Generator Panel to Main Panel , Running Separate Neutrals for Each 110v Circuit

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etbrown4

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Location
United States
We've installed a number of whole house generators. In the past, Generac has provided a pre-wired gen panel with circuit wires already attached to breakers and has provided one neutral connecting the gen panel to the main panel.

The latest unit we bought has a separate neutral wire for each 110 v circuit and is labeled with "neutral circuit#1, #2" etc.

It appears that Generac suggests that you attach the neutral for each 110v circuit in the gen panel to the actual neutral wire for each 110v circuit picked up in the main panel. In other words they want you to remove each affected neutral wire from the neutral buss and attach it to the individual neutral coming over from the gen panel.

Anyone know why they might have adopted this change? Does it make prior gen panels unsafe or non code-compliant?

What's the difference between 12 individual neutrals vs a larger neutral used in the past?

What's the difference if those 12 neutrals are connected to the neutral buss in the main panel, vs. connecting them separately to each individual neutral in the main panel (after detaching those neutrals in the main panel from the neutral buss)
 
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suemarkp

Senior Member
Location
Kent, WA
Occupation
Retired Engineer
I thought there was a code change that made a single common fat neutral illegal. Don't know where to find that new rule though.
 
jxofaltrds

jxofaltrds

Inspector Mike®
Location
Mike P. Columbus Ohio
Occupation
ESI, PI, RBO
etbrown4 said:
We've installed a number of whole house generators. In the past, Generac has provided a pre-wired gen panel with circuit wires already attached to breakers and has provided one neutral connecting the gen panel to the main panel.

The latest unit we bought has a separate neutral wire for each 110 v circuit and is labeled with "neutral circuit#1, #2" etc.

It appears that Generac suggests that you attach the neutral for each 110v circuit in the gen panel to the actual neutral wire for each 110v circuit picked up in the main panel. In other words they want you to remove each affected neutral wire from the neutral buss and attach it to the individual neutral coming over from the gen panel.

Anyone know why they might have adopted this change? Does it make prior gen panels unsafe or non code-compliant?

What's the difference between 12 individual neutrals vs a larger neutral used in the past?

What's the difference if those 12 neutrals are connected to the neutral buss in the main panel, vs. connecting them separately to each individual neutral in the main panel (after detaching those neutrals in the main panel from the neutral buss)
Click to expand...

Do you have the paperwork or a link to the wiring?

Are you saying take the 'home run' grounded conductor and land it in the generator panel?

I guess I do not understand!
 
E

etbrown4

Member
Location
United States
It appears that Generac suggests that you attach the neutral for each 110v circuit in the gen panel to the actual neutral wire for each 110v circuit picked up in the main panel. (Running 12 separate neutrals) In other words they want you to remove each affected neutral wire from the neutral buss in the main panel, and attach each, only to the neutral buss in the gen panel.

In other words they want all of the relocated 110v circuits to connect to the neutral buss in the gen panel and for them to have no connection in the main panel where they were formerly connected.
 
jxofaltrds

jxofaltrds

Inspector Mike®
Location
Mike P. Columbus Ohio
Occupation
ESI, PI, RBO
etbrown4 said:
It appears that Generac suggests that you attach the neutral for each 110v circuit in the gen panel to the actual neutral wire for each 110v circuit picked up in the main panel. (Running 12 separate neutrals) In other words they want you to remove each affected neutral wire from the neutral buss in the main panel, and attach each, only to the neutral buss in the gen panel.

In other words they want all of the relocated 110v circuits to connect to the neutral buss in the gen panel and for them to have no connection in the main panel where they were formerly connected.
Click to expand...

And how are they connected back to the 'main' panel.

200.4 Is where I am starting.
 
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etbrown4

Member
Location
United States
Always in past installations there have been no 12-16 neutrals present, to connect from the gen panel to the main panel. Just a single 'fat' neutral.

Now there are two options I believe:
1. Attach the 12-16 neutrals from the gen panel to the neutral buss in the main panel or,
2. Identify the actual neutral conductor for each circuit which has been relocated to the gen panel, and wirenut one neutral conductor each from the gen panel, to the neutral conductor for that circuit after you have removed it from the neutral buss in the main panel.
 
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