Generator/ Reverse Polarity Question
Hey folks, My knowledge on these matters is marginal at best so I am hoping someone here might have some suggestions regarding this issue I encountered today. I went to test my shiny new Surge...
Forum Discussion
Old-Biscuit wrote:Bobbo wrote:
Be sure it is wired GROUND pin to NEUTRAL pin. Nothing should touch the HOT pin.Old-Biscuit wrote:
Jumper wire should go from GROUND Terminal to NEUTRAL Terminal
Sounds like jumper is on Hot to Neutral (defective plug/cross wired)??
Actually, to me it sounds like that bonding plug is wired GROUND to HOT. If it was wired HOT to NEUTRAL, it would blow the breaker on the generator.
OP stated
" With the bonding plug inserted it came back with HOT/NEU REV ..."
AC Reverse Polarity is Hot & Neutral being swapped.
In house wiring, you are correct, however, this is a floating voltage generator.
A generator that isn't bonded doesn't actually have HOT or NEUTRAL. It is floating. The only thing that makes one side HOT or NEUTRAL is the physical location of the pins, IOW, our standardized practices.
His EMS is determining a "reversed polarity" by noticing that the GROUND pin is at the same voltage as what SHOULD BE his HOT pin. IOW, his GROUND pin is wired to his HOT pin.
If you short the two floating (current carrying) pins, you will trip the generator's circuit breaker. Think about it. If you take a couple of inches of wire and strip the ends, then bend it into a "U" shape and insert it into the generator's outlet, what will happen? That is exactly what you would get if his bonding plug was wired HOT pin to NEUTRAL pin.
