Do I need to add grounding to my solar installation?

Is it necessary to add grounding connection?

Yes, it is necessary. Adding grounding to a solar installation is adding a measure of protection. In areas prone to thunderstorms, failure to add grounding may result in damage to some installations. Since we can’t avoid being struck by lightning, we can protect the solar panels by reducing the hazard. Therefore, grounding is necessary for safety and proper functioning of solar installations

Do solar panels attract lightning?

In most people’s perception, installing solar panels on the roof may increase the probability of being struck by lightning, but this is not the case. Solar panels do not attract lightning, but if the solar panels are installed in high or open areas, it will greatly increase the probability of being struck by lightning.

Consequences of solar panels being struck by lightning

Because lightning has a huge electrical energy, when the solar panel is struck, the probability is that the solar panel and other devices will be damaged, affecting the normal operation of the solar energy device, reducing the service life of the solar panel. At the same time, lightning carries a huge charge, when the solar panels, solar inverters, solar battery and other devices will be hit when the solar panels will melt, may also cause a fire, there is a huge safety risk.

Steps of solar energy device grounding

Selection of grounding materials: according to the safety, durability, price and other aspects of comprehensive consideration, select the appropriate grounding electrode and conductor and other materials.

Connecting the grounding device: first of all, in order to protect the solar panels, we should choose a suitable location to install the grounding device, and secondly, we should carry out the installation of the grounding device, which can be assembled into a grounding device by using lightning rods, grounding rods and other objects, and then partially burying it in the ground, and finally connecting the solar panels, inverters, batteries, and other solar energy devices with the grounding device.

Regular Inspection and Maintenance: After we ground these solar devices, we need to go for regular inspection and maintenance to prevent the emergence of aging circuits, broken grounding wires, and other safety-threatening problems. Regular inspection and maintenance can also improve the service life and working efficiency of the grounding device.

5. Solar device grounding method

1. Single electric grounding: grounding rod connected directly to the grounding rod underground.

2. Ring grounding: it will be grounding wire in a spiral way into the ground, partially exposed.

3. Isolated grounding: it connects the ground wire to the nearest high-voltage power line’s grounding system, which ensures that the solar installation is isolated from the grounding device and also prevents people from being disturbed by noise during storms.

4. Halo Grounding. This is a type of grounding that is suitable for rooms or confined areas.

5. Ufer Ground. In some environments, the grounding rod can not be directly driven into the ground, at this time you can use concrete to wrap the grounding rod and then buried in the ground.

6. The role of solar device grounding

Lightning grounding can avoid the solar device to accumulate too much charge, which can reduce the probability of solar device struck by lightning.

Protect the equipment when the solar device is struck by lightning, the grounding wire can be brought to a large number of lightning charge into the ground, at this time, the solar panels and other devices will be much less harmful. When ungrounded, lightning striking the solar panels can cause the inverter to make noise, but grounding eliminates this effect.

Safety When lightning strikes a solar panel, there is a high probability that it will cause a fire, which can have irreversible consequences if humans are around. It may also endanger the surrounding wildlife, jeopardizing nature.