generators

[Colsar]

My Inverter arrived Yesterday and I am very impressed ran it in the shed for an hour or so and no probs at all Started on the second pull of the cord tried a variety of my tools up to a 2000 watt 9" angle grinder and a small compressor. It came with a Battery to power the Key Start and Remote start seems to have a reasonable range ! Very surprised on how quiet it is, it says 59dB in the Specs but on eco mode it's not much louder than my Honda 10eui maybe the 59dB is when its running flat out with the eco off?

my inverter arrived ? do you mean generator, as its pull start, what model out of curiosity?

 

[Capt. Gadget]

Hi @Colin&Sue I suppose technically I should have called it an Inverter Generator, the unit I had posted about is a Microfuji 3700w but alas it has let me down a few times and has now been replaced with a Yamaha 2400w Inverter Generator

 

[Capt. Gadget]

A question regarding generators....we were unpowered over the long weekend and needed to run the honda to top up batteries (not good solar weather)...not to mention my wife's hair straightener and hair dryer! Should you use the ground spike on generators? I don't seem to see many using them.

Good question @Burnsy I've always wondered about that myself

 

[DRW]

Hi @Burnsy yes you should always use the spike, that reminds me I will have to get one (Ishould know better also)

 

[Paul75]

G'day Burnsy. I'm no electrician but I did a bit of research a while ago on this and there is many and varied opinion regarding using a earth stake for a portable generator. I don't necessarily agree with DRW, but looking at his occupation he would be more qualified than me to give advice.

This link below doesn't necessarily answer the question but gives a bit of information.

http://www.powersafe.net.au/pdf/duosafety.pdf

Cheers,
Paul.

 

[Burnsy]

G'day Burnsy. I'm no electrician but I did a bit of research a while ago on this and there is many and varied opinion regarding using a earth stake for a portable generator. I don't necessarily agree with DRW, but looking at his occupation he would be more qualified than me to give advice.

This link below doesn't necessarily answer the question but gives a bit of information.

http://www.powersafe.net.au/pdf/duosafety.pdf

Cheers,
Paul.

Thanks for that mate, it seems there is for and against! :noidea:

 

[Paul75]

No worries. Yeah, certainly not black and white. Will be good to get some thoughts from the licensed electricians on here.

 

[Colsar]

Hi @Colin&Sue I suppose technically I should have called it an Inverter Generator, the unit I had posted about is a Microfuji 3700w but alas it has let me down a few times and has now been replaced with a Yamaha 2400w Inverter Generator

I see , now I understand , thought it was an electrical inverter or something, but the pull start had me wondering, hopefully the Yamaha will preform well for you. Thanks

 

[mfexpanda]

I have the Yamaha and it never let us down works every time.

 

[Holden_man]

A question regarding generators....we were unpowered over the long weekend and needed to run the honda to top up batteries (not good solar weather)...not to mention my wife's hair straightener and hair dryer! Should you use the ground spike on generators? I don't seem to see many using them.

Hi mate,
It's one of those yes and no answers the way I see it. From my understanding (and this could be wrong and happy to be corrected) if you are plugging in items that are not grounded then you do not earth the generator. This would be items like hand tools and I guess caravans technically. With no earthing it is a form of isolated transformer and the theory is no potential to earth as there is no path for current to return via earth, therefore no electrical shock.
But if you are powering items that are grounded then you should ground the generator. For example a house. This is typical of a MEN (multiple Earthed Neutral) systems and RCDs should operate.
@DRW why do you say the generator must be earthed?
HM

 

[mfexpanda]

I don't earth mine

 

[Middo]

According to AS 3010 which relates to generating sets, you are not required to have an earth stake. Most people have inverters fitted to their vans and I bet no one has an earth stake on them. No difference as they both put out 240 volts ac.

 

[Burnsy]

Hi mate,
It's one of those yes and no answers the way I see it. From my understanding (and this could be wrong and happy to be corrected) if you are plugging in items that are not grounded then you do not earth the generator. This would be items like hand tools and I guess caravans technically. With no earthing it is a form of isolated transformer and the theory is no potential to earth as there is no path for current to return via earth, therefore no electrical shock.
But if you are powering items that are grounded then you should ground the generator. For example a house. This is typical of a MEN (multiple Earthed Neutral) systems and RCDs should operate.
@DRW why do you say the generator must be earthed?
HM

Thanks for the explanation mate!