Plugging in generator to your house dangerous?

[BX23S-1]

Bonded or Floating Neutral for generator?

Since my other thread got off the rails I will start a new one about Bonded or Floating neutral generators. I have ordered a generator/inverter for my house. I have a simple sub panel with a manual transfer switch/lockout. So I assume that I have to have a floating neutral generator to plug...

www.tractorbynet.com

I am not clear why you need a grounding rod? Unless I still don’t understand. Totally possible.

Watch this video, Ben is a very smart guy, and i think it will help you understand alot of things. He can explain things much better than i can.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I am not clear why you need a grounding rod? Unless I still don’t understand. Totally possible.

"To stabilize the voltage to earth during normal operation." NEC Art 250.4

By NEC code defintion, Ground = Earth

The Canadian Electric code verbage is substantially the same.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Watch this video, Ben is a very smart guy, and i think it will help you understand alot of things. He can explain things much better than i can.

I watched that video a few days ago. I guess I thought I understand. But I must not.

if you have a suitable ground connected to the panel that the ground and neutral wires from the generator connect to, why do you need another connected to the generator?

 

[BX23S-1]

I watched that video a few days ago. I guess I thought I understand. But I must not.

if you have a suitable ground connected to the panel that the ground and neutral wires from the generator connect to, why do you need another connected to the generator?

Watch it again until you DO understand.

 

[Egon]

Two things you can explain to me with your superior intellect:
1) how is it possible to backfeed power from a generator when MAIN breaker is off.
2) if (according to you, post 49):
"The electrical supply provider's will have some very strict concise rules in place for adding an outsourced power supply. If you are found in abeyance of these rules you will find your only power source will be whatever you can provide. It will not be the electrical supply company."
May be true in some areas, but not here. When power goes out (again...extreme RARE occurrence) all the neighbors start generators, connecting exactly as I do. If what you say holds water then no one for miles around would ever have power again!
A disconnect transfer switch installed by an electrician is not inexpensive, certainly not worth the expense for the rare times we lose power.
Having buildings here on separate circuits I could power the garage only which has bathroom, shower, etc., again...impossible to backfeed incoming power.
The very few times losing power the provider sends a tech door to door making sure generators are off.
You can't make a blanket statement like that since not everyone's situation is the same. Your "facts" are misleading.

Attached document:

https://www.nspower.ca/docs/default-source/pdf-to-upload/b-28-900(1).pdf?sfvrsn=bd00f2aa_0

The provinces directive on installation of temporary power. Every province in Canada will such regulations built into their Electrical Code.

There is a difference between “Can Do & May Do”

 

[cqaigy2]

Two things you can explain to me with your superior intellect:
1) how is it possible to backfeed power from a generator when MAIN breaker is off.
2) if (according to you, post 49):
"The electrical supply provider's will have some very strict concise rules in place for adding an outsourced power supply. If you are found in abeyance of these rules you will find your only power source will be whatever you can provide. It will not be the electrical supply company."
May be true in some areas, but not here. When power goes out (again...extreme RARE occurrence) all the neighbors start generators, connecting exactly as I do. If what you say holds water then no one for miles around would ever have power again!
A disconnect transfer switch installed by an electrician is not inexpensive, certainly not worth the expense for the rare times we lose power.
Having buildings here on separate circuits I could power the garage only which has bathroom, shower, etc., again...impossible to backfeed incoming power.
The very few times losing power the provider sends a tech door to door making sure generators are off.
You can't make a blanket statement like that since not everyone's situation is the same. Your "facts" are misleading.

You wired the generator in wrong, grounded one of the conductors to earth ground, and back fed thru the neutral. Neutral isn't on a breaker. Just a guess on my part, not electrician.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Attached document:

https://www.nspower.ca/docs/default-source/pdf-to-upload/b-28-900(1).pdf?sfvrsn=bd00f2aa_0

The provinces directive on installation of temporary power. Every province in Canada will such regulations built into their Electrical Code.

There is a difference between “Can Do & May Do”

Why are you posting a Nova Scotia document. We don't live in Canada. Now I'm starting to doubt your superior intellect.

 

[Eagle1]

In Egon's defense he has been in Nova Scotia a long time, and Canadians have added useful content to this forum for many years.
I get crap because I live in middle of nowhere and see that different world than the suburban members but it takes different views to better understand the world.

 

[Egon]

Why are you posting a Nova Scotia document. We don't live in Canada. Now I'm starting to doubt your superior intellect.

If you noticed the document described how generators should be hooked up and also a little about grounding. These are all basics to the electrical world. Basically just standard procedure.

Your concern over my intellect is of no concern to myself.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

You wired the generator in wrong, grounded one of the conductors to earth ground, and back fed thru the neutral. Neutral isn't on a breaker. Just a guess on my part, not electrician.

Well...no...
From my power my transformer secondary is 240 v center tap, so three wires to meter, there to panel. Main breaker disconnects 240v (two 120v 180° out of phase). This center tap is neutral and goes to driven earth ground. Garage has a sub-panel. By having main breaker off there's no incoming power, transformer center tap is grounded at pole, this lead also grounded at main panel and is neutral.
The generator backfeeds from garage to house, cannot backfeed through an open main breaker back to transformer.