Solar electric charge is gaining traction with many people looking to go solar due to its environmental-friendly feature. Plus, various governments support clean energy, such as solar.
Solar charge controllers are essential devices that ensure your batteries aren’t overcharged and overheated when using solar power. These critical devices are pretty crucial after the installation of solar panels.
One popular practice that arises when using solar charge controllers is grounding, which this article will define. It is a critical process that protects the people and the solar equipment in case of a high voltage.
This piece defines everything you need to know about solar charge controller grounding. Thus, ensure that you read on!
What Is the Grounding of The Solar System?
When going solar, you will realize that after installing the solar panel system, your supplier will advocate that you ground your solar arrays and the equipment. Why?
In case of a high voltage experience, like experiencing an extreme lightning storm, grounding your solar system keeps your product safe.
Like typical electrical outlets, grounding is important when you go solar. Everything is tied together with copper wire.
The copper wire is placed on the ground so that excess electrical charge is directed to the ground. With that, it won’t go to your appliances leading to short-circuiting.
Usually, excess electricity goes to the place with the least resistance. But it is always hard to define this path.
In that case, solar charge controllers’ grounding will help direct the excess electrical power to a safer place that will keep your solar system and batteries safe.
For the PV solar system, all the equipment is prone to grounding, including inverters, mounting, controllers, and other equipment. This article focuses on grounding solar charge controllers.
How Do You Ground a Solar Charge Controller?
In solar system grounding, there are two primary types of grounding system types: equipment and system grounding.
Equipment grounding is the traditional grounding where any conducive metal and device likely to conduct electricity is grounded. It is popularly known as protective earthing and safety grounding to keep your device safe.
Solar charge controllers require equipment grounding to protect the solar panels and batteries.
System grounding happens when the current solar system is earthed, and the equipment-grounded system is connected to the earth. It is popularly known as functional grounding, where the negative wire from the PV system is earthed to the ground.
Solar charge controllers require equipment grounding and various metal grounding rods, depending on your taste.
There are a few grounding metal rods you can use, including:
- Single Point Ground
- Ring Ground
- Ufer Ground
- Isolated Ground
- Halo Ground
Here are a few moves to follow when you ground a solar charge controller
- Drive the grounding rod at least 8 feet into the ground. And the rod has to be near the solar installation system.
- Leave at least six inches above the ground to attach the solar system’s wire to the grounding rod. Use a large bare copper wire to redirect harsh electric currents, such as lighting.
- Run the wire up the mounting system pole and attach it to the grounding wire
- Wrap the wire about the grounding screw, tighten the grounding bolt, and eliminate excess wire.
A single grounding rod of 6 to 8 feet isn’t adequate to protect your solar charge controller or the entire system. Thus, you can always attach a few 10ft rods and bond them together for better results.
Do Solar Charge Controllers Need Grounding?
Grounding the solar panels and equipment, such as solar charge controllers, is essential. It is a must-have practice to protect solar appliances and your homes.
Why do you need to ground the solar charge controllers? Because when the solar system experiences hefty electrical charges from lightning storms, grounding the solar system will prevent damage to the batteries during charges and the solar panels.
Usually, solar charge controllers help prevent batteries from overcharging and damage. So, what happens when the solar charge controller has a huge power supply due to lightning?
Without grounding, your equipment will be destroyed, possibly short-circuiting your devices. However, grounding will ensure the solar charge controllers are well-protected and direct excess power to the ground.
You use a thick copper wire buried in the ground to eliminate stray electrical currents, which can damage your batteries and solar system.
Do solar charge controllers need grounding? Yes!
Solar charge controllers grounding helps the equipment to stay safe by directing surging excess electrical charge to the ground. With that, the excess power can’t cause damage to batteries and solar panels.
What Are the Common Tips During Solar Charge Controller Grounding?
There are a few tips to ensure that you ground solar charge controllers appropriately, including:
Use Bare Copper Wire for Grounding
When grounding the solar charge controllers, use a thick bare copper wire to drive the stray electric charge. It is the best choice since it isn’t prone to damage and is quite effective.
Plus, many manufacturers often recommend this option.
Ensure That the Equipment Grounding Is Connected to The System Grounding
After grounding the solar charge controllers, connect the equipment to the system grounding to keep your solar system safe from stray electric currents.
Maintaining the system grounding at all times is advisable to keep all the devices and the solar system safe.
Understand The Grounding Process of Your Controller Depending on Your Requirements
There are many types of solar charge controllers from various manufacturers. And when installing any of them, they come with various instructions, especially on how to use them.
So, during the solar charge controller grounding process, ensure that you understand the grounding process depending on the charge controller you use.
Some bond charge controllers bond the negative DC internally, while others need the grounding connection externally.
In that case, ensure you understand the charge controller effects on system grounding and how you will connect it. Thus, you can avoid any technical problems during the grounding process.
Understand the process and determine the requirements when grounding the solar charge controllers.
