Hi
does a portable generator [say a honda 2000] need to be earthed on a boat and if so what would I earth it to ?[fibreglass boat]. I only intend to use it for the hot water service and to charge the house battery if needed.Both items have 3 pin plugs.
Thanks Dave
No it doesn't need earthing.
What does the generator manual say?
It all depends on the internal connections in the generator.
Has the generator have an earth leakage on it?
If so then the hotwater element may trip it.
I intend on living for-ever....so far so good
Most small gensets I have seen dont have an neutral earth link Finga, so a ELCB is useless. The earth is typically floating, and comes out to a terminal post. Maybe the bigger ones do.
The requirement from AS, as I remember does not require an earth (or an earth neutral link) unless its connected to a mains switch board. I think however, if the power is switched, then both positive and neutral have to be switched.
Electrics is one thing but be very careful in regards to carbon monoxide and also explosion risk if it is a petrol powered boat. Depending on genset they are not spark protected so fueltank fumes can explode in the bilge.
Parents running a genset killed a sleeping kid below decks while they were on deck with the genset due to carbon monoxide. Salt water, salt crystals and spray are very conductive also.
I have seen warnings on the shore power inlets of many boats saying not for generator use and on larger yachts there is often a 2nd shore power inlet if it isn't mains. Especially with USA wired boats it had something to do with safety switches and marina power and boat fires/ shorts.
You need to go to 8kva to get a RCD as standard on a generator.
I'd suggest if you want one, get one of the short extension leads that have them in line.
But doesn't a earth leakage mean something is shorting to ground.... What is the ground on a glass boat? The layer of salt on the hull up over transom and down to water?
Ah.... Hang on... Assuming earth pins connected and rcld fitted.... If the appliance leaks to its casing then the earth lead in the power cord is the earth and the rcld detects the current flow.
In that case would you even get a shock if you touched it? You aren't making a shorter path to ground... So I suspect not. But I wouldn't want to bet my life on that....
Don't get to worked up about RCD protection as it is not needed on small generators. But there is a proviso in that no more than one Class 1 piece of equipment is used at any one time. Larger generators have RCD because because of their capacity it would be possible to use more than one piece of Class 1 equipment.
Basically Class 1 is electrical equipment that has the exposed frame connected to earth. All equipment that has no exposed metal or two pin plugs are Class 2 and there is no restriction on using these.
For an RCD to work, the earth needs to be connected to neutral. In small generators, the earth is floating (not connected to neutral) so even if a wire comes loose and touches the case, you wont get electrocuted. You would have to hang onto the positive and neutral to get a shock.Originally Posted by WalrusLike
But doesn't a earth leakage mean something is shorting to ground.... What is the ground on a glass boat? The layer of salt on the hull up over transom and down to water?
Ah.... Hang on... Assuming earth pins connected and rcld fitted.... If the appliance leaks to its casing then the earth lead in the power cord is the earth and the rcld detects the current flow.
In that case would you even get a shock if you touched it? You aren't making a shorter path to ground... So I suspect not. But I wouldn't want to bet my life on that....
I think this guy got it sorted..Go anywhere Earth..
http://i.imgur.com/BSIIk.jpg
Regards
HOnda.
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