Generators and Earths

[Wendelspanswick]

To cut along story short I was try to resurrect an old UPS and power it off my Pramac 3kva generator, I used my Voltstick (non contact voltage indicator) to test the power lead and it didn't glow and when I used the Voltstick on the lead from the generator to the fridge which was running it also didn't glow.
I thought my Volstick had died so I plugged in my socket tester to the generator output and it warned that there was no earth present which makes sense as the generator is just an open frame type. I guess the reason the Voltstick didn't indicate was because there was no earth present to generate an inductance field?
Now as my generator is a semi permanent installation till my electricity supply goes in at the end if next month is it worth driving in an earth rod and wiring it to the PE tab on the generator frame.
It also might explain why the UPS wouldn't power up if it couldn't detect an earth but it might just be the UPS is knackered as it's one that's been kicking about in a comms room for about a year and the batteries were completely flat.

 

[dobbslc]

Most generators are centre tapped down to "earth" in the winnings so you should still get an earth/ground. It wouldn't hurt to bang in a rod or two.
3000kva!?

 

[GW8IZR]

When I was working, the temporary power generators were deployed for us and they always knocked a rod in. I don't think they ever tested the worth of said rod but bang it in they did.

In the past when I tested earths I never once found a good system that hadn't involved a bit of trial and error and certainly measurement when it was fitted.

Nice gen set by the way ..

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Most generators are centre tapped down to "earth" in the winnings so you should still get an earth/ground. It wouldn't hurt to bang in a rod or two.
3000kva!?

Edited, thank you!

 

[indy4x]

Pretty sure most UPS do not need to see an earth to work, not tested, just a hunch

 

[indy4x]

That's interesting, gonna have to try it out and see if it works, we currently have around 150 APC single phase UPS's in work

 

[brightspark]

we used gennies on site all the time and every time we knock at least one rod in for it

but do u know how the genny is wired. portable floating earth or is the neutral linked to the genny framework its p[pointless using an earth rod on a floating earth

 

[dobbslc]

Big genny like that shouldn't be floating earth, up to about 10kva can be.

 

[brightspark]

people don't give or know sufficient information to give u to give advice

 

[rikrobson]

I'm re wiring my wee genny for 220v only and that is PME with one end of the coils connected to earth.
in 110v mode it was centre tapped earth.