Earthing of Generator

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John19612

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#3036010 13-Feb-2023 14:43

neb:
John19612:

All of the necessary information is contained within AS/NZS 3010:2005

. Oh, and forgot the more obvious problem: Since you need to fork out an arm and a leg to Standards NZ or whoever sells them, they're of limited use to anyone who doesn't already own a copy they can look up.

This is true, to a degree. It also assists with limiting access to information for those that don't have the technical qualifications and knowledge to use the information safely.

richms

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#3036067 13-Feb-2023 16:24

Do people actually earth portable generators? I have seen mention of it in the manual but never done it, just plug what I need to run into them with a long cable so its as far away as possible.

Richard rich.ms

Tinkerisk

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#3036718 15-Feb-2023 07:26

richms:

Do people actually earth portable generators?

As already indicated: it depends on what you are doing and what protective circuitry is available - you can't generalize.

I would always ground a RV with its own external generator, for example, because it can have a different potential due to the rubber tires. It is also quite advisable to ground a self-contained, mobile (military) radio system including generator, whether it has a protective circuit or not. Such a shortwave dipole antenna with three 15m masts including guy wires and 40m span on a plateau (where radio stations are often located) is a reasonably good lightning rod.

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SCUBADOO

206 posts

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#3036721 15-Feb-2023 07:59

We have been travelling and living full-time in our motorhome for almost 9 years and have observed perhaps a hundred people set up their generators.
Process is always. Place it on the ground well away from RV, plug in 230VAC cable and start engine. On board generators are rare these days.

I have never seen a steel rod or hammer involved.

We rely on solar and alternator energy.