Connecting Portable Generator To A Service Entrance Panel

Jul 06, 2005 2 Replies

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MPO 21 years ago

I recently moved a small building to a ranch where there is no electricity service. The building had been connected to the power company and has a Service Entrance Panel on it. I want to connect it to a 5500 Watts 120/240 Volt Generator. The Generator has a bonded neutral. The neutral and ground are bonded at the Service Entrance Panel. Because the Generator has a bonded neutral and the Service Entrance Panel ground and neutral are bonded, my question is this.

How should I connect the generator at the Service Entrance Panel?

Since the Generator will be the only power supply I was trying to avoid buying a Transfer Switch. I was going to "unbond" the neutral and ground at the Service Entrance Panel and connect the 2 power leads, neutral and ground from the Generator to the corresponding connections on the Service Entrance Panel. Will this work or am I screwing up?

Thanks for your help.

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SQLit 21 years ago

Does the generator have a overcurrent device? like a 2 pole breaker? If it does then separate all of the grounds and neutrals in the service, and drive a ground rod for the generator and run 2 hots and a neutral and ground to feed the panel. I would hesitate to tell you to unground the neutral at the genny as I do not know how it is wound and doing that may be a problem for the generator. As long as you do not have two sources of power you do not need a transfer switch.

Some large weather proof twist lock plugs could be used for portability and safety for the generator. ( if you take the genny with you it, will be less likely to be stolen )

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MPO 21 years ago

Yes, the generator has circuit breakers. I forgot to mention in my original post that I intended to ground the generator to a grounding rod.

Thanks for your help.

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