Wiring Disaster
I recently overloaded my system. Afterwards, the generator would power on but my outlets, roof AC, and microwave had stop working. I took my RV to a “specialist” and it was a big mistake. I quickly re...
Forum Discussion
I am a retired electrician , worked years in commercial residential and industrial, I don't recall any NEC that says a generator installed in a mobile vehicle on land, has to bond the neutral to ground,
Bonding the neutral to ground creates a 120v hot to frame/chassis hazard, while an unbonded neutral offers a lower 60v hazard from either wire to chassis/frame,
RVs are considered a remote sub panel, neutral bonding is only Done at the main service drop from the power utility or the installation of a fixed generator location, even secondary sub panels in the same building , do not bond neutral to ground at the sub panel,
The RV breaker panel is a sub panel, shore power, portable generator, installed generator
Here is a picture of my Breaker Panel
Click For Full-Size Image.
Ground Buss Bar on left
Neutral buss Bar on bottom aka white wires
Mounting screws holding Neutral buss are insulated
None of the ground wires on the ground buss bar connect to the neutral buss,
None of the white wires on the neutral buss bar connect to ground Buss or the box,this is a floating neutral
Yes generator ground is connected to ground, but generator neutral is Not Bonded to ground
Some may think that the very bottom ground wire on the left, is connected to the neutral buss, ...... look again closely that wire crosses over the neutral buss and goes into a Romex clamp at the back of the panel (not visible at this angle) and is connected to a circuit in the RV,
Bonding the neutral to ground creates a 120v hot to frame/chassis hazard, while an unbonded neutral offers a lower 60v hazard from either wire to chassis/frame,
RVs are considered a remote sub panel, neutral bonding is only Done at the main service drop from the power utility or the installation of a fixed generator location, even secondary sub panels in the same building , do not bond neutral to ground at the sub panel,
The RV breaker panel is a sub panel, shore power, portable generator, installed generator
Here is a picture of my Breaker Panel
Click For Full-Size Image.Ground Buss Bar on left
Neutral buss Bar on bottom aka white wires
Mounting screws holding Neutral buss are insulated
None of the ground wires on the ground buss bar connect to the neutral buss,
None of the white wires on the neutral buss bar connect to ground Buss or the box,this is a floating neutral
Yes generator ground is connected to ground, but generator neutral is Not Bonded to ground
Some may think that the very bottom ground wire on the left, is connected to the neutral buss, ...... look again closely that wire crosses over the neutral buss and goes into a Romex clamp at the back of the panel (not visible at this angle) and is connected to a circuit in the RV,
