Article 690 of the NEC mandates that #8 AWG or #6 AWG are the smallest wires that can be used with grid tied solar panels and inverter systems, and for solar panel output circuits, #10 or #12 AWG are allowed. A ground rod is also recommended if the installation area is prone to. Therefore, you must ground solar with the right wire sizes. The concept and purpose of grounding in DC systems, such as solar panels and photovoltaic arrays, are the same as in AC systems. However, the grounding process and methods differ slightly, offering. Grounding a solar photovoltaic (PV) system involves establishing a low-resistance conductive pathway that connects the non-current-carrying metal components of the array to the earth. Grounding connects electrical components to Earth at zero voltage potential. When grounding photovoltaic panels. Solar PV grounding systems require specific equipment to meet National Electrical Code (NEC) safety standards under sections 690. All PV circuits exceeding 30 volts or 8 amperes must have ground-fault protection devices installed.