Generator Neutral?

[BigPapa53]

Time to wire up my generator circuit. I ve read several threads here mentioning bonded and floating neutrals. I will be using the proper Eaton interlock for my panel, a 30amp 2-pole breaker, and I m going to use a 4-wire drier receptacle in a weatherproof box on our deck so I can use it for my drier during an upcoming remodel of our laundry room.

Anyway, my generator has a floating neutral. Does it need to be wired differently than if it had a bonded neutral?

Thanks.

-Scott

 

[buickanddeere]

Depends if the transfer switch is two pole and only switches the live lines or three pole and also switches the neutral.
A two pole transfer switch or only using 2 out of the three poles is used with a floating neutral.
A bonded neutral generator is supposed to have a transfer switch that switches the neutral.

 

[John T]

I think I know WHAT to tell you and the engineering reasons for such, but not sure I can describe it well over the net, but here goes.

YES it makes a difference and in one situation you want the genset to have a BONDED NEUTRAL while in the other situation you want it to have a FLOATING NEUTRAL. There should only be ONE Bond !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT DEPENDS ON IF YOU ARE SWITCHING THE NEUTRAL FROM GENSET USE TO UTILITY USE OR NOT SWITCHING THE NEUTRAL BUT CONNECTING THE UTILITY AND GENSET NEUTRALS TOGETHER

If you're backfeeding (using the gensets output) a 120/240 Volt Single Phase Three Wire panel using a two pole 240 volt breaker YOU MUST NOT BE SWITCHING THE NEUTRAL in which case the gensets Neutral and the Utility Neutrals are tied together. If that's the case as it appears if this is true and since THERE MUST BE ONLY ONE BOND the genset needs to have a FLOATING NEUTRAL IE ITS NEUTRAL IS NOTTTTTTTTTTTT BONDED TO ITS CASE/FRAME.

DISCLAIMER Before I retired I practiced power distribution electrical engineering but that was longggggggggggg ago and Im rusty and codes change SO NO WARRANTY but I believe this is still true. Usually you get a ton of responses to an electrical question and some may say let the genset neutral float while others may say bond it IF IN DOUBT CONSULT TRAINED PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIANS AND ENGINEERS AND THE NEC and don't risk your life on lay opinions.

FWIW if you're NOT switching the utility and genset Neutrals (ONLY the two hots) as I best recall the genset should have a floating Neutral (its NOT bonded to its case/frame)??????.

John T Longgggggggggggg retired n rusty power distribution engineer

 

[Dusty MI]

You need an "inlet receptacle" not an outlet receptacle, to hook the general to your home.

 

[Scott 730]

So with this dryer outlet on the deck you are planning on feeding it with a male end on the cord coming from the genny?? :shock: :shock:

 

[BigPapa53]

Thanks B&D and John T for the help. Basically you re saying the same thing from what I m getting from you, since the breaker is a 2-pole breaker, it will not be switching the neutral, which means the generator s floating neutral will be correct for my situation.

I ve talked to my power coop s engineer and the electrician that installed the new service when we added on. They both told me about the neutral, but evidently I didn t write it down in my notes. Figured I could count on you fellows for the correct answer without bothering them on the weekend.

Now, for you two...

You need an "inlet receptacle" not an outlet receptacle, to hook the general to your home.

So with this dryer outlet on the deck you are planning on feeding it with a male end on the cord coming from the genny?

What I [i:1758598254]NEED[/i:1758598254] is the answer to my question. I will not be goaded into an argument nor will I be intimidated, so, answer my question about bonded and floating neutrals or don t post.

Thank you.

-Scott

 

[John T]

"Thanks B&D and John T for the help. Basically you re saying the same thing from what I m getting from you, since the breaker is a 2-pole breaker, it will not be switching the neutral, which means the generator s floating neutral will be correct for my situation"

You're welcome, you got it. Since you're only switching the two hot poles NOT the Neutral (that would require a three pole transfer switch) the Genny needs a FLOATING Neutral. NOTE many small portable gensets come from the factory with a floating Neutral while others are bonded THEY DONT KNOW YOUR USE and its also easy to convert but they have CYA instructions WIRE PER THE NEC !!!!!!!!!!!!

John T

 

[Scott 730]

(quoted from post at 00:39:17 06/30/19) Thanks B&D and John T for the help. Basically you re saying the same thing from what I m getting from you, since the breaker is a 2-pole breaker, it will not be switching the neutral, which means the generator s floating neutral will be correct for my situation.

I ve talked to my power coop s engineer and the electrician that installed the new service when we added on. They both told me about the neutral, but evidently I didn t write it down in my notes. Figured I could count on you fellows for the correct answer without bothering them on the weekend.

Now, for you two...

You need an "inlet receptacle" not an outlet receptacle, to hook the general to your home.

So with this dryer outlet on the deck you are planning on feeding it with a male end on the cord coming from the genny?

What I [i:4bce95106a]NEED[/i:4bce95106a] is the answer to my question. I will not be goaded into an argument nor will I be intimidated, so, answer my question about bonded and floating neutrals or don t post.

Thank you.

-Scott

LMAO at someone that does want to know the proper way to hook up his genny as far as floating or bonded neutral is concerned, and then shows disregard for connecting the genny to his panel with a man killer double male ended cord. :roll:

 

[buickanddeere]

(quoted from post at 00:39:17 06/30/19) Thanks B&D and John T for the help. Basically you re saying the same thing from what I m getting from you, since the breaker is a 2-pole breaker, it will not be switching the neutral, which means the generator s floating neutral will be correct for my situation.

I ve talked to my power coop s engineer and the electrician that installed the new service when we added on. They both told me about the neutral, but evidently I didn t write it down in my notes. Figured I could count on you fellows for the correct answer without bothering them on the weekend.

Now, for you two...

You need an "inlet receptacle" not an outlet receptacle, to hook the general to your home.

So with this dryer outlet on the deck you are planning on feeding it with a male end on the cord coming from the genny?

What I [i:ef018384b6]NEED[/i:ef018384b6] is the answer to my question. I will not be goaded into an argument nor will I be intimidated, so, answer my question about bonded and floating neutrals or don t post.

Thank you.

-Scott

What a shame. He cares about the proper transfer switch but wants to use a double male suicide cord .
What makes you think that you are so smart to be able to get away with something so dangerous and prone to injury or death . While actual experts in the field know better than to use such a jerry rigged hazard.
IF there really is a true interlocked transfer switch in service . Why the double male cord anyways ? The male plug from the transfer switch to the generator will never be live unless plugged into the generator .

 

[buickanddeere]

How pray tell do you plan on powering the clothes dryer on the outside deck from an interlocked transfer switch ?

 

[BigPapa53]

(quoted from post at 13:12:05 06/30/19)
How pray tell do you plan on powering the clothes dryer on the outside deck from an interlocked transfer switch ?

Well, yes, you're right about that. I hadn't thought about that.