Please help me to understand grounding and neutral bonding. This assumes the transfer switch between shore power and generator switches both hot & neutral. This is how I understand it with a big question at the end.On-board Generator:Ground, neutral, chassis all bonded together.Shore power:Ground wire, neutral bonded & grounded to earth at or upstream of pedestal. Battery bank:Negative through shunt, then bonded to chassis.PV charge controller:No ground. Inverter-charger w/ auto transfer switch:Case bonded to chassis. ¿Neutral & Ground Bonded? Yes/No

Inverter will depend on the model. Although I believe most that are made to wire into an RV/marine electric system will bond during inverting function.

You've got it right for most all situations I can think of. Your inverter should bond then neutral and ground when inverting and disconnect them when passing thur AC power from another source. Inverters designed for mobile use typicall have this feature. Inverters designed for use in a structure usually don't.

Thank you! I now see where the Aims 2000 I’m looking at does indeed have a relay to break the bond with external AC. This goes along with what I’ve always heard: only bonded in one place at source of power. Gets kinda confusing with multiple sources. A follow up question, if I may:Would the proper place for hard wired EMS surge protection be between the inverter and the Genset/shore power transfer switch?

Just There wrote:Thank you! I now see where the Aims 2000 I’m looking at does indeed have a relay to break the bond with external AC. This goes along with what I’ve always heard: only bonded in one place at source of power. Gets kinda confusing with multiple sources. A follow up question, if I may:Would the proper place for hard wired EMS surge protection be between the inverter and the Genset/shore power transfer switch?The EMS should be between whatever power source that could have trouble and whatever you want to protect. I don’t think a generator or inverter is likely to have issues so if it were me, I would probably put one between the shore power cord and the transfer switch. That way even your transfer switch itself is protected. It may come down to wiring and mounting convenience.

I recommend the EMS/SP should be just before the power distribution panel so that all incoming power goes through the EMS/SP.

Ground-Neutral bond | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Feb 03, 2019
Inverter will depend on the model. Although I believe most that are made to wire into an RV/marine electric system will bond during inverting function.
KD4UPL
Explorer
Feb 03, 2019
You've got it right for most all situations I can think of. Your inverter should bond then neutral and ground when inverting and disconnect them when passing thur AC power from another source. Inverters designed for mobile use typicall have this feature. Inverters designed for use in a structure usually don't.
Just_There
Explorer
Feb 03, 2019
Thank you! I now see where the Aims 2000 I’m looking at does indeed have a relay to break the bond with external AC. This goes along with what I’ve always heard: only bonded in one place at source of power. Gets kinda confusing with multiple sources. A follow up question, if I may:
Would the proper place for hard wired EMS surge protection be between the inverter and the Genset/shore power transfer switch?
wnjj
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2019
Just There wrote:
Thank you! I now see where the Aims 2000 I’m looking at does indeed have a relay to break the bond with external AC. This goes along with what I’ve always heard: only bonded in one place at source of power. Gets kinda confusing with multiple sources. A follow up question, if I may:
Would the proper place for hard wired EMS surge protection be between the inverter and the Genset/shore power transfer switch?

The EMS should be between whatever power source that could have trouble and whatever you want to protect. I don’t think a generator or inverter is likely to have issues so if it were me, I would probably put one between the shore power cord and the transfer switch. That way even your transfer switch itself is protected. It may come down to wiring and mounting convenience.
time2roll
Nomad
Feb 03, 2019
I recommend the EMS/SP should be just before the power distribution panel so that all incoming power goes through the EMS/SP.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Feb 04, 2019
My EMS is 12" from the main breaker. No matter where the power is coming from, I am protected.
2oldman
Explorer II
Feb 04, 2019
wnjj wrote:
The EMS should be between whatever power source that could have trouble and whatever you want to protect. I don’t think a generator or inverter is likely to have issues..
x2
chuckbear
Explorer
Feb 05, 2019
One question. In installing the AIMS inverter with the built-in bypass, it shows bonding the inverter case to the RV frame. Is this really necessary? Chuck
DrewE
Explorer II
Feb 05, 2019
chuckbear wrote:
One question. In installing the AIMS inverter with the built-in bypass, it shows bonding the inverter case to the RV frame. Is this really necessary? Chuck

Yes. As I understand things, it is there mainly to prevent a fault condition causing the full DC current for the inverter from going through the AC power line safety ground, which would be dangerously undersized for that current. Converters likewise must have their cases bonded to the vehicle frame independently of the AC ground for the same basic reason.
Just_There
Explorer
Feb 07, 2019
I Have room in the main panel to configure the external A-C supply and the A-C from the inverter. Is this:
#1 Safe?
#2 Smart?
#3 Legal?
Also, can these supplies share the neutral bus bar?

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