Ufer ground requred for solar?

[Vern2]

Should I require a ufer ground from my install company to be installed?

New shop under solar panels.

I think a 50 or 100A sub panel of some kind will be installed by someone, maybe me. Here is a link to my project. http://www.enichesoftware.com/solar/index.htm I'm thinking about moving my shop out of garage area. Between stairs and SMA's. Then later move SMA's into shop. No, I'm not going to build a giant shop! In the range of 16' x 16'. The shop will have whatever size heat pump is required, Arizona. Of course Welders, bandsaw, wood working and plasma stuff.

I'll be doing my own Thermal water heater, only 50 gal.

Thermal windows next.

Oh, did I say free electrons.

Vern2

[Mike90250]

Grounding depends on your local codes. I'm putting in 20', 3/4" rebar at each corner of my shop, for ufer ground of each corner of the steel building. If nothing else, I'll have a great faraday cage.

[Vern2]

I have 2' x 2' x 2' holes with rebars. I don't see where I can put 20'.

Electrical earth grounding method named after Herbert G. Ufer, who developed the technique during World War II in Arizona

It is installed by connecting the ground wire to the steel reinforcement bars in foundation concrete, or by embedding a length of wire in the foundation near the bottom of the concrete. Its effectiveness is based on the idea that concrete is more conductive than most soil, and this semiconducting characteristic increases surface area contact with the soil the foundation is built on.

Vern2

[Mike90250]

For code use, to handle a full on strike, you need 3/4 rebar, in order to not melt and vaporize completely ! Copper will not last in concrete, but steel does, and it needs to be well tied to the rest of the bars. County minimum is the first piece is 20' so it can spread the strike around. Too small of surface area will not work.

[solar_geoff]

For new construction, I would always go with a concrete encased grounding electrode and a bond to the metal building structure. But if its a retrofit application, any of the NEC accepted grounding electrode types should be sufficient. It all really depends on you AHJ, so its going to be best to check with them for your local requirements.

[Vern2]

Thank You, Mike and geoff!
I think I'll wait until solar guys put in their ground.

Vern

[Vern2]

I'm placing a ufer ground in north west corner of deck footing. Solar backboard power panel. Broke the code (found out how to do it).

Vern