stonypass
Bronze Member
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'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