Technical Information: Grounding in Off-Grid Systems

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Technical Information

Grounding in Off-Grid Systems


Design of TN and TT Off-Grid Systems

In off-grid systems with Sunny Island, the stand-alone grid distributes the energy. AC loads draw energy from the
stand-alone grid and AC sources (e.g. PV inverters) feed in energy. Distribution grids can be designed differently.
The grid configuration of the distribution system determines how it is grounded.
This technical information gives an overview of the following topics:
• Grid configurations of stand-alone grids with Sunny Island
• Ground electrode connection
• Required protective devices for personal protection
This document does not replace any locally applicable standards or directives.

SI-OffGrid-Grounding-TI-en-11 | Version 1.1 ENGLISH


1  Grid Configurations in Off-Grid Systems with Sunny Island SMA Solar Technology AG

1 Grid Configurations in Off-Grid Systems with Sunny Island


The grid configuration of the distribution system determines how it is grounded. Personal protection is the purpose of
grounding in all grid configurations. Under fault conditions no dangerous voltages may occur on exposed components.
A slight transition resistance from the ground electrode to ground is crucial in all grid configurations.

TN System
The most common grid configuration is the TN system (French: Terre Neutre). Here, the neutral point of the source is
grounded. The neutral conductor of the system is connected to this neutral point. The exposed conductive parts of the
connected loads are connected with the grounded neutral point of the source via protective conductors. A distinction is
made between the TN-C system (French: Terre Neutre Combiné) and the TN-S system (French: Terre Neutre Séparé).
In the TN-C system the PEN conductor is a combination of the grounding conductor and the neutral conductor.
In the TN-S system the neutral conductor and the grounding conductor are separate.

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of a TN-S system


A hybrid form is common in extended utility grids with the TN-C system being used from the source while the TN-S system
is limited to the load system. This form is known as TN-C-S system (French: Terre Neutre Combiné Séparé).
Advantages of the TN system:
• Low-resistance protective connections allow for a reliable execution of simple protective measures under fault
conditions.
Circuit breakers automatically disconnect the voltage source from the distribution grid under fault conditions.
• Only one ground electrode is required.
The TN-S system is thus the preferred grid configuration for a new off-grid system.

TT System
In a TT system (French: Terre Terre), the neutral point of the source is grounded, as it is in TN systems. However,
the exposed conductive parts of the loads are connected to separate ground electrodes of the system using protective
conductors. The neutral conductor must not be grounded in the load system. This grid configuration has no direct
grounding conductor connection between the exposed conductive parts of the equipment and the neutral point of the
source. This is only possible when connected to ground. The connection to ground cannot reliably trigger a circuit breaker
under fault conditions. Therefore, residual-current devices are required in TT systems.

Grid Configuration for Stand-Alone Grids


Stand-alone grids with Sunny Island can be designed as TN-S systems, TN-C-S systems or TT systems. At least one ground
electrode must be present in all grid configurations. This is in any case necessary for the equipotential bonding of the
electrical system.

2 SI-OffGrid-Grounding-TI-en-11 Technical Information


SMA Solar Technology AG 2  TN-S Off-Grid System without Generator

2 TN-S Off-Grid System without Generator

Figure 2: Grounding in the TN-S off-grid system without generator

Grid-forming voltage source Stand-alone grid


Device • Sunny Island • PV inverters
• AC loads
Grounding • Electrically conductive enclosure parts must • Electrically conductive enclosure parts must
be grounded at the operational grounding be grounded at the operational grounding
electrode. electrode.
• The neutral conductor must be grounded in
the vicinity of the Sunny Island at the
operational grounding electrode.
Protective ‒ • You must install a circuit breaker in each final
devices circuit.
Circuit breakers that the Sunny Island can
trigger at the maximum: trigger characteristic
B6 (SI4.4M-12) or trigger characteristic
B16/C6 (SI6.0H-12 and SI8.0H-12).

Technical Information SI-OffGrid-Grounding-TI-en-11 3


3  TN-S Off-Grid System with Generator SMA Solar Technology AG

3 TN-S Off-Grid System with Generator

Figure 3: Grounding in the TN off-grid system with generator

Grid-forming voltage source Stand-alone grid


Device • Sunny Island • PV inverters
• Generator • AC loads
Grounding • Ground electrically conductive enclosure • Ground electrically conductive enclosure
parts at the operational grounding electrode. parts at the operational grounding electrode.
• Ground the neutral conductor in the vicinity
of the Sunny Island at the operational
grounding electrode.
Protective • Install a circuit breaker in the line conductor • Install a circuit breaker in each final circuit.
devices at terminal AC2 in the vicinity of the Circuit breakers that the Sunny Island can
generator. The circuit breaker must be trigger at the maximum: trigger characteristic
configured for the conductor cross-section, B6 (SI4.4M-12) or trigger characteristic
the generator current and the maximum B16/C6 (SI6.0H-12 and SI8.0H-12). If the
current at terminal AC2 of the Sunny Island circuit breaker cannot be triggered by the
inverter. Sunny Island, you must also install a
residual-current device (type A).

4 SI-OffGrid-Grounding-TI-en-11 Technical Information


SMA Solar Technology AG 4  TT Off-Grid System without Generator

4 TT Off-Grid System without Generator

Figure 4: Grounding in the TT off-grid system without generator

Grid-forming voltage source Stand-alone grid


Device • Sunny Island • PV inverters
• AC loads
Grounding • Ground electrically conductive enclosure • Ground electrically conductive enclosure
parts at the operational grounding electrode. parts at a ground electrode.
• Ground the neutral conductor in the vicinity
of the Sunny Island at the operational
grounding electrode.
Protective ‒ • In each final circuit, a circuit breaker and a
devices residual-current device (type A) must be
installed.

Technical Information SI-OffGrid-Grounding-TI-en-11 5


5  TT Off-Grid System with Generator SMA Solar Technology AG

5 TT Off-Grid System with Generator

Figure 5: Grounding in the TT off-grid system with generator

Grid-forming voltage sources Stand-alone grid


Device • Sunny Island • PV inverters
• Generator • AC loads
Grounding • Electrically conductive enclosure parts must • Electrically conductive enclosure parts must
be grounded at the operational grounding be grounded by means of a ground
electrode. electrode.
• The neutral conductor must be grounded in
the vicinity of the Sunny Island at the
operational grounding electrode.
• Make sure that there is no connection
between the neutral conductor and the
grounding conductor at the generator.
Protective • Install a circuit breaker and a residual-current • In each final circuit, a circuit breaker and a
devices device in the line conductor at terminal AC2 residual-current device (type A) must be
in the vicinity of the generator. The circuit installed.
breaker must be configured for the conductor
cross-section, the generator current and the
maximum current at terminal AC2 of the
Sunny Island inverter.

6 SI-OffGrid-Grounding-TI-en-11 Technical Information

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