M4gery
Senior Member
I have some questions about portable generator grounding and bonding that I would appreciate help with.
1) When backfeeding a panel with an interlock kit or using a simple manual transfer panel, the neutral isn't switched. Because of that fact, the neutral-ground bond in the service disconnect still applies. In this situation you would remove the neutral-ground bond in the generator, correct?
2) When using manual transfer switch that switches the neutrals, you lose the neutral-ground bond in the service disconnect. In this situation you would have to either leave the neutral-ground bond in the generator intact, OR bond the neutral to ground on the generator side of the transfer switch, is that correct?
3) The reason you don't want the neutral-ground bond in both the service disconnect and the generator is so that there are not 2 paths for the current to flow. However, in this situation those two paths would only be thru the generator cord unlike when dealing with a sub-panel in a house in which current can flow thru appliances, etc. Is that correct? Is there a reduced danger in the generator situation? The reason I ask is because I think a lot of homeowners who have this portable generator/inlet/transfer panel setup don't break the bond when connecting the generator to their house.
4) First, thank you for getting this far Finally, what is the purpose of a grounding conductor on a generator without a neutral-ground bond at all? For example, the popular Honda EU2000i:
1) When backfeeding a panel with an interlock kit or using a simple manual transfer panel, the neutral isn't switched. Because of that fact, the neutral-ground bond in the service disconnect still applies. In this situation you would remove the neutral-ground bond in the generator, correct?
2) When using manual transfer switch that switches the neutrals, you lose the neutral-ground bond in the service disconnect. In this situation you would have to either leave the neutral-ground bond in the generator intact, OR bond the neutral to ground on the generator side of the transfer switch, is that correct?
3) The reason you don't want the neutral-ground bond in both the service disconnect and the generator is so that there are not 2 paths for the current to flow. However, in this situation those two paths would only be thru the generator cord unlike when dealing with a sub-panel in a house in which current can flow thru appliances, etc. Is that correct? Is there a reduced danger in the generator situation? The reason I ask is because I think a lot of homeowners who have this portable generator/inlet/transfer panel setup don't break the bond when connecting the generator to their house.
4) First, thank you for getting this far Finally, what is the purpose of a grounding conductor on a generator without a neutral-ground bond at all? For example, the popular Honda EU2000i:
Code:
GROUND SYSTEM
Connections for standby power to a building electrical system must be
made by a qualified electrician. The connection must isolate the
generator power from utility power, and must comply with all
applicable laws and electrical codes.
Honda portable generators have a system ground that connects
generator frame components to the ground terminals in the AC output
receptacles.[B][I] The system ground is not connected to the AC neutral
wire. [/I][/B]If the generator is tested by a receptacle tester, it will not show
the same ground circuit condition as for a home receptacle.