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Grounding the Generator
10 www.honeywellgenerators.com HW4000/HW4000L Portable Electrical Generator Owner’s Manual
Grounding the Generator
The National Electric Code (NEC) requires the generator
to be connected to an earth ground. Before using the gen-
erator, connect a copper wire (minimum 10 AWG) from the
ground terminal (see Figure 15) to an earth ground. Con-
sult a licensed electrician for proper grounding methods.
NOTE:
The generator has a floating neutral which means the
ground terminal on the generator is not connected to AC
neutral wire in the generator. If using a receptacle tester, it
will not show the same ground circuit condition as for a
home receptacle.
Special Requirements
There may be Federal or State Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, local codes, or
ordinances that apply to the intended use of generator.
Please consult a qualified electrician, electrical inspector,
or the local agency having jurisdiction.
• In some areas, generators are required to be regis-
tered with local utility companies.
• If generator is used at a construction site, there may
be additional regulations which must be observed.
Using Generator for Back-up Power
The NEC requires any generator connected to a building’s
electrical wiring utilize a transfer switch installed by a
licensed electrician.
Generator must be grounded to prevent electrical
shock from faulty appliances.
• Before using generator, consult a qualified electrician,
electrical inspector, or local agency having jurisdiction
for local codes or ordinances that apply to the intended
use of generator.
FIGURE 15: Ground Terminal
WARNING
Before connecting to a building’s electrical system, consult
your local utility company or a qualified electrician.
Improper connections to a building's electrical system can
be deadly.
Electrical current from generator can feedback into
utility lines. Such feedback may electrocute utility
company workers or others who contact utility lines
during a power outage.
Electrical current can feedback into generator. When
utility power is restored, generator may explode,
burn, or cause fires in building's electrical system.
What is a transfer switch?
A transfer switch is a device that allows switching
from utility power to emergency generator power.
The transfer switch is either a manual switch, an
automatic switch, or a combination of manual and
automatic. During a power outage, the transfer
switch isolates emergency circuits from the utility
line, allowing for efficient operation of the generator
without back-feeding into utility power.
DANGER