Grounding / Bonding

Grounding and bonding are essential electrical safety practices required in every solar installation. Grounding provides a safe path for fault current to flow to the earth, while bonding connects all metallic components (panels, racking, conduit, enclosures) to ensure they are at the same electrical potential.

Proper grounding protects people and equipment from electrical shock and fire in the event of a fault — such as a damaged wire touching the metal racking. An equipment grounding conductor (EGC) connects all exposed metal parts of the solar system to the home’s grounding electrode system (typically a ground rod driven into the earth). Bonding ensures that if any metal component accidentally becomes energized, the current flows safely through the grounding system rather than through a person who touches it. The NEC requires that all solar racking, panel frames, inverter enclosures, and junction boxes be properly bonded and grounded. Special grounding clips, lugs, and bonding jumpers rated for outdoor use are used throughout the array. Improper grounding is one of the most common code violations found during solar inspections and can create serious safety hazards.