Generator Floating VS Bonded Neutral
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- IMPORTANT: With any electrical connections from a generator to a transfer switch/circuit panel, it is always recommended to contact a certified electrician to make sure it will meet all local electrical codes
Does your generator outlet trip every time you connect it to your home's transfer switch? The solution is simple: if you have a bonded-neutral generator with full GFCI protected outlets, you'll need to get a GFI transfer switch to keep those circuits from tripping.
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Thanks for watching!
Finally... Someone explains it well! Awesome, thank you for your time!
Thank you for this info. Good explanation, the problem is Osia.
Oh brother....... this video MAKES more CONFUSING 😮
I converted my Champion generator to floating neutral with a simple disconnect of 1 wire per their documentation.
As long as you followed the official instructions from Champion to do so, it should work out great.
So is there any way to use an interlock if you have a bonded neutral or do you need a transfer switch?
I have an interlock in my main panel instead of a transfer switch. This is where the interlock requires you to turn off the main circuit breaker to your power panel before you can turn on the 30amp breaker where the gen power comes into the panel. I'm assuming that is what you are meaning. If so, it's a good idea to modify your generator to floating neutral since your main power panel is already bonded. You only want one bond. Check with your generator's tech support to see how to make that modification.
He literally just explained thats not the case@Anothertominohio
I have a GP6500. I'm doing the same setup as Daniel M. Looks like my 30-amp twist-lock outlet (NEMA L14-30R) is also not GFCI protected, so I should not have to be concerned with the floating/bonded issue. Correct?
PS great info.
If I have a floating neutral generator and am not connecting it to a transfer switch (extension cords only), should I bond the neutral to the ground?
Hello, in your case it's still best practice to look at the owner's manual and follow proper grounding procedures outlined for your specific generator. We always recommend following manufacturer directions for every product as they are written first. For more information please read this: www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/stories/1021-How-to-Avoid-Tripping-a-Generator-With-a-Bonded-Neutral.html.
You make sense. I get what you mean by the three wire disconnect panel. And I also now see why the GFCI system sucks. They keep trying to make things safer and they just keep making things worse. I'm 72 and have had my hands on Knob and Tube to the latest and "greatest" panels forced on us by the equipment lobbyists paying off the code writers. Common sense keeps people alive along with respect for those pesky little electrons trying to get home.
Thanks for your comment.
Thank you for this info. It is exactly what I've been looking for. A quick note on my use case...
I plan on purchasing a Generac 8000E COsence and connecting it to my home via the 30amp outlet. I do not plan on using a transfer switch, instead I'll be using a UL rated interlock on my GE powermark Gold panel.
Based on what you said in the video, and one of the comments, my understanding is that it's perfectly acceptable for the generator to have a bonded neutral as long as the 30 amp outlet on the generator is not a GFCI. Now for my question.... Do you know if the Generac 8000E's 30amp 4 prong outlet is GFCI? The manual doesn't not mention it, but I just want to confirm. Thanks in advance.
Hi, Daniel. The GP8000E’s 30-amp twist-lock outlet (NEMA L14-30R) is not GFCI protected.
Do you need to unbond generator if no GFCI on 30-50 amp plug
What if I do not use a transfer switch and connect the 30 amp cable directly to my panel 220 breaker will this still apply? Asking for a friend haha.
Well you want a transfer switch, if you backfeed to the grid when power is down you could hurt a technician and if the grid comes back on and backfeeds to your generator it's toast.
But to answer... If you connect the generator to a 30a/220 breaker it will have a bonded neutral to ground, so you'd want a floating neutral generator but probably wouldn't have any issues unless you had a GFCI generator.
Look up interlock kits, it allows you to use a normal 220v breaker switch as a generator transfer as it does not allow your main and generator breakers to physically be on at the same time
Thanks for helping Derek out with an answer.
The first reply is important- you never want to endanger yourself or others by feeding your generator directly up the line (called backfeeding) and routing around a transfer switch with so much power. It's dangerous and if someone gets hurt you would be liable. A transfer switch safely routes power and prevents this from happening.
Thank you for the video. I've seen generators with the 120 regular house hold style outlets state GFCI and the L5-R state GFCI but the L-14R 30 amp DOES NOT say GFCI next to it. So does this mean I can use that L-14 30 amp twist lock outlet from tge generator to my inlet box which is connected to my 200 amp electrical panel which is already bonded via a inter-lock. UL Listed without any tripping problems? Anything else I should be aware of? Thank you.
If the main outlet is not GFCI protected then it will be able to work with a transfer switch or inter-lock without any issue.
@@PowerEquipmentDirect thank you
THE GENSET MIGHT STILL HAVE A BONDED NEUTRAL ON THE 120/240 VOLT RECEPTACLE AND MUST COMPLY WITH THE NEC WHEN CONNECTED TO A STRUCTURE'S GROUNDING SYSTEM
@@donl1410 Thank you. Appreciated.
@@dj5752 YOU'RE WELCOME
Hi Thanks very much for the video. I have a setup that isn't working and I hope someone here can help with:
I've got a professionally installed manual transfer switch which has been wired to code and inspected by a second electrician. It controls one thing: a furnace. I have a decent quality inverter/generator with a floating ground. I can start equivalent loads when they are connected directly to the inverter/gen, but the transfer switch is not happy. I believe it's because of the floating neutral in the inverter and the transfer switch's ground. What are my options to get the inverter to power the furnace through the transfer switch. I'm open to buying a different inverter, or any wiring that is safe/code. Thanks!
The floating neutral would only have the potential to cause an issue if the outlet you are using on your inverter is also GFCI protected. If this is the case, then you will need a switch that is compatible with GFCI.
@@PowerEquipmentDirect thx
Kinda wrong there, if you keep the bonded ground to nuteral on a generator and your main pannel thats grounded to nuteral too the voltage can not only hurt people inside the house on recepticles but also burn out appliances if your breaker dosent trip first. 2 return locations for potentally unregulated voltage (nuteral line and ground) is very bad and not nec compliant. If you disconnect the bond in the generator and you think the front pannel is still grounded, just use a multimeter to find out....
Also your generator must be labeled floating nuteral and recepticles on yhr generator should not be used after, only your main 30amp or 50amp recepticle should be used to power your main pannel
Also your generator must be labeled floating nuteral and recepticles on yhr generator should not be used after, only your main 30amp or 50amp recepticle should be used to power your main pannel
Also your generator must be labeled floating nuteral and recepticles on yhr generator should not be used after, only your main 30amp or 50amp recepticle should be used to power your main pannel
Also your generator must be labeled floating nuteral and recepticles on yhr generator should not be used after, only your main 30amp or 50amp recepticle should be used to power your main pannel
Also your generator must be labeled floating nuteral and recepticles on yhr generator should not be used after, only your main 30amp or 50amp recepticle should be used to power your main pannel