Portable generator earthing

[Gramas]

Have purchased a kipor ig6000 genset to run welder off and it has earthing grub screw to mount earth lead.
Do I need to earth generator if welding??

 

[bump]

there generaly a floating earth for portable single use heres a guide file:///C:/Users/user/Downloads/2011_39_summer_wiring_matters_Generating_sets%20(2).pdf

That's a reference to the file on your hard disk.

 

[brightspark]

yea just deleted post a portable generator will have a floating earth so does not require earth of that screw for single item useheres a bit of info http://petepower-discussion.blogspot.co.uk/p/normal-0-false-false-false.html

 

[the snooper]

what do you intend welding ? will that generator be upto the job ?

 

[Gavin_d]

They are only 6kva. What sort of welding are you doing?

 

[Jim Davey]

You should really earth the generator no matter what you are powering. If it didn't come with a grounding spike and cable you can get one from any electrical wholesaler.
Better safe than sorry.

 

[the snooper]

You should really earth the generator no matter what you are powering. If it didn't come with a grounding spike and cable you can get one from any electrical wholesaler.
Better safe than sorry.

but it wont work, as its an unearthed neutral, in a fault situation there will be no circuit back to earth

 

[brightspark]

You should really earth the generator no matter what you are powering. If it didn't come with a grounding spike and cable you can get one from any electrical wholesaler.
Better safe than sorry.

i would read up on portable generator earthing before suggest putting an earth rod in the ground it would take to long to explain and this post would go to the far end of a f..t theres enough information on google or the i,e,t forum. i have all the info out of the guide to wiring regulations and the iet on site guide. look up floating earth

 

[Jim Davey]

I just did and stand corrected. Thanks for the heads up lads.

 

[Gramas]

I just did and stand corrected. Thanks for the heads up lads.

So no need to ground!!

 

[the snooper]

So no need to ground!!

no it wont do any good at all

 

[Gramas]

They are only 6kva. What sort of welding are you doing?

Yes only 6 kva
Set really needs 6.5 kva but it's not going to be welding at max output just welding 3mm max chassis

 

[Gramas]

no it wont do any good at all

Cheers snooper
I'm novice hence asking a lot of questions haha
Might seem daft to most but helps me learn and do right thing

 

[the snooper]

Yes only 6 kva
Set really needs 6.5 kva but it's not going to be welding at max output just welding 3mm max chassis

the welder will draw well over 6.5 kva well before full power due to inrush current and that is the main problem using generators to power welders

 

[the snooper]

Cheers snooper
I'm novice hence asking a lot of questions haha
Might seem daft to most but helps me learn and do right thing

most people don't realise that it doesn't work

 

[Jim Davey]

Aparently not.
If you were using the genny to power a building or portacabin via a transfer switch then yes, but for powering stand alone tools and appliances no.
I googled portable generator earthing as suggested and it was all clearly explained over a couple of pages.

One question though to robotstar or snooper, if you did decide to use an external earth what problems could it potentially cause?

 

[Gavin_d]

most people don't realise that it doesn't work

I learnt the hard way. Your the one that gave me heads up too!

So I thankyou.

 

[brightspark]

u would need to link the generator neutral to the generator frame and fit an earth rod for permanent or multi appliance use and it would be safer to fit an rcd

 

[Gramas]

the welder will draw well over 6.5 kva well before full power due to inrush current and that is the main problem using generators to power welders

Oh really!!!
Whole reason got it was told 6.5 was required to run at maximum
So though being 0.5 less would be ok to certain point

 

[the snooper]

you will have to try it, it may well be ok on the lower settings, when you first arc up it draws a lot more power and once energised drops down