Watch as Paul Abernathy talks about portable generators and the difference in floating neutral and bonded neural for applications like construction sites versus a dwelling.
Thank you for sharing this information, I need a transfer switch that swaps the neutral if I want to change the feed for my main panel between the grid or my backup generator. I had a serious question on this, and you gave it to me, appreciate that greatly....I need an electrician, beyond my skillset.
I’m just using a interlock 240 volt 30 amp inlet box, no transfer switch, once I disconnected the neutral wire on my generator to make it floating neutral, and hook my generator up to the house via inlet box will it now be bonded through the house?
Sorry - we can not recommend or advise you to remove ANYTHING on your generator. That is something we can not comment on for legal reasons. We can only tell you what the NEC says, modifying anything without the manufacturer's consent is not within the scope of this video.
How is a GFCI supposed to trip if there is no path to ground and the generator is isolated by the wheels? In the event that the metal part of the generator is in contact with the ground, or with an electrode.
I’ve been wondering about this question since I decided to have a transfer switch installed in my house. The first electrician told me not to worry that my Westinghouse generator came fuse bonded. Since I hadn’t seen your video I just accepted it. Then while. searching for transfer switches, someone asked will this transfer switch switch the neutral? Someone answered with the following: Essentially, all three wires leading into your house are the center of the switch or the off position. All three utility wires are the top on position and all three generator wires are the bottom on position. The neutrals from utility and generator are hooked to the neutral bar in the breaker box. So yes the neutral gets switched because the transfer switch is an on-off-on switch. You can literally have power coming in with both sources, but only one at a time will be engaged by the switch. Is this correct?
Well, you kinda go "all over the place," so it's hard to give you a reliable response. So, is this a portable generator or a fixed generator? The simple installation of an "Interlock" device is not acceptable for a portable generator setup if the generator is bonded, meaning a connection from grounded conductor to frame at the generator. Also, since most residential transfer switches, where applied, do not switch the neutral (the neutral from the generator to the transfer switch) then it's not a separately derived system so the bonding jumper in the generator should not be there...it needs to be an "unbonded" generator which is more common in whole house permanently installed generators. So, we are NOT condoning the removal of any bonding jumper on a bonded generator, and a home owner or DIYer should NEVER screw with a generator.
@@MasterTheNEC My generator is a portable generator that comes fuse bonded. Are you saying that if it comes this way it should not be used to connected to a transfer switch?
I have no idea what "fuse" bonded means. A portable generator that has a bonding jumper from the frame to the Grounded conductor is a bonded generator and it should not be connected to a dwelling without a transfer switch that switches the neutral. Using a generator with a bonded neutral and no transfer of the neutral in a transfer switch is incorrect for a portable generator.
Can a floating netural portable generator be changed to a bonded netural by a certified electrician? I have a netural and want to use it with extension cords to devices in an emergency situation.
I would consult with the manufacturer of the generator before I just let any "electrician" even those that are licensed simply change the manufacturers intent of their generator for a specific application and use. That just my recommendation as the first steps.
