[A/S] Re: Generator Question

["Maurice Riggins" <roadkingmoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

An RV is not wired like a house in that the neutral line (return path 
for current) is not bonded to ground in an RV like it is in a house, 
and at campground power outlets.

The neutral is also not bonded to ground in a portable generator, 
like the EU1000.  The ground lug is provided to link paralleled 
generators to the same reference potential for the inverters.

If a hot wire in an ungrounded Airstream touches the frame or skin, 
and the trailer is plugged into campground power, there will be a 
path through the skin/frame, through the ground wire to the neutral 
path, and a short will result tripping the circuit breaker.

If a hot wire in an Airstream, grounded or not, touches the frame or 
skin, and the trailer is plugged into a Honda EU1000, grounded or 
not, the trailer skin/frame will be "hot" RELATIVE ONLY to the Honda 
and Airstream neutrals.  NOT to ground.

Since the Airstream and Honda neutrals are NOT tied to the trailer's 
chassis ground, no circuit breaker will trip.  Someone touching the 
trailer frame or skin WILL NOT complete a return circuit, since earth 
is not involved.  They would have to be touching the trailer while at 
the same time touching something stuck into a neutral hole in a 
receptacle to be shocked.

Doesn't matter whether you ground the Honda only, Airstream only, or 
both, there is no return path to the generator neutral from the 
ground circuits, or from the earth.  You have to be between the 
generator hot and neutral leads to be shocked.  Bottomline is there's 
no need to ground either.

--
Maurice
WBCCI 5446