Honda generator and electrical grid
Might I ask a question here unrelated to motorhomes? The topic of portable generators often comes up here and on other forums. I am thinking of buying the Honda "Companion" portable generator, and I a...
Forum Discussion
DrewE wrote:JaxDad wrote:
The neutral and ground wires are bonded at the service entrance, the meter base, and so there is connectivity beyond the mains, even if they are off. There is electrical potential then beyond your house.
The ‘path of least resistance’ is not always the only path, or the nearest path.
It takes several thousandth less electricity to kill somebody than it does to trip the average breaker.
If the earthing is poor, the entire house system will be floating. The potential that the linemen would see is basically a static charge in that case; there's no chance for current to flow, as there's no return path to the generator via the earth.
The house may not be fully floating, as I stated the neutral might not be the only path.
If there’s more than one house powered by a generator it gets far more complicated.
It wouldn’t take much more than a ‘static charge’, experts say as little as 100 milliamperes would be lethal.
