static electricity

simagic
simagic Solar Expert Posts: 100 ✭✭✭✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
I have a few 100w panels on my deck. They rest on outdoor chairs that are on wheels. I move and swivel the chairs to follow the sun. I recently put down a new deck floor. It's kind of what you see in gym locker room floors (lets the water run thru). Apparently now because of this new deck floor there is a"static" charge created when walking on it. When I touch my panels I get that small 'tick" that we're all familiar with in the house. . The question here is;... Is that static charge in any way hurting my panels in any way whatsoever?. If so, other than touching "something else" before I touch the panel, is there something to do?? thanks
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  • waynefromnscanada
    waynefromnscanada Solar Expert Posts: 3,009 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: static electricity

    If the panel frames are grounded to earth, you should have no worries, as the discharge would go to ground. If they're not grounded, their mass should absorb the discharge without any problems, but if the discharge is big enough, it COULD flash over to the wiring and feed in to the controller with a remote possibility of causing a problem there.
    To be safe, ground the panels, even using a smallish flexible wire. This could also save damage from a nearby lighting bolt induced voltage.
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: static electricity

    probably won't hurt anything except your fingers.
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