Honda generator

[cliff]

I dont believe Cliffs advice is correct at all.

The generator earth will be connected via the connecting lead to the earth wiring in your shore power installation.

If the shorepower earth is bonded to the DC negative and anodes then they will be connected as well.

Oh Vic, you are being so polite this evening.
I did say not to connect DC-ve to the genny earth - I suppose I should have gone one stage further and mentioned the possibility of the boat's charger jumpering dc-ve with ac -ve. There should be no connection between the genny earth / -neutral and dc -ve.

 

[William_H]

. This is mentioned briefly in the instruction manual. It is also used when operating two generators in parallel.[/QUOTE]

Just to make sure no one tries it running AC generators in parallel is a very tricky/ dangerous thing to do. The problem is a bit like paralleling 2 batteries if you don't know which is positive and which is negative terminal. You can end up with batteries in series and short circuited....disastrous.
The polarity of the AC is swapping at 50 times per second. However each generator will be slightly different frequency and so active wire can be at +ve on one gen when it is -ve on the other. The moment of connecting the 2 can put them in series short circuited.
They have to be syncronised to both be at ie +ve at the one instant. This is sometimes done with neon lights that indicate any difference in voltage of the 2 active wires. Once paralleled the 2 gens will force one another to the same speed and syncronisation.
It is the intial connection tha tis critical. In the same way you should never try to parallel a generator with the mains.
There was a case in Victoria many years ago where a big standby power generator was inadvertently paralleled to the mains. The rotor of the standby generator departed the body of the generator nearly killing the operator before going through wall.
Be careful olewill

 

[Laundryman]

I feel sorry for marcot, the op, who has probably switched off by now. This subject has been raised many times and is still not answered conclusively. For me, I use a Kipor suitcase generator once in a blue moon connected to my shore power system. As far as the wiring is concerned I will leave that we'll alone. Cliffs idea of dangling an earth into the sea seems to make sense but until we have a hard and fast directive otherwise, I will just plug it in. ( and wear rubber boots and gloves )

 

[VicS]

I feel sorry for marcot, the op, who has probably switched off by now. This subject has been raised many times and is still not answered conclusively. For me, I use a Kipor suitcase generator once in a blue moon connected to my shore power system. As far as the wiring is concerned I will leave that we'll alone. Cliffs idea of dangling an earth into the sea seems to make sense but until we have a hard and fast directive otherwise, I will just plug it in. ( and wear rubber boots and gloves )

Perhaps you could explain why you think this makes sense.

I think it would make more sense to connect it to the earth of the shorepower system on board. However I think you will find if you study the wiring diagram of the Honda that this connection will be made by the earth conductor of the connecting lead anyway.
It would be interesting if you can investigate and confirm, or otherwise, that this occurs with your Kippor.

 

[Laundryman]

Perhaps you could explain why you think this makes sense.

Please dont credit me with any specific knowledge on this. My understanding is that when connected to shorepower, the green/yellow wire in the lead supplies the earth function from the pontoon. If you are not connected to the pontoon there is no earth. If the 220v system is in fact earthed through a hull plate to the water outside, I am wrong and i see no benefit in Cliffs suggestion. If there isnt a ground plate, Cliffs idea achieves the same end. I cant believe that messing with the wiring of the generator is the right thing to do.

 

[maby]

If you are plugging the output of the generator into the shorepower inlet of the boat, then it makes most sense to connect the earth via the shorepower socket too. If you are plugging appliances directly into the generator rather than via the shorepower installation, it probably makes more sense to connect the shorepower ground to the earth plate of the boat, or to a dangling earth rod.

 

[RMC]

It is my understanding these small generators have a aptly name ‘floating earth’ arrangement – there is no connection between the chassis or earth connection of the socket or the socket to the neutral winding of the generator. The earth socket pin is usually connected internally to the frame of the generator only.
A generator with a floating earth should only be used to supply one class I (Earthed Appliance) at a time. Multiple Class II (Double Insulated) items can however be used.