How to ground wire 120 watt panel?

Re: How to ground wire 120 watt panel?

if we are talking about grounding the frames then the connector windsun has shown would be used to run the ground wire from the pvs. this would go as direct to the ground as is possible with no sharp bends. many installations use the largest wire size that is used in the system to run that ground, but for your case of a single pv then #8 copper wire minimally would suffice. of course this shall end to an 8ft or larger copper clad ground rod with the appropriate connection. i prefer a connector like this due to the wire being significantly smaller than the pipe.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=ground+rod+clamp&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&cid=419855476213652543&ei=1da8S5WzD4zawwW6_8izCA&sa=title&ved=0CCYQ8wIwCDgA#p
small wires can slip out of this type of connector.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=ground+rod+clamp&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&cid=12906347841664267394&ei=1da8S5WzD4zawwW6_8izCA&sa=title&ved=0CAcQ8wIwADgA#p

Re: How to ground wire 120 watt panel?

Here in CA we must also use the second one unless, it go to a water pipe.

Re: How to ground wire 120 watt panel?

stevend wrote: »

Why no sharp bends? How sharp do you mean? I know there are specs for how sharp a corner you should make with different wires but this sounds like you might have another reason.
-Steve

You want to reduce inductance. A lightning strike has a very high pulse rate and needs a very low impedance ground to shunt it. Flat copper plate works best or very short, fat, straight wire.

Ground strap.
That small wire looped around the big one is 3/0 cable.