According to the National Electric Code (NEC), all solar panel systems need to be grounded to code. At a minimum the NEC requires that all systems must have equipment-grounding conductors that connect the metal surfaces of the solar panels to a ground rod. typically grounding systems include the following items:
- code compliant ground lugs screwed into each aluminum rail that touches the solar panel
- grounding rod driven into the earth near the solar panels
- stranded copper wire or solid wire connected to the ground lugs and then to the ground rod.
