ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area New Transfer switch for portable generators

Early, many portables do not have neutral bonded to the frame.

I have a 4 year old Coleman 5KW unit with a clear tag that says "Floating Neutral"

By the way another way around this problem is to use a transfer switch that switches the neutral. We use these all the time on jobs that have GFP protection.

Bob

By the way if this unit is installed by the utility it would be under their control and not subject to the NEC.

I do not believe electric meters are listed at all and therefore are not 'service rated'.

Most portable generators state in the manual that you must remove the bonding jumper before connecting to building wiring.
I have also seen stand by gen-sets where the neutral & ground are bonded. I won't mention names but one comes with a transfer switch that does not switch the neutral.There is no mention of removing the jumper in the manual

Switching the neutral only makes for a separately derived source, not a legally connected generator. You will still have a parallel path with the ground and neutral when the switch is turned to "generator".
Thanks for the info on portable generators. I will have to modify my stance, and make sure I get one without the neutral bonded.

No you will not, that is the point of switching the neutral.

Bob