ground

penrosefred

I have a 135 watt panel on my pull camper, I built a frame from side to side to mount it on for the clearence they recommended, Do I ground the panel to the camper frame?


Fred

BB.

Re: ground

For proper operation of your solar panel/charger system--it does not matter if the panel is grounded or not.

For fire safety--You can decide (but code would require proper grounding to frame ground with mounting hardware or a "green wire")... For example, if the panel glass broke or the positive wire shorted to the frame--the frame can become energized.

Once the frame is energized--it is possible (probably not likely) that ~10 amps from a short circuit would go through a poor frame to aluminum skin connection (or if they used aluminum backed insulation in the RV) to over heat and set the wood frame on fire.

So--if you are like 99% of the world out there--most people would not ground the frame.

If you are very concerned about fire and electrical safety--then the frame should be properly grounded. And if you properly ground the frame--make sure to use proper components/materials (typically stainless steel hardware with "star washers" to cut into the aluminum and tin plated copper for the electrical connections). Using standard galvanized/steel hardware will cause local corrosion and you will not have a good electrical connection over time).

--Your choice.

-Bill

penrosefred

Re: ground

Bill, Thanks very much.

Kamala

Re: ground

BB. wrote: »

... use proper components/materials (typically stainless steel hardware with "star washers"...
-Bill

I have had difficulty finding SS star washers at hardware stores.

K

nsaspook

Re: ground

Kamala wrote: »

I have had difficulty finding SS star washers at hardware stores.

K

Try Fastenal. They stock our parts bins at work and have almost everything.

http://www.fastenal.com/web/search/products/fasteners/washers/lock-washers/_/N-gj4wdhZjubuphZjuegtc&Nty=0
http://www.fastenal.com/web/home.ex