Generator Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral?

   / Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral? #1  

stonypass

Bronze Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2012
Messages
67
Location
Southwest MO
Tractor
Kubota L4200-GST 4WD
I just purchased a new to me 12KW PTO Generator for emergency home power.
I'm planning on installing a 50a 240v breaker and an interlock kit for economy and so I can power any circuit (obviously not all at the same time).

There is a sticker on the top of the generator that states "Neutral Bonded to Chassis" and after reading here: Home generator installation I'm wondering if this should be changed to "Floating Neutral" for best safety. From the website, I would currently have setup #3 but if I changed my generator to "Floating Neutral" would have setup #2.

"There are four possible ground / neutral bond and transfer panel configurations.

1. Neutral bonded at generator, neutral switched at transfer panel. This is a correct configuration. Neutral for backup circuits will be isolated at the transfer panel and bonded within the generator. There will be no ground conductor current. This requires a three pole transfer switch.
2. Neutral floating at generator, neutral not switched at transfer panel. This is a correct configuration. Neutral for the entire system is bonded at the main service panel. There will be no ground conductor current. Only live lines are switched with a two pole transfer switch.
3. Neutral bonded at generator, neutral not switched at transfer panel. This seems to be the most common connection technique based on my research. Unfortunately it is not correct. Neutral will be connected to ground at the main panel and at the generator. Neutral current flow will flow along the ground conductor and through the generator chassis. This creates a potential shock hazard as the chassis becomes part of the current carrying circuit. The easiest way to fix the problem is to use a floating neutral generator or make the required changes to the generator internal wiring.
4. Neutral floating at generator, neutral switched at transfer panel. The neutral conductor has no ground reference. The neutral should be bonded within the generator or the transfer switch rewired to not switch the neutral conductor."



The pic with the capacitors shows under the Top Cover and the other is the Back Side of the panel with the Outlets and Breakers.
Under the top cover, the two Black wires at the top posts and the Large White one on the Bottom right posts all go to the Breaker Panel. There is a green wire attached to the Lower Left post that's attached to the Genset Chassis. (All others go to the generator)
On the back of the Breaker panel the white Neutral wires are bonded to ground at the bottom middle of the panel which is the back side of a ground lug for connecting to a ground rod.

I'm not a generator expert but it seems to me if I removed the green wire from the lower left post under the top cover, and removed the Neutral wires from the Ground lug on the breaker panel then tied them together separately I would have a floating Neutral configuration on my generator. I don't plan on using this generator to power saws and drills when not attached to my home, but if I do would use the plug shown during these times to bond Neutral to the Chassis temporarily.

I would like some opinions on whether or not I should make this change.
If the answer is yes, will the method I have described work properly to give me a Floating Neutral?

Thanks for all advice
 

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   / Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral? #2  
That's a good question, almost like a brain teaser to post a tech correct answer.:)
What makes it seem like a puzzle is there are 2 unknowns that make the correct answer hard to come to. The first is, are you looking for greatest electrical saftey while in the house/structure, or greatest safety while near/at the generator. And second, the safest solution depends on if you are going to insure a good generator frame connection to earth with a rod, or will it be left isolated on wheels and painted steel?
 
   / Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral?
  • Thread Starter
#3  
I'm not an electrician, but my understanding is that while connected to my house with a four wire connection a ground rod is not desired since this creates two separate grounds that might be at different potential. A ground rod should be used when a generator is run in standalone mode (but most probably aren't). I would think my greatest risk in powering my home in an emergency situation is while hooking up the generator outside as the ground is likely to be wet with rain, snow or ice.

In answer to your question, I'm trying to find out the best/safest way to wire up the generator for emergency home power. The link I provided seems to indicate the generator Neutral should be changed for my application.
I would also like to know how to stay safe if I operate the generator in standalone mode as this could happen as well. Although I purchased this generator used I did download the manual for it but find haven't found it to be very educating in terms of operation.
 
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   / Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral? #4  
Yes and no. There are already 2 ground points and many nearby( neighbors). At your service entrance for one, and at the pole ground. When under grid power a fault can make it's way back to the grid through a multitude of paths. That's why your first post is such a brain teaser. The "best" correct "safety" answer depends on the circumstance. What's best saftey for a structure fault is probably not the best setup for best saftey while at the genny refueling it in the snow. That's why I asked for your preference. Nobody opens grounds when running gennies so you have to factor in that all these return paths are still possible.
 
   / Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral? #5  
I just purchased a new to me 12KW PTO Generator for emergency home power.
I'm planning on installing a 50a 240v breaker and an interlock kit for economy and so I can power any circuit (obviously not all at the same time).

There is a sticker on the top of the generator that states "Neutral Bonded to Chassis" and after reading here: Home generator installation I'm wondering if this should be changed to "Floating Neutral" for best safety. From the website, I would currently have setup #3 but if I changed my generator to "Floating Neutral" would have setup #2.

"There are four possible ground / neutral bond and transfer panel configurations.

1. Neutral bonded at generator, neutral switched at transfer panel. This is a correct configuration. Neutral for backup circuits will be isolated at the transfer panel and bonded within the generator. There will be no ground conductor current. This requires a three pole transfer switch.
2. Neutral floating at generator, neutral not switched at transfer panel. This is a correct configuration. Neutral for the entire system is bonded at the main service panel. There will be no ground conductor current. Only live lines are switched with a two pole transfer switch.
3. Neutral bonded at generator, neutral not switched at transfer panel. This seems to be the most common connection technique based on my research. Unfortunately it is not correct. Neutral will be connected to ground at the main panel and at the generator. Neutral current flow will flow along the ground conductor and through the generator chassis. This creates a potential shock hazard as the chassis becomes part of the current carrying circuit. The easiest way to fix the problem is to use a floating neutral generator or make the required changes to the generator internal wiring.
4. Neutral floating at generator, neutral switched at transfer panel. The neutral conductor has no ground reference. The neutral should be bonded within the generator or the transfer switch rewired to not switch the neutral conductor."



The pic with the capacitors shows under the Top Cover and the other is the Back Side of the panel with the Outlets and Breakers.
Under the top cover, the two Black wires at the top posts and the Large White one on the Bottom right posts all go to the Breaker Panel. There is a green wire attached to the Lower Left post that's attached to the Genset Chassis. (All others go to the generator)
On the back of the Breaker panel the white Neutral wires are bonded to ground at the bottom middle of the panel which is the back side of a ground lug for connecting to a ground rod.

I'm not a generator expert but it seems to me if I removed the green wire from the lower left post under the top cover, and removed the Neutral wires from the Ground lug on the breaker panel then tied them together separately I would have a floating Neutral configuration on my generator. I don't plan on using this generator to power saws and drills when not attached to my home, but if I do would use the plug shown during these times to bond Neutral to the Chassis temporarily.

I would like some opinions on whether or not I should make this change.
If the answer is yes, will the method I have described work properly to give me a Floating Neutral?

Thanks for all advice
I see wt/neutral bonded to chassis in both pic if you trace that grn wire. It should NOT be - unless the gen is grounded. The shown config will result in a charge on the gen when powering your home service. It will be lo voltage, but maybe enuf to feel when the load is heavy. Remove/disconnect the whites from chassis ground and this wont happen.
larry
 
   / Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
I see wt/neutral bonded to chassis in both pic if you trace that grn wire. It should NOT be - unless the gen is grounded. Remove/disconnect the whites from chassis ground and this wont happen.

That is what I'm thinking as well, the current configuration would be fine for running while not connected to my house if the Chassis was grounded. Hooked to the house, I think I should remove the green wire from under the top cover and separate the whites from the ground lug on the connection panel.
 
   / Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral? #7  
I think that would do it.
 
   / Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral? #8  
Hooked to the house, I think I should remove the green wire from under the top cover and separate the whites from the ground lug on the connection panel.

I would agree with the above.

The only other thing i would do is ground the chassis of the generator to (dirt)ground with a ground rod. (if close enough to the meter location you could tie to that ground rod) this prevents the chassis from becoming energized if a short from hot to the chassis is made and then you walk up and touch the chassis thus completing the circuit to ground and getting shocked. (note after the above changes a short to neutral is bled off at the main panel were neutral and ground are common. hopefully causing a circuit breaker to trip on the genset)

second note: it starts to get a bit confusing with mulitipul ground rods in the same circuit as you have the possiblity of creating "ground loops" of various potential. in systems that need a high degree of ground quality, mulipull ground points must also be tied together (usually with bare copper wire underground also) generally speaking for most homeowner electrical systems dont need to worry about such things as the voltages are low and cause little physical risk. Although if your a ham radio operator or the like you are likely much more concerned about ground loops and noise but then again, if you were you wouldnt be asking such a question on a tractor forum :D
 
   / Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral?
  • Thread Starter
#9  
On the back of the connection panel all the green wires are tied to a ground lug, the panel is also bolted to the generator chassis.
To connect the generator to the house, I'll be using a 6ga 4wire cable that will plug into a generator inlet box on the side of my garage.
The inlet box is within 6 feet or so of the main service entrance where there is a ground rod, but am I not already tied to it via the ground wire on my connection cable?
 
   / Should I change my PTO generator from Bonded Neutral to Floating Neutral?
  • Thread Starter
#10  
When I add a 240v 50a breaker for my generator inlet, is there any reason this can't be added at the bottom of the box if there are already open spaces?
Usually the larger one's are at the top but I didn't know if there was an electrical reason for this.
 
 
 
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