So it’s only natural for us to want to supersize our network of connections - both online and off - because the more people we know, the greater our chances of being exposed to opportunities that may lead to professional advancement, potential mentors, material success, and so on. We live in a time when “bigger is better” is the prevailing assumption when it comes to, well, just about anything. Carefully curate your most trusted, inner circle and you’ll be surprised at how much more valuable you’ll become to the larger community of people in the world who care about the same things you do. for lightning protection and also to prevent exposed metal from becoming "energized" if it is shorted to DC or AC hot power leads.When it comes to networks, the bigger the better, right? Not necessarily. Grounding metal structures, plumbing fixtures, etc. Grounding the Battery Bank will prevent the earth's field from "charging" the DC power bus.Īlso, there is grounding the metal frames on the solar panels. Note, if you have a large solar array, especially if mounted on a tall structure or roof-There is a natural DC electric field for the earth (around 100 volts per meter-but can be thousands when thunder storms are around). Fixed installation with large TSW inverter/electrical system-Ground Reference the AC neutral (as always, read inverter manual to make sure it supports grounded AC neutral).If just a few appliances, floating is fine. Fixed installation with small TSW inverter-Float or Ground reference Neutral-more or less your choice.Most MSW inverters are not isolated and "grounding the neutral" will create a dead short through the inverter. Fixed installation with MSW inverter-Usually cannot create grounded neutral.large/fixed installation (home/work)-Ground reference - battery terminal.small/portable solar power-leave floating.Regarding recommendations for your system: Power Systems are positive grounded so that the water/natural gas pipes are not subjected to corrosion as the "positive electrode". When working with piping, underground utilities. If negative grounded, the panel builds up excess charge which reduces solar cell output. For some solar cells (Sun Power out of Germany), the solar array needs to be positive grounded for proper operation. A ground referenced power system does not need double pole breakers/switches in the return lines (since return lines are always near zero volts).Īnd some off-the wall reasons for ground referencing power systems. And you only need to put breakers/disconnects in the "hot leads" (i.e., Line A/B for AC mains, + lead for DC power). Florescent lights start better when ground referenced. There are other reasons for ground referencing a power system. If you had a floating electrical system, then it would be possible to take the AC lines (or DC lines) to unsafe voltages with respect to plumbing/sinks/etc. If there is a lightning strike, an AC Power Line cross (like on the utility pole, etc.)-you know the local power lines will never exceed zero volts to rated voltage (120 VAC maximum for a 120/240 VAC north American power system). This sets one voltage of the system to zero volts. And now, since one lead is shorted, the other lead is now "hot" and can cause a shock/spark to other metal.Įarth Grounding a large power system. If a lead touches a piece of metal (you get a short circuit)-there is nothing to show that a short occurred. Very safe if you are working around water. If any one of the power leads is touched or connects to a piece of metal-no current will flow. It is actually a very safe way of wiring out a power system. Simply, because a person will not get a shock if one wire is touched. For ~5kW and larger, the AC output is typically referenced to the generator chassis and expected to be tied to an earth ground. For example, below 5kW gensets have their AC output floating. There are lots of reason to Earth Ground a system and there are some good reason not to earth ground a power system too.įor small/portable systems, typically the power is not ground referenced. Simply, take one lead (typically the negative battery lead from a battery system or the AC Neutral Lead for a Grid Powered system) and tie that to an 8' ground rod driven into the soil/bonded to the cold water pipes. A car battery connected to a radio with a pair of wires is "floating".Īnd there are Earth Referenced systems. Car itself is not grounded but floating because of car wheels. Positive wiring with metal of car as return/negative. There are grounded systems-like your car.
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