Portable welder....grounding

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Grove812

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I've read a ton of threds on this site and others about grounding portable generators and welding machines. We are in the process of rewriting a safety manual and I have a question that seems stupid:

If you have a welding machine or generator on skids (not vehicle or trailer mounted) is it required to earth grounded if using attached recepticals for powering tools or lead for welding.

What is the difference between a "portable" generator that can be moved by personnel and one a thousand pounds heavier if both are used the same? Confused

Thanks grove
 
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For skid mounted equipment, refer to Article 250.112(K) & 250.110, Exception #3,
in the `08 NEC......Is the "portable generator" and the "1,000 lbs. heavier"
equipment double insulated?


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Not a stupid question, no such thing on grounding.
The difference is simply grounding or bonding?
Grounding is for lightning. A small portable generator if hit by lightning is toast.
But the small portable generators need to have a system bonding jumper (a wire from the frame to the neutral) so in the event of a fault the current can get back to the windings of the generator. On small generators this bonding jumper is always installed, on larger, like >15 kW its not. Once you no longer plug something into a receptacle on the generator the rules change and then grounding (and bonding) is required.
 
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