Field Rules for Distributed PV: Conduits, Inverters, Grounding

Distributed rooftop PV is no longer just about mounting panels; safe and inspectable electrical work decides 20-year uptime. Based on 2026 residential and C&I field practice, eight rules stand out.

PVC conduits must run straight and level, fixed with stainless clamps spaced within 1.5 m. Exposed cable at transitions is allowed but kept ≥20 cm, and flexible hose is banned. AC cables keep their outer jacket except where they enter the inverter or grid-tied combiner box.

Inverters and combiner boxes hang plumb at ≥1.2 m height, with 20 cm clearance on every side for service. South- or west-facing devices get a sunshade. Grounding down-conductors are painted with yellow-green stripes. DC strings get permanent tags at the inverter end so O&M crews can trace a fault in minutes instead of hours.

These details look minor next to panel wattage, yet they are exactly what AHJ inspectors and O&M logs flag first. Clean conduit routing, locked labeling, and correct grounding turn a solar array from "installed" to "operational."