Safety Equipment for Grid-Connected Systems
Lightning strikes and other power surges can severely damage your system without proper precautions.
Photo credit: Dave Parsons.
Safety features protect grid-connected small renewable energy systems from being damaged or harming people.
Here are the major safety features your system will need:
Safety disconnects
Automatic and manual safety disconnects protect the wiring and components of your small renewable-energy system from power surges and other equipment malfunctions. They also ensure that your system can be shut down safely for maintenance and repair. In the case of grid-connected systems, safety disconnects ensure that your generating equipment is isolated from the grid, which is important for the safety of people working on the grid transmission and distribution systems.
Grounding equipment
This equipment provides a well-defined, low-resistance path from your system to the ground to protect your system against current surges from lightning strikes or equipment malfunctions. You will want to ground both your wind turbine or photovoltaics unit itself and your balance-of-system equipment. Be sure to include any exposed metal (such as equipment boxes) that might be touched by you or a service provider.
Surge protection
These devices also help protect your system in the event that it, or nearby power lines (in the case of grid-connected systems), are struck by lightning.
A local electrician or your installer should be able to provide you with more information on the safety features required for your particular situation. For additional information on safety and electrical installation requirements, consult the National Electric Code NFPA 70.