How To Ground A Portable Generator

 H2: How to ground a portable generator

If you have a portable generator that you need to ground then you will need to wire the transfer switch to a grounding rod.

 

H3: Tools and equipment needed

To ground a portable generator then you will need the following:

 

l Copper grounding rod - This is a copper rod that is designed to be placed into the ground so that any electrical current that comes from the generator will be safely dispersed.  Generally, you will need a rod that is approximately four feet long, but a longer one can sometimes be easier to place into the ground.

 

l Copper grounding wire - This is a wire that is used to connect the copper rod to the grounding bolt on the generator.  The further away your grounding rod is from the generator, the more wire you will need.  However, it’s best to have plenty of wire as it will make it easier to attach it to the rod.

 

l Wrench, pliers, and wire strippers - You will need these tools to strip the copper wire and connect it to the rod and the grounding bolt on the generator.

 

l Hammer - You will need a hammer or a mallet (or something else solid and heavy) to hit the copper rod into the ground with.  If you have particularly hard ground then you might also need a shovel.

 

Follow the steps below to ground your portable generator:

 

1. Hammer in the grounding rod

The first thing you need to do is hammer the copper grounding rod into the ground.  It should be around 8 feet deep which is the standard depth for home installations.  It needs to be that depth into the ground to make sure that no one on the surface will be electrocuted from the electricity that is discharged by the rod.  If you have a rocky or particularly hard surface then you can hammer it in at an angle of around 45 degrees.

 

2. Connect the wire to the grounding rod

Next, you need to use wire strippers to remove between six and twelve inches of the insulation from the end of the wire.  You then need to attach this to the top of the rod by wrapping it around it tightly using the pliers.

 

3. Connect the generator to the rod

Now, you need to connect the generator to the copper rod with the other end of the wire.  You must always make sure that the generator is switched off before attempting to do this.

 

You will need to find the generator’s grounding bolt and loosen the nut.  Remove one or two inches of insulation from the copper wire and then use the pliers to wrap it around the bolt before fastening the nut again so that the wire is held firm.

 

H2: Understanding electrical grounding

It’s important to have a good understanding of how electrical grounding works.  Whenever electricity is travelling through wire it is always looking for a way to disperse energy and it does this by returning to the ground.

 

Usually, in standard electrical systems, it will flow through “live” wires to neutral ones.  However, electricity always takes the easiest path - the one where there is the least resistance - and if a generator isn’t properly grounded then it can easily travel somewhere it shouldn’t.  If this happens then several things could happen, all of which are dangerous - it could cause a fire, or could electrocute someone.

 

By grounding the generator, you are providing an alternative easy path for the electricity to follow.  It is called grounding because the alternative path goes into the ground so that the electricity can be dispersed safely.

 

H2: Do you need to ground your generator?

To minimize risk, all portable generators should be grounded.  Occasionally, depending on the design of the generator, you might need to do something different to ground it.

 

Most modern generators have been designed so that their metal frame will act as the alternative, least resistance path.  Most parts of these generators - the engine and fuel tank - are all attached to the frame so that if any of its electricity has come outside of its wiring, then it will be grounded by it.

 

The quickest and easiest way to check whether your generator needs grounding is to look at the manual - this should clearly tell you whether it needs grounding or not.

 

However, if you do not have a manual for it then you can look at the generator’s construction to see if it needs to be grounded.  You should take a look at the transfer switch - if there is an option to transfer the current to a neutral ground conductor then your generator needs grounding and you should attach a grounding rod.

 

H2: Risks

It can be risky to have a generator that is not properly grounded.  As the frame surrounding a portable generator is usually metal it can conduct electricity.  This means that there could be a current flowing through the frame which could seriously harm anyone who touches it.  The result of touching it could be anything from a small shock to serious electrocution.

 

Sometimes a stray current could go through the engine or into the fuel tank, in which case the fuel could set on fire and the generator would be destroyed.  Not only that, but there would be the chance of anything nearby being damaged by the fire as well.

 

By grounding the generator you would be ensuring that any stray currents would be safely dispersed in the ground and anyone who touches the generator would be safe from any electric shocks.

 

H2: Should you ground your generator?

Most modern generators have been designed in such a way that the frame acts as a grounding rod, but some generators do still need to be grounded.

 

As we’ve just mentioned, grounding the generator properly is vital in ensuring the safety of anyone who touches it and it would give you peace of mind so you wouldn’t need to worry about what would happen if there was an electrical failure in the generator.

 

So long as you have the correct tools then it isn’t a difficult job to do and it doesn’t need to take you long, and it would certainly be safer.