Help! My solar panels aren't working!

[beemerphile1]

Do you think it could be the snow covering? :B A couple more weeks and we can head south.

On a serious note - do you ground your solar panels? I noticed they have an attachment for a ground wire on the frame but I didn't see the point.

[BFL13]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Thanks all. For the most part you have confirmed what I thought, no ground from the panel frames.

I also did not ground the controller.

I did ground my 2,000w inverter.

According to one of my inverter manuals, the chassis ground is just to reduce interference on TV and radio. I don't know if that is for your's or for others' nearby in the campground. Can't hurt anyway.

[Almot]

About sticks and bricks... What if there are just "sticks" and no "bricks"?
Panels on the metal sheets on wooden frame of carport roof. Carport roof is sitting on wooden posts going in the ground. Trailer frame under this roof IS grounded.

Running 11-something feet wire (make it 15 ft from the panels), from each panel? Would've been easier to "ground" the roof itself.

[beemerphile1]

Thanks all. For the most part you have confirmed what I thought, no ground from the panel frames.

I also did not ground the controller.

I did ground my 2,000w inverter.

[Almot]

beemerphile1 wrote:
A couple more weeks and we can head south.

You do better.

While relocating my trailer on a seasonal camp, one panel completely removed for 2 weeks, another 250W was sitting vertical on the South-facing wall propped by a couple of 2x4, shading it severely. No problem, still harvesting enough for fridge and lights. Heater, A/C... you gotta be kidding ...74F days, 66F nights...

I wouldn't worry about grounding on a trailer roof.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Building mounted solar panel array at high voltage.

Leak from high voltage connection to panel frame. Insulated panel mounting.

Shocking

[bpounds]

BFL13 wrote:

The panel ground is from a lug on the frame, not with the "pos" and "neg" wires of the pigtail/junction box to controller.

Agreed, but from the roof of an RV, it would have to go down to some point on the chassis, and logically that path would be the same as the power leads, at least most of the way.

[BFL13]

bpounds wrote:

bpounds wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:


On a serious note - do you ground your solar panels? I noticed they have an attachment for a ground wire on the frame but I didn't see the point.

Ground mounted, yes. RV, no.

To clarify, by ground mounted, I meant a sticks and bricks installation. I did not mean an RV with portable or even roof mounted panels. I can see that I should have been more clear on that.

I fail to see the point in grounding the panels in an RV, which is sitting on rubber tires and wood or plastic blocks, with panels mounted to a wooden roof covered with rubber or fiberglass. On the other hand, it can't hurt, and a piece of wire is cheap enough.

I noted when I was shopping that the sheathed cables specifically intended for a solar system (#10 red and black wires in an outdoor rated sheath) did not come with a ground lead. Grounding would require a 3rd loose cable, and none of the system installations I reviewed had that. The fact that the MC4 connectors did not provide a ground pin also informed my decision.

The panel ground is from a lug on the frame, not with the "pos" and "neg" wires of the pigtail/junction box to controller.

[2oldman]

beemerphile1 wrote:
do you ground your solar panels? .

No, and I don't ground my generators either.

[vermilye]

If you mix panels (brands or types) be sure to check the polarity of the frames. Most are connected to the negative output of the panel, but a few are positive ground. Mixing them would be a problem...

[bpounds]

bpounds wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:


On a serious note - do you ground your solar panels? I noticed they have an attachment for a ground wire on the frame but I didn't see the point.

Ground mounted, yes. RV, no.

To clarify, by ground mounted, I meant a sticks and bricks installation. I did not mean an RV with portable or even roof mounted panels. I can see that I should have been more clear on that.

I fail to see the point in grounding the panels in an RV, which is sitting on rubber tires and wood or plastic blocks, with panels mounted to a wooden roof covered with rubber or fiberglass. On the other hand, it can't hurt, and a piece of wire is cheap enough.

I noted when I was shopping that the sheathed cables specifically intended for a solar system (#10 red and black wires in an outdoor rated sheath) did not come with a ground lead. Grounding would require a 3rd loose cable, and none of the system installations I reviewed had that. The fact that the MC4 connectors did not provide a ground pin also informed my decision.

[Lwiddis]

Naturist, you will love solar and wonder why you didn’t do it earlier. What did your survey show was your amp need? I’m continually surprised how early in the morning it starts to charge...and how late it keeps working.

[naturist]

I’m just in the process of going solar on the RV, so have no answer to grounding question. In principle, grounding everything is a good idea. I put in an extra ground rod next to where the generator goes for emergency use at the sticks ‘n’ bricks, but never bothered grounding the generator used when camping. A good ground is often easy at a campground where a clamp on the water hydrant is an easy fix. But that’s not usually when you need either solar or generator.

[Ductape]

Mine are bonded to the vehicle chassis via the mounting. Bonding anything with significant electrical potential is just a good practice.

[Lwiddis]

Brush the snow off. No grounding for RV solar panels is needed. 🙂