A ground fault can leave conductors that are normally grounded ungrounded and energized, so a part you expect to be at ground potential may give a shock. In a ground fault, parts that are supposed to be grounded may be live and parts that are normally ungrounded may become grounded; touching live parts can cause death or serious injury. The PV field is not grounded while the inverter is disconnected or while insulation resistance is being measured. In functionally grounded PV systems, conductors normally at ground potential may have voltage to ground under fault conditions. The NEC requires a warning label for this hazard, and in systems with batteries the same label must also go in a visible place at the batteries. Before touching PV equipment, verify the absence of voltage and make sure no ground fault is present, and wear suitable personal protective equipment. If the work does not need voltage, disconnect the inverter from both the power path and the control path.
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subclass_ofc1 drafted · lead Electric shock
A ground fault can leave conductors that are normally grounded ungrounded and live, so touching them can shock you.
sec=h9 h=c0ef2aee7c7esec=h7 h=91246ea457d3sec=h28 h=13be58b020f3sec=h21 h=07a3f3cfe72asec=h15 h=4f4bd1150c08controlled_byc2 drafted · lead Ground-fault warning label proposed
Scope: standard NFPA 70 (NEC) 2014 proposed
When the PV system has batteries, the installer must also put the same warning in a visible place at the batteries.
ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD IF A GROUND FAULT IS INDICATED, NORMALLY GROUNDED CONDUCTORS MAY BE UNGROUNDED AND ENERGIZED
sec=h7 h=91246ea457d3review note: support check: partial - u36 gives the label and battery requirement, but the NFPA 70-2014 edition is not named in the passage.
c3 verified · fact Ground-fault warning label proposed
Scope: standard NFPA 70 (NEC) 2011 proposed
ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD IF A GROUND FAULT IS INDICATED, NORMALLY GROUNDED CONDUCTORS MAY BE UNGROUNDED AND ENERGIZED
sec=h9 h=c0ef2aee7c7everified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24review note: support check: partial - u1 gives the label, but the 2011 NEC edition is not stated in the passage.
c4 verified · fact Verify absence of voltage proposed
Check that no voltage is present before touching any PV equipment.
sec=h21 h=07a3f3cfe72asec=h94 h=9930df551827sec=h132 h=9930df551827sec=h21 h=f992f523e67dverified by: review-workflowverified on: 2026-10-24
c5 drafted · lead Personal protective equipment proposed
SMA asks for PPE matched to the hazard risk category of each area whenever the power transmission path is connected.
sec=h28 h=13be58b020f3sec=h21 h=07a3f3cfe72asec=h94 h=9930df551827c6 drafted · lead Safety isolation
If the work does not need voltage, disconnect the inverter from both the power path and the control path. Also confirm that no ground fault is present before starting.
sec=h28 h=13be58b020f3c7 drafted · lead Continuous ground fault detection
Scope: products Solectria SGI 500/750XTM
The SGI 500/750XTM has DC ground fault protection per UL 1741. A yellow Ground Fault indicator warns that normally grounded conductors may be energized.
tbl=37.r1 h=77f74a8e78e5sec=h81 h=9287ffb0935areview note: support check: partial - Passages give UL 1741 DC ground fault protection and the yellow Ground Fault indicator warning, but don't tie them together as 'continuous detection' control or say the indicator is for the XTM specifically.
has_hazard c3