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lightning protection for PV installations

lightning protection for PV installations

lightning protection for PV installations

(OP)
Do they normally install a lightning rod system for PV installations?  I've never heard it mentioned but we've in a moderate area as far as lightning activity and it seems like a good idea to me.

RE: lightning protection for PV installations

Bond everything to ground.  Bond all panels with properly-sized conductors, compatible lugs and fasteners.  There is a supplement to the NEC code that tailors the procedure to PV arrays that you can find on the internet for free.  I think it comes from Sandia Labs, the engineer's name would be John Wiles.
 

Steven Fahey, CET

RE: lightning protection for PV installations

(OP)
I agree that bonding is necessary.  I'm just wondering if we need to attach lightning rods every 20 ft or so.  After all you have a positive terminal that will be in the 300-400 V range above ground.  These will be roof mounted panels and the high end is in a fixed arrangement about 4 ft higher than the low end (which is basically on the roof).  They will be 500 kW to 1 MW installations.

Maybe it's just MOV protection that I need to worry about?

Thanks for the reference.  I'll have to check it out.

RE: lightning protection for PV installations

Why not shield the array the same way they shield substations?

RE: lightning protection for PV installations

magoo2,
Most combiner box manufacturers offer MOV protection as an option in their combiner boxes.
-jfpe

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