking ground and then run a ground down with the combined PV (+) and (-) to the inverter and SCC to be bonded at a busbar with the inverter chassie , SCC chassie, and the AC in/our grounds going back to the main breaker panel of the house
3. At this point, (already installed in the house) at the main panel the neutral and all equipment grounds (including my array, inverter, and SCC chassies) are bonded 4. 4. from that busbar in the main panel there is a whole house grounding electrode conductor (main ground wire) going to the main panel grounding electrode (rod) for the whole house.
Thus giving me one grounding rod point (actually I have two 6 foot apart and bonded underground) for the whole house, all AC circuits, all equipment grounding (ie. inverter case, charge controller, panels, racking, etc) for the entire set up.
I have thought and thought, read and read, and this is what seems to be what I understand of how it needs to be done. My understanding of what Mike Holt advocates is that the NEC allows for a separate grounding electrode (rod) for the array and racking, but that he does not believe this is correct.
Am I anywhere near on track?
I get confused as to if there should be a separate grounding electrode (rod) for the racking and panel frames run off the roof down the side of the house, separate from the main panel house grounding conductor and grounding electrode (rod) - creating 2 grounding points for the house, 1 for the array, 1 for the main panel
... OR ...
If the panel frame/racking ground should come into the house, to the inverter / SCC / Switchhgear and go from the inverter with the AC in/out ground wire (equiptment grounding conductor) back to the main breaker panel's neutral/ground bond, connected to the grounding electrode conductor and on to the main grounding electrode (rod) for the house. So that there is only 1 grounding point for everything.
MY PLAN: from what I can gleam, (and check my sanity here) is to ...
1. bond the racking and panel frames to a solid copper #6 ground wire and go into the attic to my combiner box.
2. Grounding the combiner box housing with that racking ground and then run a ground down with the combined PV (+) and (-) to the inverter and SCC to be bonded at a busbar with the inverter chassie , SCC chassie, and the AC in/our grounds going back to the main breaker panel of the house
3. At this point, (already installed in the house) at the main panel the neutral and all equipment grounds (including my array, inverter, and SCC chassies) are bonded 4. 4. from that busbar in the main panel there is a whole house grounding electrode conductor (main ground wire) going to the main panel grounding electrode (rod) for the whole house.
Thus giving me one grounding rod point (actually I have two 6 foot apart and bonded underground) for the whole house, all AC circuits, all equipment grounding (ie. inverter case, charge controller, panels, racking, etc) for the entire set up.
I have thought and thought, read and read, and this is what seems to be what I understand of how it needs to be done. My understanding of what Mike Holt advocates is that the NEC allows for a separate grounding electrode (rod) for the array and racking, but that he does not believe this is correct.
Am I anywhere near on track?