R
Russell
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
Hi all,
I may soon be installing a generator panel. Fact is, I've never seen one,
much less installed
one.
Rumor has it that during the ice storm of ???1998???, hydro workers were
shocked due
to potential on the neutrals which resulted from generators hooked up to
houses where the
main breaker was turned off and therefore the hot wires were not energized
but the neutral
was not disconnected and therefore had potential (wheww, run on
sentence....).
Problem is, I don't understand how this could occur. Since the neutral must
be grouded at
the service, it cannot have potential. With the neutral tied to ground this
becomes the
reference voltage against which all other ungrounded conductors are
measured.
I gather that generator panels disconnect the mains but not the neutral.
Two possible explanations come to mind:
1) there's no truth to the rumor
2) inadequate grounding leads to potential on the neutral
If 2) is correct,how would one best test for, and ensure, adequate neutral
grounding?
Cheers,
Russell Wardman
I may soon be installing a generator panel. Fact is, I've never seen one,
much less installed
one.
Rumor has it that during the ice storm of ???1998???, hydro workers were
shocked due
to potential on the neutrals which resulted from generators hooked up to
houses where the
main breaker was turned off and therefore the hot wires were not energized
but the neutral
was not disconnected and therefore had potential (wheww, run on
sentence....).
Problem is, I don't understand how this could occur. Since the neutral must
be grouded at
the service, it cannot have potential. With the neutral tied to ground this
becomes the
reference voltage against which all other ungrounded conductors are
measured.
I gather that generator panels disconnect the mains but not the neutral.
Two possible explanations come to mind:
1) there's no truth to the rumor
2) inadequate grounding leads to potential on the neutral
If 2) is correct,how would one best test for, and ensure, adequate neutral
grounding?
Cheers,
Russell Wardman