How to Ground the Portable Generator

Powering equipment at job sites, backing up home power supplies are some of the duties carried out by portable generators. That said though, some tasks may require grounding your portable generator. Thus, knowing what you need and how to do this can save you from possible injuries.

This article explains in detail what grounding is, how to know whether grounding your generator is necessary, the required grounding tools, and the grounding process for your generator.

How to Ground Portable Generator Guide

Needed Tools

If you must ground your generator, then you need to have the right grounding tools for best results. You can opt to have the grounding tools at your house, even though they are available at the working site. This checklist helps you stay prepared any time you wish to use your moveable generator.

Solid Copper Grounding Wire: a large amount of copper wire is necessary for connecting the wire to the generator. It also connects to the copper ground rod and some remains as spare for any other use.

A Set of Wire Strippers: stripping the copper wires is necessary for their proper connection to the generator and copper rods. In addition, a nice set of wire strippers helps make the process easier, safer, and cleaner. A sharp object or a knife is ideal for stripping within a pinch.

4 Foot Copper Ground Rod: the ground copper rod is the most important tool. Having the correct copper grounding rod makes the whole difference in the grounding procedure effectively. The desired copper ground length should be at least 4 feet. You will also be required to check how far down it can get into the ground.

Hammer/Sledge Hammer/Mallet: you will definitely require a tool to drive your copper rod into the ground. A quality sledgehammer, mallet or hammer is thus required. Use it with care so that the coating of the copper rod is not damaged. Damaging it will result in a poor connection.

Pliers: a quality set of pliers is necessary for winding the copper wire tightly around the grounding rod region. The pliers also better the connection.

Wrench: this tool is important for loosening a bolt on your generator for better connection during attaching the copper wire to your generator.

Optional Supplies/Tools

Screwdriver: this tool is useful when removing grounding bolt which has no hex head or one which has been rounded off. A Phillips head screwdriver is the best to use.

Water: this is necessary when working on the hard ground. Water helps in softening the area and these results in time-saving.

Shovel: this can be helpful in burying the rod instead when driving the copper rod through rocky terrain.

The three steps below are to be followed when grounding your portable generator.

Install the Copper Ground Rod

Move the copper ground rod at least 8 feet for a nice ground into the ground using a mallet, hammer or sledgehammer. If you encounter problems due to the hard ground, you can use water to soften the area. Also, if you are installing the rod in a rocky area, you can bury the rod into the earth at an angle that doesn’t exceed 45 degrees.

Strip and Connect Copper Wire to Copper Rod

Once you have driven the grounding rod 4 feet down, the next step involves connecting the copper wire. You do this after stripping the copper wire. Properly do so by using a wire stripper. Thereafter, bind it firmly in the region of the copper ground using a pair of pliers.

Grounding the Generator

After successfully stripping and linking the copper wire to the grounding rod, you then connect it to your generator. You do so by cautiously stripping the next side of the copper wire to set it up for connecting.

Find a grounding bolt on the generator and loosen it enough to cover the stripped wire around it.

Then wrap the stripped wire firmly around the bolt and tighten it down to get a secure and tight connection.

OSHA Grounding Requirements

OSHA (29 CFR 1926.404(f)(3)(i)) directs that under the following circumstances, a portable generators frame ought not to be grounded or connected to the earth. It also states that the frame can act as the ground other than the earth.

• The generator only supplies equipment mounted onto the generator and/or cord and plug-linked equipment via vessels which are mounted on your generator. This is as per 404(f)(3)(i)(A) of the act.
• The noncurrent-carrying metal equipment parts (like the internal combustion engine, fuel tank, and the house of the generator) are connected to the equipment grounding terminals of the conductor (of the power holders which are a part of the generator via mounting), or the frame of the generator is or is connected to the generator’s frame. This is as per 404(f)(3)(i)(B) of the act.

As noticed, instead of connecting to a grounding electrode system like a rod driven into the ground, the frame of the generator substitutes the grounding electrode.

However, if the above conditions are non-existent, then a grounding electrode is needed. A ground rod is a perfect example.

If the moveable generator is supplying electric energy to a structure by connection through a transfer switch to the structure, it ought to be linked to a grounding electrode. This structure could be a shop, office, trailer, or a home.

Further, the transferred switch should be approved to be used and installed according to the manufacturer’s installation guidelines and by a competent electrician.

 

Grounding Safety Generator Checklist

• Maintain and run portable generators as per the manufacturer’s safety and use guidelines.
• Never join a portable generator directly to a structures electrical system unless an open-transition transfer switch is well installed. A structure could be a home, trailer or office.
• Correct bonding and grounding are a way of averting electrocutions and shocks.
• Use (GFCIs) ground-fault circuit interrupters according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
• Always plug electrical tools and appliances into the generator directly, using the cords supplied by the manufacturer. Preferably, use heavy-duty extension cords which have a grounding conductor (three-pronged cord connectors and three-wire flexible cords).
• Join a structure to a generator only if the generators transfer switch is installed properly.
• Inspect the equipment visually before use; get rid of defective equipment from service; tag or label it unfit for use.

Finally, grounding your generator is a very essential component of both setting up and utilizing your portable generator well. This is if your generator needs any grounding. Grounding maintains both you and your appliances (such as your generator) safe and also minimizes any malfunction changes.

Knowing how to ground your generator well can help maintain others protected even if you don’t need to ground it.

Having read the above, I’d love to hear from you if you have previously grounded a portable generator. If you have, I’d love to hear if you have encountered any troubles during your grounding process. Also, share with us your thoughts on whether grounding your generator can affect your future decision when buying a generator.