open ground on generator

[tornadowatchranch]

I have a dipole manual transfer switch and when I plugged the generator in (a 15,000 watt generac) and connected a speery outlet tester, it said that I had an open ground. I used a set of car jumper cables to ground from the grounding outlet on the generator to the ground rod that the house uses. When on utility power the outlet tests out fine. My electrician is doing some research so I thought I would put it here to see where it went.

Thanks in advance

 

[dex3361]

How many conductors are you running between the generator and the transfer switch? Do you have the ground and neutral bonded?

 

[tommu56]

are you running 4 wires from the generator?
1st hot
neut
ground
2nd hot

mort details of generator mfg type plug code on it like L14-20 = 4 wire 240/120 volt

tom

 

[tornadowatchranch]

generator to the switch is 4 wire
I don't know if they are bonded
NEMA 14-50

I will try to get some pics tomorrow if they are needed. Thanks for the help

 

[dex3361]

Does your transfer switch disconnect the utilities neutral?

 

[tornadowatchranch]

it appears to only switch the two hots.
the neutrals are on the left and in one of the close up pics
the overview show the place to plug in the generator (no comment on the need for double male plug--I know the dangers)
the bottom 100 amp breaker is run separate from the switch and goes to the barn. I don't need it out there and will then know that the power is back on. some of those wires you will see inside the transfer switch.
I hope this helps

 

[dex3361]

Do you have your generator grounded to a separate rod? What size and brand generator?

 

[tornadowatchranch]

generac ultra
you can see the grounding lug below the elec panel (green wire to it)
I used a set of 4 gauge car jumper cables to go to the same grounding rod the house uses. Perhaps it was corrosion on the copper rod as it has been out there for 14 years. Should I be using a separate rod? Some google-ing indicated I should use the same but am by no means an electrical expert

Generac Portable GP Series GP15000E Electric Start - 5734 - Norwall PowerSystems

This is where I got the generator and has some info

 

[schmism]

Does your transfer switch disconnect the utilities neutral?

wouldn't matter, the utilities neutral should be tied to your ground rod at your pannel per code

 

[schmism]

generac ultra
you can see the grounding lug below the elec panel (green wire to it)
I used a set of 4 gauge car jumper cables to go to the same grounding rod the house uses. Perhaps it was corrosion on the copper rod as it has been out there for 14 years. Should I be using a separate rod? Some google-ing indicated I should use the same but am by no means an electrical expert

that should be right, the ground lug on the genny to a ground rod yes.

couple of things to check
1) that your connection from the ground lug to the ground rod is good (something else other than a jumper cable)
2) that he ground lug is connected to something on the generator....