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230 Generator poweringfuseboard & earthing

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aaelectric

Hi

I've been asked to fit a 10kva generator to supply a 17th edition fuse board.
The problem I'm having is when i test for my ze from live to earth i get 28v but from neutral to earth i get 230v. I thought i had reversed polarity so i swapped the live and neutral over at the main switch in the fuse board, but it made no difference and the same happened again. I have fitted an earth spike connected to the earthing terminal on the generator and have a 32 amp commando socket connected. I tried to take a reading for my ze but the frequency from generator is 255hz and my tester ( megga 1720 ) will not let me as the hz is over 50 hz. The two rcds both trip on the test buttons but cannot get a millisecond reading. I have left the existing earth of the tns cable coming in connected as it is still feeding the flat above the shop. Any advice on this and why i would be getting 230 between neutral and earth. If i turn the main switch off at the fuse board between live and earth i get 110 v and between neutral and earth i get 110 v but as soon. As i turn the power on I don't get any voltage between live and earth. This is my first generator installation, any advice welcome
 
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I have looked at this pdf and it doesnt say much, so there is no way this should be used?
also why would it give you the mad readings from being off and powering up, what is vov?
what is the floating earth
 
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A V-O-V generator is no substitute for DNO power.

[ElectriciansForums.net] 230 Generator poweringfuseboard & earthing

If you don't understand the consequences of using this type of generator as a domestic power supply, for the love of your family or customers please don't attempt it.
 
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Yeah, as E54 says, linking the N-E is bad/dangerous advice if the generator is internally configured as shown in the drawing above (V-O-V).

From the link you gave in post #13, can I assume you hired this generator? If you did then your best bet is to take it back and change it for one that's suitable for your application. Hopefully it's as simple as speaking to their tech staff and finding an alternative that's fit for purpose, it's in their interests as well to give you the right genny because the minute you link the N-E on that one they're going to be left with a pile of scrap as well as you'll be missing an eyebrow or two.
 
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They're wired that way because trailing leads or cables are particularly prone to damage, especially if the genny is mobile. If someone gets a shock from the trailing cable to earth then they'll only receive a 120v whack instead of a 240v one. Personally I'm not convinced this is their primary motivation, it's possibly also cheaper to manufacture this way...I'm not sure.
 
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Marvo thanks for advice, i think your right about that as when i measured the voltage between ne utral & earth & live & earth it was 110v but with load connected it was no voltage from live to earth bit 240 from neutral to earth.
didnt know there was diffrent systems but u learn something every day.so this kind of generator is reLly only for power tools etc not for feeding a db. Do you know of one that can feed a db
 
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The more I think about the use of v-0-v generators the more concerned I'm becoming, what about people that use them to run caravans where is no hook up and I know some one that uses one to power a horse box while their away at shows, I'm also aware that there is a rcd in a small cu but then only single pole mcb's etc, surely this isn't safe at all??
 
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If you use them for a mobile caravan or horse box (why on earth do you need power there, there's already 746watts available without a genny :) ) that has no other incoming supply, they can be perfectly safe if the earthing is correctly installed. The bottom line is they're best just used for portable power with a trailing cable which is what they were designed for.
 
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Is this thread anything to do with you or is it a coincidence?

Thought it was worth highlighting cause there might be some useful info there for you as well.

There's some scary generator threads around this evening :-0
 
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No marvo, neither thread is anything to do with me, I was just interested in the generator wiring diagram you posted, that's when I got thinking about the horse box-I fitted a inverter to horse box, well lorry once and they also used a generator because the inverter thrashed the batteries, don't get what you mean about the 746watts already available?
 
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