User Panel
Posted: 4/8/2024 11:03:58 AM EDT
Good morning,
I recently picked up a Champion Duel Fuel and had a question on whether or not to ground. I was told no because modern generators don't require it. However, the manual states to properly ground with 12AWG copper and copper spike. Is this still common? Champion Dual Fuel |
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[#1]
I have a Generac 12k and used to just push it out the basement walk out. Now it resides in its own shed outside. No grounding required nor desired.
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[#2]
Grounding is never a bad idea, but millions of these things run everywhere without it.
Up to you, but without a solid grounding connection there is no benefit. That means tying onto an established ground rod, grounded metal building, copper pipe, etc. An 8” spike is unlikely to get to “ground”, an 8’ rod should. A good ground connection should protect from shock IF something goes wrong and energizes the generator frame. |
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"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton |
[#3]
Originally Posted By DVCER: Grounding is never a bad idea, but millions of these things run everywhere without it. Up to you, but without a solid grounding connection there is no benefit. That means tying onto an established ground rod, grounded metal building, copper pipe, etc. An 8” spike is unlikely to get to “ground”, an 8’ rod should. A good ground connection should protect from shock IF something goes wrong and energizes the generator frame. View Quote Grounding and bonding: Generator sources and transfer switches |
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[#4]
Grounding the generator is cheap insurance. If your not running it constantly you'll probably be ok.
That being said grounding in very dry soil does nothing. Make sure you go down into moist soil and add water to it regularly. |
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"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life." - Robert A. Heinlein
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[#5]
Will it be connected to the house? If so, it’s grounded.
If not, then it’s not a bad idea to drive a rod but it’ll work without it too |
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"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt |
[#6]
Roll out? No ground.
Whole house permanent? Yes ground. |
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[#7]
Champion 4000 hybrid. I would carry it out to the driveway and run extension cords from it directly. Can I ground to the exterior of the house? Utility pipes?
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[Last Edit: ColtRifle]
[#8]
Originally Posted By Cooper1: Champion 4000 hybrid. I would carry it out to the driveway and run extension cords from it directly. Can I ground to the exterior of the house? Utility pipes? View Quote If you want to ground it, figure where you plan to run it and drive a ground rod there. Leave a copper wire, 6-12 ga connected to it with the appropriate clamp. There should be a ground point on the generator. When you use it, wheel the generator out, connect the ground wire, and run it. Depending on the grounding point on the generator, you might need to install some sort of connector on the grounding wire. |
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"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt |
[#9]
Originally Posted By Cooper1: Champion 4000 hybrid. I would carry it out to the driveway and run extension cords from it directly. Can I ground to the exterior of the house? Utility pipes? View Quote If it is anywhere near the meter there should be a ground rod already there. Don’t ground it to the gas line. |
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"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton |
[#10]
Yes. the meters (Electric and gas) are right next to the garage door.
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[#11]
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"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton |
[#12]
Thank you.
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[#13]
My Dad had me dig a hole to my waist and fill it back in after I drove the 1/2" steel pipe down 4', for the genny ground,8 years before the Detroit Tigers won their last world series.
That ground is still used today, for the genny, stereo, antenna etc. Grounding is good |
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[Last Edit: Recorderguy]
[#14]
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[#15]
Originally Posted By Recorderguy: Not if ran through a transfer switch, if you're using an interlock to feed the panel then it would be. View Quote Your transfer switch has to be wired to the house panel neutral and ground so when you plug the generator in, it's connected to the house neutral and house ground. It switches the hot legs from grid power to generator power. |
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"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt |
[#16]
One of the advantages to feeding the normal house wiring is the connection to normal house ground with the bonded neutral.
Inverter generators typically have the "hot" and "neutral" both floating so neither is grounded. There are some types of electronic equipment, and especially UPSes that complain when the neutral line isn't grounded... so if you bond the neutral to ground, now your generator chassis has voltage potential unless it's grounded to a suitable ground somewhere in the chain. One could make a "suicide cord" with only the ground terminal wired to connect your generator circuit to the house ground if nothing else was available. |
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This is...a clue - Pat_Rogers
I'm not adequately aluminumized for this thread. - gonzo_beyondo CO, MI, SC, OR - Please lobby your legislators to end discrimination against non-resident CCW permit holders |
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