K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
This may be one for 'safety', but here goes.
Scenario:
Complaint originated as an issue with an amateur radio. Complainant states that power is supplied from a portable generator to a 13.8 volt power supply that runs the radio.
This was on an amateur radio forum and the issue swayed to bonding and grounding.
Speaking with the complainant, I found that he is using a portable Kohler (like a 4k) connected (plug at the genny recep and hard wired at the other end) to the line side of a 200 amp panel meant to be used as a service for a POCO connection that was never made. There is no utility power anywhere on the property. There is one ground rod at the panel and none at the generator. Only 120 volts are being used and the panel is fed with one hot, one neutral and one grounding conductor.
OK, so now we no longer have a portable generator, we have an SDS. Do portable generators have to be listed for use as an SDS and if so, what is the likelihood of a 4k having such a listing?
If OK to use as an SDS, how is this to be grounded? My thoughts would be to emulate the utility, but with only 120 volts????
If deemed an SDS, the system must be grounded. If we sink a couple of electrodes at the generator, is bonding to the electrode at the premises panel required? If so, since there is already a grounding conductor in the cord, wouldn't that make for a parallel run?
My thoughts are that his installation is unsafe as it is and he may not be able to use a 120 volt generator to feed an entrance panel.
So, let's say he gets a 120/240 volt generator. My thoughts, as stated, would be to emulate the utility, bond the neutral and ground at the genny, run a three wire connection to the panel and then re-establish the ground at that point. Electrodes would be placed at the genny, and an additional one added to the premises. NO bonding other than the third wire of the three wire feed would exist.
Which still leaves the issue of OCP. But one issue at a time for this feeble mind, if you would please. :roll:
Thanks all!
Scenario:
Complaint originated as an issue with an amateur radio. Complainant states that power is supplied from a portable generator to a 13.8 volt power supply that runs the radio.
This was on an amateur radio forum and the issue swayed to bonding and grounding.
Speaking with the complainant, I found that he is using a portable Kohler (like a 4k) connected (plug at the genny recep and hard wired at the other end) to the line side of a 200 amp panel meant to be used as a service for a POCO connection that was never made. There is no utility power anywhere on the property. There is one ground rod at the panel and none at the generator. Only 120 volts are being used and the panel is fed with one hot, one neutral and one grounding conductor.
OK, so now we no longer have a portable generator, we have an SDS. Do portable generators have to be listed for use as an SDS and if so, what is the likelihood of a 4k having such a listing?
If OK to use as an SDS, how is this to be grounded? My thoughts would be to emulate the utility, but with only 120 volts????
If deemed an SDS, the system must be grounded. If we sink a couple of electrodes at the generator, is bonding to the electrode at the premises panel required? If so, since there is already a grounding conductor in the cord, wouldn't that make for a parallel run?
My thoughts are that his installation is unsafe as it is and he may not be able to use a 120 volt generator to feed an entrance panel.
So, let's say he gets a 120/240 volt generator. My thoughts, as stated, would be to emulate the utility, bond the neutral and ground at the genny, run a three wire connection to the panel and then re-establish the ground at that point. Electrodes would be placed at the genny, and an additional one added to the premises. NO bonding other than the third wire of the three wire feed would exist.
Which still leaves the issue of OCP. But one issue at a time for this feeble mind, if you would please. :roll:
Thanks all!