Hi All,
I'm in the process of replacing my batteries with lithium along with a solar and Victron install. I'm pretty solid on almost all of the install, but find my self questioning the grounding process, especially after seeing how GD installed the stock components. I'll try my best not to muddle AC grounding, DC returns, and bonding.
Currently, from what I can see, the electronics are "grounded" in five locations. The ATS, inverter, and converter all have a solid bare copper wire grounded to the chassis. In the same area, a bus bar filled with what I figure are the DC returns from the breaker/fuse panel also has a wire from it bolted to the chassis. In the front compartment, the battery negative, along with the returns from the levelers pump and a handful of other DC components, are all bolted together to the chassis.
As part of my install, the stock batteries will be removed from the front compartment and the new batteries, along with the Victron components, will be installed in the basement next to the ATS and circuit panel back. The new inverter and charge controller will have their cases grounded to the negative bus bar on a Lynx Distributor. A single ground from the Lynx Distributor negative will then be bonded to the chassis.
My concern is what others have described as "ground looping". With this setup, I will have a single ground from all of the new components, however the ATS will still be grounded to the chassis, as well as the busbar of DC returns from the fuse panel and the DC returns in the front compartment which are each separately bolted to the chassis. For the latter, my assumption is they will be using the chassis as the DC return. My question is, should I eliminate these two locations where the DC returns are bonded to the chassis and instead run dedicated lines from them to the new negative busbar? My concern is if I have multiple locations where the system is connected to the chassis that it could somehow get energized in the event of a short.
And what about the ATS ground? Is that ok to stay connected to the chassis or should I relocate that to the negative busbar as well?
Thanks in advance for everyone's help.
-Tim & Amber
I'm in the process of replacing my batteries with lithium along with a solar and Victron install. I'm pretty solid on almost all of the install, but find my self questioning the grounding process, especially after seeing how GD installed the stock components. I'll try my best not to muddle AC grounding, DC returns, and bonding.
Currently, from what I can see, the electronics are "grounded" in five locations. The ATS, inverter, and converter all have a solid bare copper wire grounded to the chassis. In the same area, a bus bar filled with what I figure are the DC returns from the breaker/fuse panel also has a wire from it bolted to the chassis. In the front compartment, the battery negative, along with the returns from the levelers pump and a handful of other DC components, are all bolted together to the chassis.
As part of my install, the stock batteries will be removed from the front compartment and the new batteries, along with the Victron components, will be installed in the basement next to the ATS and circuit panel back. The new inverter and charge controller will have their cases grounded to the negative bus bar on a Lynx Distributor. A single ground from the Lynx Distributor negative will then be bonded to the chassis.
My concern is what others have described as "ground looping". With this setup, I will have a single ground from all of the new components, however the ATS will still be grounded to the chassis, as well as the busbar of DC returns from the fuse panel and the DC returns in the front compartment which are each separately bolted to the chassis. For the latter, my assumption is they will be using the chassis as the DC return. My question is, should I eliminate these two locations where the DC returns are bonded to the chassis and instead run dedicated lines from them to the new negative busbar? My concern is if I have multiple locations where the system is connected to the chassis that it could somehow get energized in the event of a short.
And what about the ATS ground? Is that ok to stay connected to the chassis or should I relocate that to the negative busbar as well?
Thanks in advance for everyone's help.
-Tim & Amber