Earthing of Generator

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Reanalyse

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#303442 10-Feb-2023 17:05

With the power cuts we keep having (not all due to frequent weather) I have decided to splurge on a Toolpro 2200W digital invertor generator.

It comes with an earth stick, but the lead for this is extremely short (would have to be in the ground right next to the generator). I want to have the generator in use up on the semi-open deck, so is a longer earth cable OK ?

I am aware of earth loops being a possible issue.

Any advice thanks

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meow
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#3034742 10-Feb-2023 18:20

Here you go:

But in seriousness, for an entire household it does have to be deep but for a 2200w generator that won't be powering an entire house worth I think you should be OK with a shorter earth stake. But, I am not a qualified sparky so happy to be corrected by more qualified members on the forum.

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Reanalyse

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#3034745 10-Feb-2023 18:31

Noticed the earth stick is even shorter than your example (30 cm) so not sure if used would really have any effect

neb

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#3035182 11-Feb-2023 20:35

Reanalyse:
Noticed the earth stick is even shorter than your example (30 cm) so not sure if used would really have any effect

In case the OP is thinking of buying but hasn't yet, then with an earth toothpick that minimal you wonder what other corners have been cut...

EMB

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#3035464 12-Feb-2023 16:56

It wouldn't be entirely out of order to make up a 6mm earth cable to run from the generator to the main earth stake for the house. You're guaranteed a good earth that way, and are properly bonded to any metal benches etc in the house that are earthed too.

gregmcc

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#3035614 12-Feb-2023 19:49

EMB:

It wouldn't be entirely out of order to make up a 6mm earth cable to run from the generator to the main earth stake for the house. You're guaranteed a good earth that way, and are properly bonded to any metal benches etc in the house that are earthed too.

Hey people, unless your qualified electrician you are best to not give electrical advice, for example this gem on running a cable to your main earth stake, not only would this be illegal for a homeowner to do, you could quite easily create a hazard that would not normally be there.

Tinkerisk

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#3035685 13-Feb-2023 04:46

In the military, we grounded the small 7.5 kW BMW Boxer generator with a 12mm ground cable and a 1m long, thick earth spike according to service regulations.

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#3035696 13-Feb-2023 06:44

Tinkerisk:
In the military, we grounded the small 7.5 kW BMW Boxer generator with a 12mm ground cable and a 1m long, thick earth spike according to service regulations.

And yet the New Zealand military has removed all ground stakes from generators as, per service regulations, they are not to be used.

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#3035710 13-Feb-2023 08:10

Ge0rge:
Tinkerisk:

In the military, we grounded the small 7.5 kW BMW Boxer generator with a 12mm ground cable and a 1m long, thick earth spike according to service regulations.

And yet the New Zealand military has removed all ground stakes from generators as, per service regulations, they are not to be used.

At that time, you certainly had earth spikes in use. The problem was rather that many can not properly handle it. This was also the case with the weapons maintainer who, at the time, had inadvertently launched an AMRAAM from an F-15 on AFB ground by static discharge. 😄

cyril7

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#3035736 13-Feb-2023 09:15

Hi, the normal process is that the building installation is the earth point, the generator is earthed via its connection to the building and not reqiured to be earthed seperately.

Ge0rge:
And yet the New Zealand military has removed all ground stakes from generators as, per service regulations, they are not to be used.

Also note that most NZDF gen sets also have a hardwired RCD as they are normally used to power non standard installations (ie bunch of tents).

Oddly a numpty around here who should have known better tried to power a significant defence building with a generator that sported an RCD for deployed CP settings, I pointed out "that wont work" as the building has its own earthing and RCDs downstream and seperate to the generator trailer, after multiple attempts he gave me a nasty glare and wandered off with this gen trailer never to be seen again.

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#3035747 13-Feb-2023 09:30

cyril7:
Oddly a numpty around here who should have known better tried to power a significant defence building with a generator that sported an RCD for deployed CP settings, I pointed out "that wont work" as the building has its own earthing and RCDs downstream and seperate to the generator trailer, after multiple attempts he gave me a nasty glare and wandered off with this gen trailer never to be seen again.

Cyril

That's really funny to hear - said idjit had contacted myself and another in relation to that, and had been told in no uncertain terms that it wouldn't work and he was not to do it!

raytaylor

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#3035819 13-Feb-2023 11:05

Put the generator down the bottom and run an extension cable up to the house.

Generators are loud. Like a lawnmower.
You will want it as far away as possible.

Also I have often wondered if its better not to earth them so the system is completely isolated and there is no reference to ground.

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#3035894 13-Feb-2023 13:01

cyril7:

Hi, the normal process is that the building installation is the earth point, the generator is earthed via its connection to the building and not reqiured to be earthed seperately.

Ge0rge:
And yet the New Zealand military has removed all ground stakes from generators as, per service regulations, they are not to be used.

Also note that most NZDF gen sets also have a hardwired RCD as they are normally used to power non standard installations (ie bunch of tents).

Oddly a numpty around here who should have known better tried to power a significant defence building with a generator that sported an RCD for deployed CP settings, I pointed out "that wont work" as the building has its own earthing and RCDs downstream and seperate to the generator trailer, after multiple attempts he gave me a nasty glare and wandered off with this gen trailer never to be seen again.

Cyril

Unless things have changed in the last wee while, most NZDF generators don't have any RCD protection built in. I'm sure there are some new generators that have been introduced into service (field hospital?) since I retired, but from memory there was only a single fleet of deployable, but commercial-off-the-shelf, generators - the 44KVA - that had built in RCD protection, or even MCB protection in fact! All deployable generators were provided with Jackson Lifeguard distribution boxes which incorporated the necessary RCD and MCB protection.

John19612

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#3035942 13-Feb-2023 13:04

Ge0rge:
cyril7:

Oddly a numpty around here who should have known better tried to power a significant defence building with a generator that sported an RCD for deployed CP settings, I pointed out "that wont work" as the building has its own earthing and RCDs downstream and seperate to the generator trailer, after multiple attempts he gave me a nasty glare and wandered off with this gen trailer never to be seen again.

Cyril

That's really funny to hear - said idjit had contacted myself and another in relation to that, and had been told in no uncertain terms that it wouldn't work and he was not to do it!

That is funny to hear. Some people just won't listen will they.

John19612

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#3035959 13-Feb-2023 13:29

raytaylor:

Also I have often wondered if its better not to earth them so the system is completely isolated and there is no reference to ground.

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

neb

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#3036001 13-Feb-2023 14:34

John19612:
All of the necessary information is contained within AS/NZS 3010:2005

The problem with those standards is that they're prescriptive rather than descriptive, "before plugging in any hair dryer less then 30cm long or coloured any shade of orange the user shall stand with one foot in a bucket, pin a live frog to one's shoulder braid, and go 'Bibble' at passers-by". A more useful source would be one that explains what's involved and why.

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.

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