30/10/2014

Grounding and Bonding PV Systems | Home Power Magazine

Grounding and Bonding PV Systems

By: Ryan Mayfield
Published In: Issue #152, December / January 2013

Last Updated: Nov 20, 2012

The equipment grounding section of the NECs Article 690 begins with references to Article 250 and the general
requirements set there. Part VI of Article 250, Equipment Grounding and Equipment Grounding Conductors,
outlines the general requirements, which are discussed here as well as the specific requirements in 690.43.

Starting in Section 250.110, the Code says about equipment-grounding requirements: exposed normally noncurrent-carrying metal parts of fixed equipment supplied by or enclosing conductors or components likely to become
energized shall be connected to an equipment-grounding conductor (EGC) when that equipment is exposed to any
one of the conditions listed. PV arrays meet multiple conditions described in 250.110, which include being located in a
wet environment and operating with any terminal with a potential to ground above 150 V, and so require connection to
an EGC.
Section 250.110 helps establish the need for an EGC, but what is an EGC? Section 250.118 lists 14 different types of
recognized EGC methods including using a conductor, certain conduit and tubing types, specific cable assemblies, and
other metallic surfaces. This gives PV installers many choices in establishing and connecting equipment grounds. In PV
installations, the most common EGC is either a stranded or solid copper conductor. Historically, installers have used
lugs attached to all modules; conductors are then bonded to the lugs, thereby bonding all of the modules together. As I
will discuss, recent changes to the equipment grounding section of 690 has opened the possibility of using other
methods to create the required equipment ground connection.
Section 250.134, which is referenced in 690.43(A), provides two allowances for connecting to an EGC: 1) connecting to
one of the EGCs permitted in 250.118; or 2) connecting to an EGC running with the circuit conductors. PV installations
use the first option by connecting to a EGC as defined in 250.118. An exception in 250.134(B), which discusses DC
circuits, allows the EGC to be run separately from the circuit conductors. However, Article 690 does not allow this
method in PV circuits.
PV-Specific Equipment Grounding

Although the rules for properly grounding and bonding PV systems are covered in Part V of Article 690, this article
contains numerous references to Article 250. Section 690.43, Equipment Grounding, covers the general requirements,
listing six different sets of conditions the EGCs must comply with. The 2011 NEC breaks this section into multiple
subsections. The first two subsections, 690.43(A) and (B), establish that equipment grounding is a fundamental
requirement. These state that, regardless of system voltage, exposed noncurrent-carrying metal parts of PV modules
and associated equipment must be grounded in accordance with 250.134 or 250.136(A), and are required in
accordance with 250.110.
The language in 690.43(C) was new in 2008 and received a lot of updates in 2011. Interestingly enough, or appears
multiple times, and has a big impact on the proper interpretation of the rules. This section identifies that a structure
supporting a PV array can be used to establish the bond to the EGC. The first sentence of this section helps support the
concept of using grounding washers to bond PV modules to the mounting structures, as long as the washers are listed
and identified for that use. In the second sentence in 690.43(C), you really need to pay attention to the or since it has
two allowances: the requirement that metallic mounting structures shall be identified as EGCs or the second that, in lieu
of the mounting structure being identified as an EGC, that identified bonding jumpers can be used between the
mounting sections and the mounting structure must be bonded to the grounding system. This is the method most
http://www.homepower.com/articles/solar-electricity/design-installation/grounding-and-bonding-pv-systems?v=print&print=true

1/2

30/10/2014

Grounding and Bonding PV Systems | Home Power Magazine

installers use, due to the lack of mounting systems identified as EGCs.

Many would say this section causes more controversy than closure, but it does offer several options for a module-torack bond. One popular method is grounding washers. When installed properly, the barbed washers penetrate the
module frames and the racking structure, establishing an electrical bond. However, some question if their listings are
appropriate for this use. Their use satisfies most inspectors and thus they are widely used, but have very specific
installation requirements to establish the proper bond.
A new listing standard for bonding and groundingUL2703is one effort to eliminate this controversy and address
Section 690.43(D) in the 2011 Code. The UL listing allows using mounting systems to provide the required grounding
for module frames. Although the standard has not been finalized, multiple racking manufacturers are testing their
systems to the draft standard and are offering products that have passed the draft. These products will save installation
time and effort, since they eliminate the separate EGC connections.
The last two subsections of 690.43 help clarify the installation requirements. Subsection (E) allows listed devices to be
used to bond modules mounted adjacent to each other. Subsection (F) requires that the EGCs for PV circuits run with
the circuit conductors as they all leave the vicinity of the array. Although this contradicts the exception noted in
250.134(B), because they are PV circuits, the specific rule laid out in 690 takes precedence.
Access

Ryan Mayfield is the principal at Renewable Energy Associates, a design, consulting, and educational firm with a focus
on PV systems. His latest personal PV project afforded him the opportunity to evaluate many nuances of grounding and
bonding.

http://www.homepower.com/articles/solar-electricity/design-installation/grounding-and-bonding-pv-systems?v=print&print=true

2/2