Connecting Solar System Ground To House's Ground Rods?

[rs14smith]

It is a free forum, with free advice, and you get what you pay for. If you get conflicting advice, you'll have to find another source of information. I'd recommend the NEC as a starting point.

The ground rod pair with more than 6 ft between them is an NEC construct to get lower impedance to earth. Testing a single rod to make sure it is less than 25 ohm requires equipment you won't find at Home Depot, so sinking two rods to be sure is an inexpensive way to improve the odds that the ground will perform as it should if it is needed.

Yes I know it's a free forum, but it's also ok to say you're confused as well lol. I've read some of the NEC requirements about this, but somewhat just glanced over it. Is there a section that relates to rather or not you can hook to your house ground? I think honestly just for safety, I'll just install my own 2 separate ground rods. However, I just need to confirm that "all" my solar equipment can use that same ground (solar panel frames, charge controller, inverted, batteries, the whole nine yards)?

[sensij]

It is a free forum, with free advice, and you get what you pay for. If you get conflicting advice, you'll have to find another source of information. I'd recommend the NEC as a starting point.

The ground rod pair with more than 6 ft between them is an NEC construct to get lower impedance to earth. Testing a single rod to make sure it is less than 25 ohm requires equipment you won't find at Home Depot, so sinking two rods to be sure is an inexpensive way to improve the odds that the ground will perform as it should if it is needed.

[rs14smith]

Grounding requirements will depend on the system voltage, along with the type of charge controller and inverter. Good practice is to sink a dedicated electrode for the grounding, and bond it to your house ground. Different cycles of NEC code may have more or less specific requirements.

But organic farmer just said you aren't suppose to use your house ground in any way? I'm a bit confused. Using my house fuse would be the simplest route, but I don't want to cause issues to my house electronics if a lighting strike was to hit my solar system.

[sensij]

Grounding requirements will depend on the system voltage, along with the type of charge controller and inverter. Good practice is to sink a dedicated electrode for the grounding, and bond it to your house ground. Different cycles of NEC code may have more or less specific requirements.

[rs14smith]

The Photo-Voltaic panels being outside are subject to lightning strikes. They need to be grounded separately. The wiring coming off them needs to combine in an electrical panel box, with a breaker, and that box needs to have a lightning arrester, or Surge Protection Device installed.

Do not try to use the house ground for this. As you will be leading lightning strikes into your house wiring. Lead them away from your house.

Wherever you put your Charge-Controller, Inverter, and Battery-Bank, should also be grounded, as a separate ground.

So, are you saying the solar panels need a separate ground and the charge controller, etc. need a separate ground as well?

Basically, 3 different grounds (house, solar panels, charge controller/inverter/battery-bank)?
Or can the solar panels be hooked to the same ground the charge controller, batteries, etc. are hooked to?

Lastly, some people use 2 ground rods with a minimum distance of 6ft between them. Is it required to use 2 rods?

[organic farmer]

The Photo-Voltaic panels being outside are subject to lightning strikes. They need to be grounded separately. The wiring coming off them needs to combine in an electrical panel box, with a breaker, and that box needs to have a lightning arrester, or Surge Protection Device installed.

Do not try to use the house ground for this. As you will be leading lightning strikes into your house wiring. Lead them away from your house.

Wherever you put your Charge-Controller, Inverter, and Battery-Bank, should also be grounded, as a separate ground.

[rs14smith]

Hi,

I have a small off grid solar system (little over 550 Watts), and i need to ground the system. The solar system (panels, charge controller, inverter, batteries) are located less than 15 feet from my house's ground rods. I've seen some people install a separate ground for some solar systems, but I was wondering if I can simply wire my solar system's ground to the house rods that already exist?

Hope that makes sense what I'm asking.

Thanks!