Electrical Generator Standards

[mcpritt]

I need someone to shed some light on a subject close to my heart at the moment. Can anyone tell me what standards (NEC, UL, NFPA, IEEE, Etc) that electrical generators must be designed and built.

I was recently told that manufacturers did NOT have to abide by the NEC rules when producing a generator. So please tell me why and what rules they must follow. The reason I am asking is I found a major code and a safety violation on a generator, and the manufacturer refuses to look at it.

Please help!

Thanks,
Charlie

 

[ron]

Re: Electrical Generator Standards

You'll find the requirement for approved for use in the NEC (NFPA 70) in 700.3, 701.4 and 702.4.
Most if not all jurisdictions abide by the NEC per their local code adoption.
approved for use usually means that the inspector wants to see a third party inspection such as UL, ETL, etc.
There are other NFPA standards that apply but are generally not codes, although they can be depending on the application.

 

[mcpritt]

Re: Electrical Generator Standards

Thanks Ron. I agree with you completely on this. However, in my specific application a generator company put a "high leg" on "A phase" and not on "B phase" as required. It was also not marked. When asked why, they said they did not have to meet NEC requirements. Does anyone know if this is true.
Why would a company NOT meet this code when the contractor wiring the generator must!

All input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Charlie

 

[jim dungar]

Re: Electrical Generator Standards

Technically the NEC does not apply to the construction of equipment. The NEC applies to the installation of the equipment. You need to see if the listing agency has any requirements for the location of the high-leg.

The generator can probably have the high-leg be the A leg. If so, there is nothing preventing the installing contractor from placing this high-leg on the B-phase of his equipment. This is similar to the way that POCOs put the high-leg on the C-phase of a meter socket.