Question about possible induced currents from large overhead transmission lines

[Sunking]

My last response has been deleted.

Ed if they did the MODS can still see it and undelete it.

I repeat my question though. My understanding is that in neither case would the breaker trip. Not enough amperage. In one case 12 amps in the other 6 amps..and since it takes six times the breaker rating..there would have to be 120 amps to trip the breaker. Am I correct?

Half correct. The drawing on the right would only induce 12 amps and the breaker would not operate, and leave about 60 volts on the chassis for you to touch and receive a shock. .

The drawing on the right will induce a few hundred amps and trip the breaker instantaneously. The only resistance in that circuit is that of the wire from the battery and back to the battery on the EGC.

[inetdog]

left [/I]would only induce 12 amps and the breaker would not operate, and leave about 60 volts on the chassis for you to touch and receive a shock. .

The drawing on the right will induce a few hundred amps and trip the breaker instantaneously. The only resistance in that circuit is that of the wire from the battery and back to the battery on the EGC.

Maybe 1/4 correct? The devil is in the details, (and in the arithmetic, as I have also learned with help from Sunking!)

The OP's use of 12 and 6 amps makes me think that they have the impression that the only way that fault current can flow (or needs to flow) involves an earth ground.

In the system on the left, the current path to ground at the right side of the drawing will carry no current at all unless it can connect back to the negative supply. That means that it must flow through the left side ground resistance too. So the fault current will be 6 amps in the left drawing.
In the right drawing, the ground connection is irrelevant, since the fault current flows directly through the EGC as Sunking pointed out. Even if there were no earth ground connection at all in the drawing on the right, the fuse would still blow.

[Sunking]

In the right drawing, the ground connection is irrelevant, since the fault current flows directly through the EGC as Sunking pointed out. Even if there were no earth ground connection at all in the drawing on the right, the fuse would still blow.

Correct as you noted and as I have always said the connection to dirt has no function past the meter box. That is why Equipment Grounding Conductors (EGC or ACEG) are now being called Equipment Bonding Conductors (EBC). Reason is because it leads one to believe earth ground had a function and it doesn't. The reference to Earth Ground just makes it dangerous.

[Elkhornsun]

I could not tell from your post but if the transmission lines are that close and to the south then shading could be more of a problem than current interference which is not likely with your wires running in metal conduit as per code. Best to put the array where shading is never going to be a concern but there are ways to minimize impact if that is not possible, including the use of AC panels with SolarEdge devices or with micro-inverters.

Grounding would be more of a concern in an area prone to lightning strikes as an array is an excellent ground point for the lightning discharge and a good place to avoid during a thunderstorm. Florida building codes should provide good information in this regard.

[inetdog]

Grounding would be more of a concern in an area prone to lightning strikes as an array is an excellent ground point for the lightning discharge and a good place to avoid during a thunderstorm. Florida building codes should provide good information in this regard.

With the transmission line much higher than the solar array, a direct strike on the array is unlikely. But proper grounding, etc. will still be an important factor based on the side effects of a lightning strike on the power line itself.