Tow-behind Generator Question

[busman]

I need to connect a tow-behind leased generator to a temporary shelter for research purposes. It is 208/120Y. I could not get 5-conductor Type W cable quickly enough. I have 4-conductor. Any Code issues with the three hots and the neutral in the 4-conductor cable and a separate properly sized EGC run separately? I would strap the two together. It "feels" OK since these temporary installs are frequently done with a bunch of single conductor cables. I will post signage indicating that the EGC must be "first connect / last disconnect". Thoughts?

As always, thanks. Got this one on a short fuse and don't have days to spend trolling the NEC for answers.

Mark

 

[infinity]

Do you need an EGC? Is the neutral bonded at the generator?

 

[zbang]

How big is this generator? The rental companies usually have banded sets of 2g and individual strands of 2/0 and 4/0; any of those ought to work.

(FWIW, I hardly ever use multi-conductor larger than 6/4 for temp power setups, and that's always single phase. Anything bigger is single strands.)

Oh, and you didn't ask, but....
IMHO you don't need a grounding electrode at the generator, but you may at the structure/shelter if it's more than a tent. (There have been many discussions about this on these forums.)

 

[busman]

Do you need an EGC? Is the neutral bonded at the generator?

I could undo the N-G bond at the generator and I thought about that. I guess I need to do more reading tonight.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[busman]

How big is this generator? The rental companies usually have banded sets of 2g and individual strands of 2/0 and 4/0; any of those ought to work.

(FWIW, I hardly ever use multi-conductor larger than 6/4 for temp power setups, and that's always single phase. Anything bigger is single strands.)

Oh, and you didn't ask, but....
IMHO you don't need a grounding electrode at the generator, but you may at the structure/shelter if it's more than a tent. (There have been many discussions about this on these forums.)

50 KVA. They didn't rent any cables from the company. It probably should have a GE, but its on the beach. Hard to do effectively in the sand. More concerned with Lightning Protection.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I need to connect a tow-behind leased generator to a temporary shelter for research purposes. It is 208/120Y. I could not get 5-conductor Type W cable quickly enough. I have 4-conductor. Any Code issues with the three hots and the neutral in the 4-conductor cable and a separate properly sized EGC run separately? I would strap the two together. It "feels" OK since these temporary installs are frequently done with a bunch of single conductor cables. I will post signage indicating that the EGC must be "first connect / last disconnect". Thoughts?

As always, thanks. Got this one on a short fuse and don't have days to spend trolling the NEC for answers.

Mark

300.3(B)(3) would permit that installation.

 

[busman]

300.3(B)(3) would permit that installation.

Don,

You posted the sections I was thinking about, but I'm not sure they permit this. However, it seems like the it should be fine since individual conductors would be permitted.

Thanks a bunch.

Mark