Generator OEM says Neutral Floats

[ramsy]

How does Neutral float if on-board receptacles have continuity EGC to Neutral?
Instructions show Neutral System = Floating.

Tech support provides email below:

From: xx@Duromaxpower.com
To: customer
Subject: xp13000eh floating neutral
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2025 17:32:58 +0000 (06/24/2025 10:32:58 AM)

The generator does have a jumper wire in-between the neutral and the stator housing, but the stator housing is on rubber motor mounts and doesn't have continuity to the frame or a path to ground by default, so this would still be considered a floating neutral generator.

Since the jumper is present you will find continuity between ground and neutral on the receptacles, however, the ground itself doesn't have a path to ground, so the generator is considered floating.

DuroMax Product Support Team
T: 844-387-6629 Ext 216
--------

Anyone encounter this before?

 

[MTW]

If you study the wiring diagram in the manual, you will see that it is the ground, that is actually floating, the only connection it shows, is the outlets and the frame.

Neutral is directly connected to the output winding.

The diagram shows no jumper between the neutral and stator housing (frame)

 

[Fred B]

Primary use of a floating neutral portable generator is as a backup generator to a bonded neutral panel, avoiding parallel neutrals.

This Generator is provided with an external bonding jumper that can be removed for use as a backup generator (not all portable generators have this optional external bonding, likely visible as a wire between the stator housing and frame). If you are getting continuity between the frame and the receptacle neutral the jumper is in place. OSHA requires the portable Generator have the NG bonding when used for the 120V GFCI receptacles for portable power source. This is why the instructions indicate to have an electrician set it up for a backup generator. If the Generator was mine and wanted to use it both ways I would just add a switch for the bonding jumper to make my life easier to go back and forth in usage.

 

[ramsy]

If you study the wiring diagram in the manual, you will see that it is the ground, that is actually floating, the only connection it shows, is the outlets and the frame.

Neutral is directly connected to the output winding.

The diagram shows no jumper between the neutral and stator housing (frame)

Thank you for checking that diagram.

I agree, any jumper between neutral & housing contradicts diagram.

 

[ramsy]

This Generator is provided with an external bonding jumper that can be removed for use as a backup generator (not all portable generators have this optional external bonding, likely visible as a wire between the stator housing and frame).

Roger that, we must prove to inspector that neutral bond is arranged to float at generator, for backup house power.

If you are getting continuity between the frame and the receptacle neutral the jumper is in place.

Thank you, will check continuity between frame and Neutral, rather than receptacle EGC and Neutral.

If the Generator was mine and wanted to use it both ways I would just add a switch for the bonding jumper to make my life easier to go back and forth in usage.

That's what I thought as well, until tech. support confirmed listed instructions show no modification is indicated.

 

[ramsy]

Found one piece of the puzzle.

 

[ramsy]

This Generator is provided with an external bonding jumper that can be removed for use as a backup generator

Rather than insist nothing gets modified, technical support changed their tune to agree with you.

After nothing else worked to remove frame-neutral bond, they FWD the missing photo & instruction omitted from the manual.

For questions related to the generator's neutral-ground configuration, one method to achieve a floating neutral is to remove the green/yellow jumper wire located in the generator head between the ground and neutral connection. Some customers choose this configuration depending on how their transfer switch is set up. That said, we recommend consulting a licensed electrician before making any modifications to ensure it aligns with your home's wiring setup and local electrical code.

 

[ggunn]

Rather than insist nothing gets modified, technical support changed their tune to agree with you.

After nothing else worked to remove frame-neutral bond, they FWD the missing photo & instruction omitted from the manual.
View attachment 2578556
For questions related to the generator's neutral-ground configuration, one method to achieve a floating neutral is to remove the green/yellow jumper wire located in the generator head between the ground and neutral connection. Some customers choose this configuration depending on how their transfer switch is set up. That said, we recommend consulting a licensed electrician before making any modifications to ensure it aligns with your home's wiring setup and local electrical code.

Just to be clear, the neutral is never floating, nor should it be. It is just bonded elsewhere when it is used as a backup and it should not be bonded in more than one place.