Gen - floating earth (1 Viewer)

Glynn

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May 2, 2010
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I have a small generator & if it's connected via the EHU point the reverse polarity light is on
I believe it's to do with the generator having a "floating earth " rather than a bonder neutral/earth. What does it really all mean i.e. is it OK to use in this manner for limited use as I would prefer to connect through the EHU rather than clip to the batteries for charging .
The Autotrail book says this does happen with generators but doesn't say if it's a bad thing...
 

pappajohn

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Aug 26, 2007
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bit complicated to explain....

many generators have a centre tap earth in the windings which means the earth is actually connected to the 0v position of the wave form.....ie: 120v+ on one side of the 0v and 120v- on the other side of the 0v

imagine a figure S with a centre line through the middle like so... [STRIKE] S [/STRIKE]

the centre line has no volts so the charger sees the wrong polarity 50% of the time....120v+ 0v 120v-.
normally it would see 120v+ and 120v- for each half rotation of the rotor with 120v- and 120v+ on the next half rotation, with the earth being seperate from the windings.

not really much you can do about it except possible driving in an earth spike to the ground and connecting the gennie casing to that with a thick (10mmsq) wire which may or may not do anything constructive (never had the urge to try it) but reversed polarity shouldn't cause a problem.

sorry you asked now ? :roflmto:
 
Jun 2, 2010
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bit complicated to explain....

many generators have a centre tap earth in the windings which means the earth is actually connected to the 0v position of the wave form.....ie: 120v+ on one side of the 0v and 120v- on the other side of the 0v

imagine a figure S with a centre line through the middle like so... [STRIKE] S [/STRIKE]

the centre line has no volts so the charger sees the wrong polarity 50% of the time....120v+ 0v 120v-.
normally it would see 120v+ and 120v- for each half rotation of the rotor with 120v- and 120v+ on the next half rotation, with the earth being seperate from the windings.

not really much you can do about it except possible driving in an earth spike to the ground and connecting the gennie casing to that with a thick (10mmsq) wire which may or may not do anything constructive (never had the urge to try it) but reversed polarity shouldn't cause a problem.

sorry you asked now ? :roflmto:

Thanks for tha papps, you're definately wasted, you should be a lecturer!!:thumb:

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wivvy's dad

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Jun 22, 2010
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I don't get reversed polarity - I get the NO EARTH light from my plug-in polarity tester when my Honda 1k genny is patched into the EHU.

I just make sure I'm wearing my Crocs................::bigsmile:
 

pappajohn

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I don't get reversed polarity - I get the NO EARTH light from my plug-in polarity tester when my Honda 1k genny is patched into the EHU.

I just make sure I'm wearing my Crocs................::bigsmile:
that's because the earth in a gennie is actually connected to neutral internally.....0v

the earth in your house is also connected to neutral, but at the power/sub station, and gets back to the station via the ground
 

Stephen & Jeannie

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I mentioned this to Dave Newell (the fount of all motor home knowledge !) He said not to worry it's perfectly normal !!:thumb::thumb:

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jonandshell

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Dec 12, 2010
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You get the same sort of indications from a socket tester when the sockets are being run from an inverter too, if anyone is interested!::bigsmile:
 

ubuntu1

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Feb 13, 2008
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no earth

Its just the difference in the way a gennie is wired compared to a powerstation! There are ways around the problem and most service engineers that carry generators have a "special" hook up lead which simulates what happens in a powerstation. I'm not going to tell you how to wire it as I don't want to be responsible for electrocuting members of the site!!!!

But don't worry what your seeing is normal.
 
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Glynn

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May 2, 2010
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Thanks for that folks, I will just use it via the EHU inlet then.
It's really only a just in case scenario anyway.

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