grounding requirements of a temporary 400a generator?

[MichiganTop5]

I do believe that temporary generators are not service equipment?

what codes are applicable?

AJH will be onsite throughout event so I would like to be prepared.

I am a licensed Michigan electrician but I have never run 400a temp generators

thank you for all your help

 

[petersonra]

It is required to have an equipment grounding conductor run to it.

I don't think it is required to have a grounding electrode unless it qualifies as a SDS. Then it has to follow the SDS rules for such things.

I suspect if it is a standalone system you are going to have to pound a couple rods into the ground to satisfy an inspector, even though I am not convinced it serves any useful purpose.

 

[zbang]

Unless the temp generator is tied into an existing system, it's going to be an SDS (so bond appropriately), and...

I suspect if it is a standalone system you are going to have to pound a couple rods into the ground to satisfy an inspector, even though I am not convinced it serves any useful purpose.

Their useful purpose is to satisfy the inspector (spend 10 minutes pounding/wiring rods or 20 arguing that they're not needed, I'd rather save arguing for something that really matters).

 

[JFletcher]

It is required to have an equipment grounding conductor run to it.

I don't think it is required to have a grounding electrode unless it qualifies as a SDS. Then it has to follow the SDS rules for such things.

I suspect if it is a standalone system you are going to have to pound a couple rods into the ground to satisfy an inspector, even though I am not convinced it serves any useful purpose.

I believe Mike Holt has a video on that, and that lightning strikes can travel thru the local rods, into the genset, wipe it (fry the controls/boards), continue along the GEC to the main service and back out. iow, less than useful in some circumstances.

 

[petersonra]

I believe Mike Holt has a video on that, and that lightning strikes can travel thru the local rods, into the genset, wipe it (fry the controls/boards), continue along the GEC to the main service and back out. iow, less than useful in some circumstances.

If it is a standalone system there is no "main service" since the genset is not connected to anything other than the loads.

 

[ActionDave]

I do believe that temporary generators are not service equipment?

what codes are applicable?

AJH will be onsite throughout event so I would like to be prepared.

I am a licensed Michigan electrician but I have never run 400a temp generators

thank you for all your help

Look at 250.32 and 250.34. Most likely you are going to need some kind of grounding electrode system.