Solar Panel Lightning Rod

For lightning protection you may need to take steps beyond the code minimum requirements.

Solar panel lightning rod.

Obviously if you install a lightning rod on your roof you need to avoid shading the solar panels with it. They are meant to prevent the buildup of static charge and eventual ionization of the surrounding atmosphere. Lightning and related static discharge is the number one cause of sudden unexpected failures in pv systems lightning does not have to strike directly to cause damage to sensitive electronic equipment such as inverters controls radios and entertainment equipment it can be miles away and invisible and still induce high voltage surges in wiring especially in long lines. However lightning protection of solar arrays by traditional franklin rod systems is still subject to concerns regarding effectiveness shadow effects installation cost and appearance.

Now that we ve gotten a couple big myths out of the way let s talk about some practical considerations when it comes to solar panels. Appear when the lightning rods or other objects are not close to solar panels so they do not affect them. Home solar systems and grounding requirements. As an independent third party ul will inspect the system and determine compliance.

Lightning rods protect you from direct strikes. You would much rather have it go down the mounting pole or your ground rod than down your wiring to your. They provide an alternative low resistance direct route to earth so that the lightning is much less likely to go through the solar power system. Underwriters laboratories ul certified lightning protection systems for solar panels verifies that the system complies with nfpa780 and will give owners investors inspectors and insurance companies the assurance that the solar panels will be protected.

Facts about lightning and solar panels. Lightning rods lightning rods are static discharge devices that are placed above buildings and solar electric arrays and connected to ground. Since a photovoltaic installation does not increase the probability of lightning strikes the solar modules themselves are no more at risk than the inverter or other loads connected to the grid. According to article 690 of the national electrical code a home solar panel system must be grounded.

Whether shadows are produced by a lightning rod or other object they can be diffuse or defined. Where solar arrays are installed on residential or other rooftops lightning protection as described in nfpa 780 chapter 12 is a useful reference. Panel frames and mounts are grounded in order to provide the easiest path for lightning to get to the ground.