Grounding has expanded over the years. Originally BX cable (metallic sheathed) and outlets were 2 prong. For 240V, the same type of wiring was used, beefier conductors for the 30A service to clothes driers and they were 3 prong outlets. . The metallic sheath effectively provided the ground and boxes were metal also. GFCI was around towards the end of these days. Neutral and ground were effectively tied together at the panel. When Romex (non-metallic sheathed) became popular and boxes went to plastic, a dedicated copper ground wire was used. While 3 prong 120V outlets have been around for a whlle, 240V lagged and driers still used no separate ground. Now 240V has caught up and its done with 4 prong outlets/cable, with separate ground and neutral.
If you had an existing 10/3 generator cable I would use it. If you were buying new, I would buy 10/4. On Sun, Nov 4, 2012 at 7:56 AM, Dan Penoff <d...@penoff.com> wrote: > Not to muddy the electrical water, but neutral connections are a whole > 'nother ball game. Overlapping switched neutrals, bonded neutrals, etc., > etc. > > Don't get me started.... > > I would also add that backfeeding a distribution panel with a generator, > even if you have an interlocking breaker, is inherently dangerous. Because > you are not switching the neutral or ground when you do this, you are > effectively allowing the full potential of the source (generator) to > potentially pass through the ground or neutral of the whole distribution > system in the event of a fault. > > You may also negate the operation of GFI devices as well. > > In a nutshell, don't do it. If you're so inclined, break out the circuits > you want on the generator and isolate them with a knife switch or load > rated disconnect. The backfeeding approach kills people. I have been an > expert witness on more than one occasion to defend a generator manufacturer > from litigation when people have done this and been killed. It's not > pretty. > > Dan > > > On Nov 4, 2012, at 9:47 AM, G Mann wrote: > > > What Dan said. Yes. > > > > Grant > > > > On Sun, Nov 4, 2012 at 7:34 AM, Dan Penoff <d...@penoff.com> wrote: > > > >> According to the NEC the generator has to be grounded separately, as it > is > >> a "separately derived source". > >> > >> This is why you will almost always see a ground lug on portable > generators. > >> > >> I have a short grounding rod I use with my 6.5kW portable. If I am > going > >> to run it and connect loads from the house, it's tied to the grounding > rod, > >> not the house ground. > >> > >> Dan don't ask me how I know this former generator guy > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
