Inadequate earthing means the protective grounding conductor is missing, not connected correctly, or the site grounding does not meet code. Some inverters report it as an event saying the PE connection is missing and asking you to check the connection. A poor ground or a bonding violation can also stop surge protection devices from working as specified. At commissioning, confirm that the grounding conductor is tied to ground, for example at a grounding busbar or foundation electrode. On TN systems, measure to confirm that the neutral and grounding conductors are conductively connected. To fix it, make sure the grounding conductor is connected correctly, and check that all grounding and bonding meet NEC, CEC and local rules. Do not change earthing arrangements without approval from the electrical authority or a qualified engineer.
<!-- review notes
presents_asc1 drafted · lead Missing ground connection
SMA inverters report event 901, 'PE connection missing / Check connection', when the grounding conductor is not connected correctly.
tbl=1.r10 h=d67daffd8f90sec=h498 h=57e11449fc02sec=h17 h=a776ad38d235sec=h257 h=260925fde74atbl=14.r3 h=933298c8de4faffectsThe inverter detects that its grounding conductor is not connected correctly and raises an event.
tbl=1.r10 h=d67daffd8f90sec=h17 h=a776ad38d235tbl=14.r3 h=933298c8de4fc3 drafted · lead Surge protection device
A poor ground or a grounding/bonding violation can stop the SPD from performing as specified.
caused_byc4 drafted · lead Installation error
The cause given is a grounding conductor that was not connected correctly.
tbl=1.r10 h=d67daffd8f90sec=h17 h=a776ad38d235sec=h257 h=260925fde74areview note: support check: partial - Passages say the conductor is not correctly connected but do not label it an installation error as cause, though it is implied.
detected_byc5 drafted · lead Inverter startup commissioning verification
Commissioning checklists confirm that the grounding conductor is connected to ground, for example to a grounding busbar or foundation electrode.
c6 drafted · lead Neutral-to-ground continuity measurement proposed
In TN systems, a measurement confirms that the neutral and grounding conductors are conductively connected.
tbl=35 h=9ed1a06c22bbmitigated_byc7 drafted · lead Grounding conductor check
Corrective measure: make sure the grounding conductor is connected correctly.
tbl=1.r10 h=d67daffd8f90sec=h17 h=a776ad38d235tbl=14.r3 h=933298c8de4fc8 verified · fact Earthing system verification proposed
Check that the facility's grounding and bonding meet NEC, CEC and local codes, and confirm the site's earthing system before installation.
sec=h12 h=7768f76527f9sec=h23 h=84a3285351fasec=h14 h=a99e703fbd5dverified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24
c9 drafted · lead Earth conductor last to break proposed
For cord-connected equipment, the earthing cable must be longer than the AC grid conductors so that it is the last one to break if strain relief fails.
sec=h157 h=7328e7f1c8c7review note: support check: partial - Passage says the earth conductor must be last to be interrupted on strain-relief failure and longer than AC conductors, but doesn't tie it to mitigating inadequate earthing explicitly.
caused_by c2caused_by c5