Originally Posted by
Justloadit
By not earthing the PV panels, simply the wind on a hot dry day, will build up static in the frame, and due to the capacitance effect of two conducting materials with a dielectric, which is the aluminium frame, and silicon cells the glass and backing being the dielectric, the cells will charge up and at some point will need to discharge themselves into something, either equipment in which the insulation breaks down, or a human who may touch the equipment.
Anyone who has done ham radio or has placed wire high up to catch the radio waves will have experienced the static generated in the wires to earth, and this is increased when a storm starts building up.
If the panels are not earthed, and lightning strikes the frame, due to the capacitive nature of the PV panel make up, well the energy is going to go somewhere, and what ever is connected to the PV panels will be toast, and if a human is near the vicinity of the equipment, may or may not survive, because the arc is going to jump.
By earthing the panels, the energy will be directed to earth, as this will be the path of least resistance.
The question should rather be
"So are you prepared to take the risk of not earthing?"
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