Ground-Neutral Bond clarification needed.

Salvo wrote:
Inverter generators do not have a Y or Delta winding. That means there is no neutral, hot or ground. Inverters have just two outputs, either output could be designated as "neutral" or "hot", it doesn't matter.

When bonding one of the inverter outputs to chassis, the chassis is now at the same potential voltage as one of the inverter outputs. You are now one fault away from electrocution. Without bonding, you're two faults away from electrocution. You can be in contact with chassis and either of the ac outputs and not get shocked. I like that safety margin.

There are 3-Phase inverters and by application neither Y nor Delta require a common when operated with 3-Phase loads.

Any of the newer single phase systems have at a hot, return and ground with the wiring defined by outlet position and/or cable color.

Floating the chassis and touching a hot conductor and chassis is theoretically safe as long as there is no electrostatic or electromagnetic coupling between the chassis and any voltage which is physically impossible - leakage current exists between power equipment that is grounded to the chassis.

This means there is a path for common to ground current to flow within the floating chassis.

By connecting the neutral to ground at the generator, the chassis now has a safe reference that is the same as the neutral.

The only way to get shocked is to come into contact with the single hot designated lead when touching any metal parts connected to the chassis.

EDIT: Hijack over and sorry for the sidebar...