Generators Earthing Shore power etc.

[jimbouy]

Re: Please read this

My... the plot thickens!!!

Ok I take your point.

Note to all... I will not hold anyone to any thing they say.

Presumably some simple test will give me some idea as to what is what...

For example seeing exactly what is connected to the gennys earth point.

I'll try and find out from Kipor... but suspect there is really a bit of a language barrier.

I know from the posting on the Lounge that several others have a Kipor... come on chaps lets hear how you use yours.

I can also say that I plumped for the Kipor having chatted to a guy on the harbours visitor pontoon.


Jim.

 

[jimbouy]

Usefull tip... does this mean yours did fall apart and you replaced it?

 

[jimbouy]

Yes.. this was my understanding and I have to say that I'm not sure how it is effected by where the earth is... floating or to neutral.

Jim

 

[msimms]

>>>>
By the way, I've never understood why you should connect the mains earth to 12volt. Mine isn't and I have no intention of doing so, I keep the voltages totally seperate, apart from through the charger.
<<<<

An extract from here gives an explanation why it might be a good idea to tie the -VE to earth:

Grounding
The green "grounding" wire in AC circuits provides a low resistance path to ground should any of the various metal cases enclosing your AC system become energized. But what if the leak is into the DC wiring, caused, for example, by crossed wires or a short in a battery charger, inverter, or other dual-voltage appliance? AC leaking into the DC system will seek ground, meaning it will automatically travel through the wiring to the ground connection on the engine and down the prop shaft to the water. This is essentially the same as dropping a hot wire into the water. In fresh water, this poses a real risk of electrocution for anyone in the water nearby. Electrocution is less likely in saltwater, but the current field can be enough to paralyze muscles and cause a swimmer to drown.

If you can guarantee that the AC and DC will never come in to contact even in a fault scenario then I guess it would not be necessary.

 

[gary3029]

Two people I was in contact with had trouble with the sockets falling apart. Mine are flimsy, but thanks to their advice I use the extension box. Kipor have now upgraded the sockets on new models. Those sold on ebay are older stock if still have two white sockets. The genny itself if you do regular oil changes just runs on

 

[Guest]

Earth spike ....

No rude answers for where he should stick the spike please - but boat is likely knowing Jim to stay afloat .... alonside pontoon ...

So where to stick spike ??

 

[Guest]

Confused .... Fresh water vs Sea-water

Quote<< In fresh water, this poses a real risk of electrocution for anyone in the water nearby. Electrocution is less likely in saltwater, but the current field can be enough to paralyze muscles and cause a swimmer to drown. >>

Fresh water has a high resistance to electricity - in fact true distilled, de-ionised water is a difficult very poor conductor ... BUT Sea-water is an excellent conductor due to the salts and electrolytes dissolved in it etc.

Anyway ... many articles show that bonded earths to water - can injure life around the boat if a fault occurs in path to shore etc.

 

[2Tizwoz]

Re: Confused .... Fresh water vs Sea-water

This thread is highlighting the difficulties surrounding keeping electricity safe.

It is frequently difficult to provide a satisafctory local earth.

Without seeing the location it is difficult to give advice. Water and electricity are difficult companions. If a supply is already present on a pontoon the question arises why a generator is required. If it is in order to increase the power available it is possible that the earth supplied to the exisiting supply is adequate for that supply but may not be adequate for a larger generator supply. An extended earth cable to an earth spike on a river bank must be sufficiently heavy to limit the voltage achieved on earthed equipment under fault conditions.

The same would apply to the copper pipe into the water or a large metal plate dropped into the silt where moored. The generator could be positioned on the river bank and the boat supply protected by a sensitive RCD.

Under many conditions a generator mounted on a skid and standing on the ground will be better earthed than anyone likely to touch it.

Each installation has its own problems, but what is to be achieved is that the safe path to earth offers considerably less resistance than the path through someone/thing else.

A person with wet hands and feet swimming (whether by accident or design) will make a good path to earth for a generator with a live casing stood on a dry wooden pontoon. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
Am I making a false assumption?

[/ QUOTE ]No, I do not think so provided everything is bonded to 12v -ve.
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: Please read this

As I understand things, with this style of generator Live and Neutral are 'switched' between a centre tap earth.
So you always have 230v between the live and neutral but 115v to earth. In this configuration you don't have a dedicated live or neutral as you do at home. It works on the same principle as in the USA.

If you have connected neutral to earth on your Honda Gen, I would be surprised it is delivering its rated power.