Victron MPPT Ground Question

[CDACamper]

Quick question about the ground connection on the Victron 100/20 MPPT charge controller. There are the obvious battery positive/negative and PV positive/negative connections. There is also what looks like a ground screw in the side of the charge controller. Is this ground connection necessary and if so can I just connect this to my battery/chassis ground? The attached picture shows the small silver screw in the side of the controller. The manual doesn't say anything about connecting this ground.

[Chinook]

The obvious answer is that if when mounting the unit you attach it to a wooden surface or fiberglass or other non-conductive surface it is not going to be grounded via the controllers metal base and the mounting screws. With that said, you would need to attach a ground wire to that screw and run it to a metal chassis ground or the battery negative.

If you mounted it on a surface that is metal and already part of the chassis or attached to the chassis it wouldnt need to be attached because your mounting screws have already grounded the unit.

The unit has to be grounded either via the screws you use to mount it or via attaching a ground wire to it and running it to the chassis of your rig. With that said, if it was me i would attach a ground strap to it just for peace of mind so i know that the unit has sufficient ground contact.

[Scalf77]

It would be a equipment ground, so it would be OK to wire to chassis ground in the van.

-greg

[CDACamper]

Thanks for the replies guys.