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Grounding and bonding for portable battery power

  • Writer: richard-cadena
    richard-cadena
  • 6 days ago
  • 1 min read

PORTABLE BATTERY/INVERTER SYSTEMS are becoming more common on stages and locations for a few reasons: they conveniently supply power where there is none, they’re quiet and reliable, and, when they’re set up correctly, they can be safe.


Figure 1. In the event of a short circuit, the EGC/CPC creates a low impedance path for fault current back to the supply, thereby opening the circuit breaker. Image description: A line diagram illustrates a short circuit within a metal housing that redirects fault current through the equipment grounding conductor.
Figure 1. In the event of a short circuit, the EGC/CPC creates a low impedance path for fault current back to the supply, thereby opening the circuit breaker. Image description: A line diagram illustrates a short circuit within a metal housing that redirects fault current through the equipment grounding conductor.

However, grounding/earthing and bonding can be handled very differently with these units than it is with building power. In many of these units, especially smaller ones under about 5kWh, the neutral and the ground are not bonded, which is different than most other electrical systems. Without that bond, a ground/earth fault will not trip a circuit breaker. How does that affect the safety of these units? To answer that question, it’s important to understand bonding versus grounding/earthing. You should also know what protection your unit already provides and know how to avoid a few well-intentioned mistakes that can make things less safe.




 
 
 

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