Grounding, earthing and lightning protection for solar panels

[GCE]

The site assessment and design will determine the specifics. Electricians are not design engineers, nor are they lightning specialists and therefore should not be offering solutions, which do not fall within their scope of expertise. It would appear (reading comments on social media) that many electricians feel that one size fits all and every application is exactly the same, you will even be rewarded with certification once you have completed a certain number of installations.

If the design criteria specifies an earth spike, it should be installed.

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If you install an alternative supply you require an independent earth as you shall not rely on supply authority earth.


SANS 10142-1
7.12.3.1.1 Protection in accordance with the requirements of 6.7 shall be
provided for the electrical installation in such a manner as to ensure correct
operation of the protection devices, irrespective of the source of supply or
combination of sources of supply. Operation of the protection devices shall
not rely upon the connection to the earthed point of the main supply when the
generator is operated as a switched alternative to the main supply.

Where there is no existing earth electrode installed in the electrical installation,
a suitable earth electrode may be installed in accordance with SANS 10199.
When installed, the electrode shall be bonded to the consumer's earth terminal
and to the earthing point on the alternate supply by a conductor of at least half
the cross-section of that of the phase conductor, but not less than 6 mm2
copper, or equivalent. This also applies to a single-phase supply
(see also 5.2.3.1).

[Derlyn]

The panels we use, are class II rated so they should not be leaking power to the frame. The solar cabling is also double insulated, so unless someone is going out of their way to damage the equipment, you shouldn't experience leakage problems.

Bonding and earthing the panel frames is not only in case of any leakage, but extremely important on houses with overhead supplies, irrespective of whether the panels are class II rated or not. If the overhead wire breaks and touches the panel frame, you will want that supply to disconnect immediately otherwise the frames are "live". This can only be achieved by earthing the frames. This is the same reason that metal roofs, gutters and down pipes must be earthed.

[Shadyshaun]

This is why it is so important to visit the site.

Bonding and earthing the panel frames is not only in case of any leakage, but extremely important on houses with overhead supplies, irrespective of whether the panels are class II rated or not. If the overhead wire breaks and touches the panel frame, you will want that supply to disconnect immediately otherwise the frames are "live". This can only be achieved by earthing the frames. This is the same reason that metal roofs, gutters and down pipes must be earthed.

[Thys LOW Elektries]

When your feet stay on the ground you are safe lifting your feet is dangerous. Do not touch anything.
The clever people call this phenomenon touch and step voltage