As far as I can discern grounding on a camper (or car) is primarily a way to use the frame as a convenient way to reduce wiring back to the battery. My camper came with a battery ground wire which I assume is fastened to the campers aluminum framing structure. As such I have grounded my inverter back to the frame as well. I assume other manufacturers installed components are also grounded to the frame.In a home grounding is a means to transfer energy to the earth as to release unwanted energy and protect the home and it's electrical components during an unwanted spike such as lightning.This is my take anyway. Feedback welcome.Subsequently when I camp I typically lower at least one jack leg to the ground to make minor leveling and add stability. In this process I assume that I am at least partially grounding my camper to the earth. As such I am wondering if it would be good practice to join the solar panels with a common ground wire and attach them as well to the camper frame (or directly to jack leg) to make a lesser path of resistance rather than through my solar controller/battery etc. (solar controller does have fuses between itself and panels and also batteries)Any thoughts?

For 12 vdc, the ground carries the full current that the positive wire carries. For 120 vac "home grounding", the ground normally does not carry any current except stray small currents induced from voltages in random circuits. That ground is not intended to carry any operational current. Jacks sitting the ground do not provide safety grounding.

I don't think putting the leg down will make any difference.

jimh425 wrote:I don't think putting the leg down will make any difference.As far as making the camper more conductive to lightning? You're probably right. Being that the solar panels are directly overhead while sleeping I guess I was looking for a little piece of mind. I never could sleep through lightning storms in the camper.

For 12v power ground is just a convenience.For 120v power think of hot as the source and neutral as the drain. Ground is the secondary drain that provides a path during a fault so the power does not go through you as a drain.Nothing is really going to earth ground especially with an inverter. If you are plugged in the ground connection is all you need.Technically the frame of the panels should be grounded to the RV frame same as a home installation but few do it. More important if you have a series high voltage system.If you want to conduct a direct lightening strike that would take a bit more effort. The strike will still jump to the earth and you should be unaffected.

I think there is a problem with semantics. Our 12v systems are not grounded, that is connected to earth ground. The "ground" is actually the negative side of the +/- 12 volt system. You are right, the frame is used as the return wire to the 12V battery. A ground is not necessary because the 12V system presents no danger to us. That is why we can touch both posts of a battery with no harm. Higher voltage direct current systems are grounded to earth ground with a third wire for safety.120V systems are grounded to earth for safety reasons.I believe that we should not use ground as a description for the negative part of the 12V system because it leads to confusion with earth ground. I acknowledge that it is hopeless to change that.

Let's talk about grounding | Good Sam Community

work2much
Explorer
Jan 08, 2017
wgriswold wrote:
I think there is a problem with semantics. Our 12v systems are not grounded, that is connected to earth ground. The "ground" is actually the negative side of the +/- 12 volt system. You are right, the frame is used as the return wire to the 12V battery. A ground is not necessary because the 12V system presents no danger to us. That is why we can touch both posts of a battery with no harm. Higher voltage direct current systems are grounded to earth ground with a third wire for safety.

120V systems are grounded to earth for safety reasons.

I believe that we should not use ground as a description for the negative part of the 12V system because it leads to confusion with earth ground. I acknowledge that it is hopeless to change that.

This makes sense. I guess a simpler question would be, is there any concern or way to protect the camper from lightning strikes? If lightning were to strike the solar panels on an rv what would be the likely outcome?
wgriswold
Explorer
Jan 08, 2017
I think there is a problem with semantics. Our 12v systems are not grounded, that is connected to earth ground. The "ground" is actually the negative side of the +/- 12 volt system. You are right, the frame is used as the return wire to the 12V battery. A ground is not necessary because the 12V system presents no danger to us. That is why we can touch both posts of a battery with no harm. Higher voltage direct current systems are grounded to earth ground with a third wire for safety.

120V systems are grounded to earth for safety reasons.

I believe that we should not use ground as a description for the negative part of the 12V system because it leads to confusion with earth ground. I acknowledge that it is hopeless to change that.
time2roll
Nomad
Jan 08, 2017
For 12v power ground is just a convenience.

For 120v power think of hot as the source and neutral as the drain. Ground is the secondary drain that provides a path during a fault so the power does not go through you as a drain.

Nothing is really going to earth ground especially with an inverter. If you are plugged in the ground connection is all you need.

Technically the frame of the panels should be grounded to the RV frame same as a home installation but few do it. More important if you have a series high voltage system.

If you want to conduct a direct lightening strike that would take a bit more effort. The strike will still jump to the earth and you should be unaffected.
work2much
Explorer
Jan 08, 2017
jimh425 wrote:
I don't think putting the leg down will make any difference.

As far as making the camper more conductive to lightning? You're probably right. Being that the solar panels are directly overhead while sleeping I guess I was looking for a little piece of mind. I never could sleep through lightning storms in the camper.
jimh406
Explorer III
Jan 08, 2017
I don't think putting the leg down will make any difference.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jan 08, 2017
For 12 vdc, the ground carries the full current that the positive wire carries. For 120 vac "home grounding", the ground normally does not carry any current except stray small currents induced from voltages in random circuits. That ground is not intended to carry any operational current. Jacks sitting the ground do not provide safety grounding.

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