We were camping this weekend and a friend has some type of little sensor device that plugs into the trailer to test for proper grounding. It showed my trailer wasn't grounded properly when I was using 2 Honda EU 2000's to power it, so in theory if there was a short somewhere this could be a real problem.
Posted 2016-11-13 10:10 PM (#168868 - in reply to #168865) Subject: RE: Generator grounding question -
Member
Posts: 28
Location: Miami, FL
My Yamaha (EF3000) does the same thing - since 2007. Never worried about it. Only when connected to outside power (city) does my outlet monitor ("sensor") display complete electrical (including ground).
Posted 2016-11-14 7:31 AM (#168869 - in reply to #168865) Subject: RE: Generator grounding question -
Regular
Posts: 56
Location: Belchertown MA
My Honda 2000 has always been that way too. Something to do with being an inverter and sine waves ?? Been using it for 10+ years with no problems,2 different trailers, other friends as well
Posted 2016-11-14 6:22 PM (#168873 - in reply to #168865) Subject: RE: Generator grounding question -
Member
Posts: 5
Your generator has a means of an external ground wire that should be connected to a grounding rod. People have been killed using power generators without beiing grounded. All of us have been lucky using the generator without a ground.
Posted 2016-11-14 8:56 PM (#168874 - in reply to #168865) Subject: RE: Generator grounding question -
Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont
Q. What are the grounding requirements for a portable generator?
A. According to 250.34(A), the frame of a portable generator isn't required to be grounded (connected to the earth) if:
The generator only supplies equipment or receptacles mounted on the generator, and
The metal parts of the generator and the receptacle grounding terminal are connected to the generator frame.
According to 250.34(B), the frame of a vehicle-mounted generator isn't required to be grounded (connected to the earth) if:
The generator frame is bonded to the vehicle frame,
The generator only supplies equipment or receptacles mounted on the vehicle or generator, and
The metal parts of the generator and the receptacle grounding terminal are connected to the generator frame.
A portable or vehicle-mounted generator used as a separately derived system to supply equipment or receptacles mounted on the vehicle or generator must have the neutral conductor connected to the generator frame [250.34(C)]. Note: A portable or vehicle-mounted generator supplying fixed wiring for a premises must be grounded (connected to the earth) and bonded in accordance with 250.30 for separately derived systems and 250.35 for non-separately derived systems.
Posted 2016-11-18 12:52 PM (#168889 - in reply to #168876) Subject: RE: Generator grounding question -
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
There's a lug on the control panel of these inverter gensets to ground the equipment to earth..... I got two Yamaha inverter generators, both have ground lugs and it's all explained in the owners/operators manual.