Ufer grounding

[Abco Solar]

Is a Ufer ground required for stand alone PV street lights?

 

[GoldDigger]

Nothing in the NEC or most state amendments require the use of a Ufer (CEE) ground unless one already exists.
For a standalone PV system with panel(s), battery and DC luminaire, I am not sure that any ground is needed at all, if the voltage is low enough.
Add in an inverter to produce 120+ VAC and the picture changes.
Your AHJ may consider the pole to be a structure (though not a building) under the NEC.

Tapatalk!

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Your AHJ may consider the pole to be a structure (though not a building) under the NEC.

Tapatalk!

Not sure I understand. A structure would need to meet the same requirements as a building, NO?

 

[mgookin]

Not sure I understand. A structure would need to meet the same requirements as a building, NO?

They have very distinct definitions.

Structure: That which is constructed or built. (your mailbox is a structure)

Building: Something about walls & a roof, etc...

 

[petersonra]

I think light poles are exempted from the requirement to have a GE anyway.

 

[iwire]

I think light poles are exempted from the requirement to have a GE anyway.

Light poles have a direct exception allowing the disconnecting means of those structures to be located remote.

As far as the GE only structures supplied by more than one branch circuit require a GE.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I misunderstood what we had. I thought there a pv system that fed lights on poles. I would think the pv system would need the ufer or grounding electrode but not the lights.

I am curious as to where the pv system is located?

 

[iwire]

I may be wrong but I think the OP is talking about these type of self contained PV street lights.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Heck you don't need an electrician for that..