Portable Generator Grounding

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hornetd

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Maryland
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Journeyman Electrician, Retired
What we have are portable generators that are supplying electrical systems which are built in to mobile equipment such as trailers and motor vehicles. Since motor vehicles other than recreational vehicles are not covered by the National Electric Code (NEC) the water is already somewhat muddy. My take is that since the generators are supplying something other than cord & plug connected loads that they are derived systems subject to the provisions of 250.30 so that a Grounding Electrode System would be required for the generator.

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Tom Horne
 
I reviewed the rules in 550, it has requirements for generators, etc but no mention of grounding that I could see.
My take is a GES is not required, there are millions of RVs with generators and I don't see anyone installing ground rods..
 
Separate generator not on trailer.

Separate generator not on trailer.

I reviewed the rules in 550, it has requirements for generators, etc but no mention of grounding that I could see. My take is a GES is not required, there are millions of RVs with generators and I don't see anyone installing ground rods..
Do take note that those RVs have the generator mounted on the vehicle so that 230.35 applies directly. I'm writing about a generator that is sitting on the ground and supplying one or more mobile units in the form of trailers which have been converted to work stations.

I would also point out that the military always supplies two 9 foot rods or more recently a Surface Wire Ground System for such mobile equipment shelters.
 
Do take note that those RVs have the generator mounted on the vehicle so that 230.35 applies directly. I'm writing about a generator that is sitting on the ground and supplying one or more mobile units in the form of trailers which have been converted to work stations.

I would also point out that the military always supplies two 9 foot rods or more recently a Surface Wire Ground System for such mobile equipment shelters.
I have to disagree on 250.35 (think that is what you actually meant) appying, 250.34 should apply to a vehicle mounted generator. That section does not require a grounding electrode, whether or not the neutral needs to be bonded to the EGC at the source is not covered here.

250.20(B) is what makes us ground a typical under 600 volt system most cases - but it says right in there "that supply premises wiring and premises wiring systems shall be grounded..."

Connect your generator to a premises wiring system and if the generator doesn't have a grounded conductor - the premises wiring ultimately does and a non grounded generator essentially becomes a grounded system anyway while connected to this premises.
 
Trailer has built in wiring

Trailer has built in wiring

250.34 or 250.35 would seem pertinent.

Both of the sections you refer to cover generators that are supplying loads which are all connected be Cord and Plug. Once you connect that cord to a flanged inlet and through it to a built in wiring system of a trailer how can we say that the loads are connected by cord and plug? What they are connected by is a built in wiring system which was built without electrical testing laboratory inspection, testing, and listing. Cords are Listed by testing laboratories as having been manufactured to meet certain standards. Even if I ran that cord into a trailer and plugged a Laboratory listed piece of equipment into it there is very low likelihood that the frame of the trailer would become energized. Once I plug that cord into a flanged inlet and a built in wiring system there is bound to be some voltage difference between the trailer's exterior and the earth on which it is sitting if only because of the voltage drop in the Equipment Grounding Conductor of the cord. If the Generator is not grounded then the touch potential on the exterior of the trailer could be significant and possibly even dangerous. One of the purposes or AC system Grounding is to "Stabilize the voltage to ground during normal operations."

In all my past dealings with mobile AC Electric Systems when they were supplied by power that was not being produced by equipment located on the same chassis the supply source has some sort of Grounding Electrode System. When the source of the power is on the same chassis as the receptacle outlets the chassis itself can serve in place of the earth as a voltage reference which is common to all parts of the entire electrical system and thus avoid most sources of stray voltage and dangerous touch potential. That is the entire meaning of 250.35. The only loads that will be elsewhere are those of Electrical Testing Laboratory listed luminaire or appliances. I believe that the connection of only such listed assemblies to ungrounded generators located elsewhere is the intention of 250.34 & 35.
 
Both of the sections you refer to cover generators that are supplying loads which are all connected be Cord and Plug. Once you connect that cord to a flanged inlet and through it to a built in wiring system of a trailer how can we say that the loads are connected by cord and plug? What they are connected by is a built in wiring system which was built without electrical testing laboratory inspection, testing, and listing. Cords are Listed by testing laboratories as having been manufactured to meet certain standards. Even if I ran that cord into a trailer and plugged a Laboratory listed piece of equipment into it there is very low likelihood that the frame of the trailer would become energized. Once I plug that cord into a flanged inlet and a built in wiring system there is bound to be some voltage difference between the trailer's exterior and the earth on which it is sitting if only because of the voltage drop in the Equipment Grounding Conductor of the cord. If the Generator is not grounded then the touch potential on the exterior of the trailer could be significant and possibly even dangerous. One of the purposes or AC system Grounding is to "Stabilize the voltage to ground during normal operations."

In all my past dealings with mobile AC Electric Systems when they were supplied by power that was not being produced by equipment located on the same chassis the supply source has some sort of Grounding Electrode System. When the source of the power is on the same chassis as the receptacle outlets the chassis itself can serve in place of the earth as a voltage reference which is common to all parts of the entire electrical system and thus avoid most sources of stray voltage and dangerous touch potential. That is the entire meaning of 250.35. The only loads that will be elsewhere are those of Electrical Testing Laboratory listed luminaire or appliances. I believe that the connection of only such listed assemblies to ungrounded generators located elsewhere is the intention of 250.34 & 35.

EGC is supposed to only carry current during fault conditions. You can't have voltage drop across a conductor if there is no current flowing. Any voltage you measure in such case during non fault conditions is probably capacitive coupled and is likely easily shunted with a rather high resistance path as well.
 
...Once I plug that cord into a flanged inlet and a built in wiring system there is bound to be some voltage difference between the trailer's exterior and the earth on which it is sitting if only because of the voltage drop in the Equipment Grounding Conductor of the cord. If the Generator is not grounded then the touch potential on the exterior of the trailer could be significant and possibly even dangerous. One of the purposes or AC system Grounding is to "Stabilize the voltage to ground during normal operations....
I agree with kwired, your not dealing with the power grid and all that it brings in terms of neutral to earth voltage. Even then a ground rod does precious little to make things safer. Chant and wave your favorite sacred object to bless the trailer would be just as helpful. Save the hassle of pounding on ground rods for a hour. Go take a long lunch.
 
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