How Do You Ground a PVL Solar Panel System?

Photovoltaic laminate (PVL) technology captures and converts the sun's power using an ultra-thin, flexible material that can also act as a roof covering. Like an over-sized band-aid, PVL solar panels utilize a "peel-and-stick" methodology making it easy to apply to structures of various shapes. Most commonly, PVL is integrated with metal roofing systems and, like all solar-panel modules, it needs to be grounded to ensure safety. The grounding of solar installations helps bleed off electric charge build-up, provides lightning protection and enables fault detection.

Ground clamps
Grounding wire
1/4-inch stainless-steel machine screws
Star lock washers and nuts
Copper conductor
Ground rod
Insulation tape

Instructions

- 1
  Attach grounding clamps to the metal panel seams onto which the PVL has been integrated. This is done by fastening stainless-steel machine screws with star lock washers and nuts.
- 2
  Provide coverage for all metal parts that the PVL source wire travels over or close to, using the same fasteners as in Step 1.
- 3
  Bond a correctly sized copper-grounding conductor to one ground rod that has been pushed deep into the soil.
- 4
  Wrap the conductor with green-colored insulation tape.
- 5
  Run appropriately sized grounding wire through the ground clamps and tie it to the conductor.
- 6
  Place all PVL source wiring into the terminal box before running it through metal piping and into the building.

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