Do micro-PV systems/balcony power plants need to be grounded/equipped with equipotential bonding?

The equipotential bonding system is designed to dissipate direct and alternating currents so that mounting structures and module frames do not become live in the event of a fault and thus pose a danger to people and animals upon contact. Metal mounting structures of large PV systems must always be grounded and connected to the building's central equipotential bonding system. In contrast, this may be unnecessary for micro-PV systems with up to two modules, as the voltage range of the generated DC voltage is generally so low that the so-called safety extra-low voltage (SELV) range of 120V DC is not exceeded.

When multiple modules are connected in series, the voltage increases, potentially necessitating equipotential bonding. Grounding or connection to the building's equipotential bonding system is always advisable, especially if the mounting systems and module frames are accessible to people. For balcony railings or balustrades already connected to the equipotential bonding system, this bonding should also be extended to the mounting system, module frames, and microinverter. The equipotential bonding is implemented using at least 6 mm² copper sheathed cable, either stranded or solid core, preferably green/yellow.