akstamping

SANS requires exposed conductive parts to be earthed, but it doesn’t yet give a black-and-white rule specifically for PV frames. Proper solar bonding and grounding is important to ensure safety, protect equipment, and manage lightning-induced surges. Best practice seems to be bond all PV frames together, run a 6 mm² earth conductor to the PV DB or main DB earth, and if a separate earth spike is used for lightning dissipation, bond that spike back to the installation earth to avoid potential differences. Earth resistance should be verified with a tester (typically aiming for <6–12 ohms, depending on soil conditions). In the end, compliance comes down to what the registered electrician is prepared to sign off on for the CoC. Until SANS publishes clearer guidance, these practices remain somewhat of a grey area in South Africa