There are still important safety rules to remember if you want to land one. Finding out if your generator needs to be grounded and how to do it are two of the most important steps in generator safety, even if you are using a battery-powered generator inside.
Do you need to ground the portable generator? – It depends on what you want to do. If you’re only using extension cords, you don’t need a ground rod (If you have a portable bonded neutral generator)
When you connect your generator to an electrical panel (such as a home’s electrical system, a transfer switch, etc.), you must connect it to a ground rod. The ground rods must be driven into the ground and then connected to the ground lug on the generator with a ground wire. At least 8 feet of the rod must be put into the ground.
We strongly suggest that you look into and follow all federal, state, and local grounding laws.
What is being grounded?
Grounding is the process of connecting the electrical system to the ground. The NEC calls ground “the earth” and says that electrical systems that are grounded must be connected to earth in a way that limits the voltage caused by thunder, line spikes, or unintentional contact with larger lines and keeps the voltage to earth stable when the system is working normally.
How important it is for electrical systems to be properly grounded and bonded?
When electricity flows through a set of wires, it always tries to find a way to lose energy by going back to the ground. In a typical electrical system, like the one in your generator, electricity flows from “hot” wires to a set of “neutral” wires.
But if the normal electrical circuit is broken, electricity will go where it meets the least amount of resistance. If your generator isn’t grounded, electricity could go where it shouldn’t, which could lead to electrocution, fire, or other dangerous situations.
Grounding makes a path for electricity to flow that has little resistance. The term “grounding” is used because the backup paths of many electrical systems go straight into the ground, where there may not be much danger.
Grounding vs. bonding
When it comes to bonding and grounding, generators and other electrical systems have their own needs. Grounding is the connection between an electric circuit or piece of equipment and a reference ground, such as the frame of a generator. Bonding is the act of making a connection between the grounded neutral circuit conductor and the frame of a portable generator.
So, making sure that the neutral conductor is properly connected to the frame of the generator is also important for the safe operation of the equipment. A professional electrician with the right tools can test the neutral terminal of a power outlet to make sure it is properly bonded. The resistance should be close to zero.
Requirements for grounding a generator
Article 250 of the NEC says how generators that are linked through transfer switches have to be grounded.
When you use a portable generator, make sure it’s connected to the ground. The frame of a portable generator doesn’t have to be grounded, but it could be used as the ground:
The generator frame is connected to the metal parts of the fuel tank, the internal combustion engine, and the generator housing that don’t carry electricity. It is also connected to the equipment grounding conductor terminals of the power outlets that come with the generator.
Instead of being connected to a grounding electrode system like a ground rod, the grounding electrode is the frame of the generator.
A qualified electrician must be licensed to use a transfer switch and install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to connect a portable generator to the ground?
Most people think that grounding a generator is a hard job that should only be done by professionals. But that’s not the case. In fact, it’s likely that you already have almost everything you’ll need for the job. All of these are easy to find online or at a Home Depot near you.
List of Tools and Equipment You’ll Need to Ground Your Generator
Most people think that grounding a portable backup generator is a hard job that should only be done by professionals. But that’s not the case. You probably have almost everything you need for the job already. All of them are easy to find online or at your local Home Depot.
You’ll need the following things to ground your portable generator:
Grounding Rod: A grounding rod is meant to be pushed into the ground so that any electrical current can safely flow away from it. Most portable generators need a copper rod that is at least four feet long. A longer copper rod can help you drive it deeper into the ground.
Grounding Wire: The grounding wire connects the grounding bolt on your generator to the grounding rod. How far away your portable generator is from the copper rod will tell you how long a wire you need. Make sure to keep some extra wire on hand in case you need to drive the rod into the ground.
Hammer: You’ll need a heavy, blunt tool like a hammer to push the copper grounding wire into the ground. Depending on the terrain, a shovel may also be helpful.
Pliers and Wrench—You will need wire strippers, pliers, and a wrench to strip the copper grounding wire and connect it to the copper grounding rod and the bolt on your generator.
Three Steps to Ground a Generator
Step 1: Hit the rod with a hammer.
The copper rod should be buried or pounded into the ground at least 8 feet deep. Any generator will have an 8-foot cord. This depth makes sure that anyone on the ground won’t get hurt if the grounding rod leaks electricity. If you are in rocky or hard terrain, you can hammer the rod in at an angle.
Step 2: Plug the copper wire in.
Using wire strippers or pliers, remove about 6 to 12 inches of insulation from one end of the copper wire. Then, use your pliers to wrap the wire tightly around the top of the grounding rod.
Step 3: Plug the generator in.
Connect the generator to the copper grounding rod using the other end of the copper wire. Make sure the generator is turned off before you do this.
Find the grounding bolt on your generator and loosen the nut a little. After stripping the end of the copper wire by one to two inches, use your pliers to wrap it around the grounding bolt. Tighten the nut when you’re done to keep the wire in place.
Lastly, test the connection to make sure it works.
The connection between the frame of the generator and the copper rod grounding terminals is important for the safe operation of the machine. A qualified electrician with the right tools can test the connection to make sure it works. The ohmic resistance should be close to zero and shouldn’t change, because that means the connection isn’t tight.
