[Richard Walker]

Hi Thanks to those who replied to my posting on this a few weeks ago in which I said that ch boiler locks out when I run
it from a petrol generator supply

Sparks: you suggested I measure voltages as generators are often centre tapped. Results (no load) are -
L--N 240v
N--E 85v
L--E 85v

I am now more puzzled than ever. Where's my missing 85v?

--
Richard

[Roger Mills]

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Richard Walker wrote:

Hi Thanks to those who replied to my posting on this a few weeks ago
in which I said that ch boiler locks out when I run it from a petrol
generator supply
Sparks: you suggested I measure voltages as generators are often
centre tapped. Results (no load) are - L--N 240v
N--E 85v
L--E 85v

I am now more puzzled than ever. Where's my missing 85v?

The output is probably floating - with no electrical connection to earth -
and what you're measuring is probably just an induced voltage. Chances are
that you can actually strap N to E with no ill effects.

Try this:
Connect a mains 100w bulb between N&E and see whether it glows at all.
Assuming it doesn't (mine didn't!), repeat the above 3 measurements with the
bulb in circuit. You'll likely get something very close to:
L--N 240v
N--E 0v
L--E 240v

If this is the case, you can safely strap N to E with something having a
much lower impedance than a lightbulb. My genny has 2 x 13A sockets. I have
made up a plug which has an internal wire between N and E, and that is
plugged into one of the sockets - with the other socket being used for the
real output. The genny runs perfectly happily. I haven't yet tried powering
my boiler with it (preferring to wait for warmer weather, when the boiler is
less critical) but I have every confidence that it will work.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

[Sparks]

"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Richard Walker wrote:

Hi Thanks to those who replied to my posting on this a few weeks ago
in which I said that ch boiler locks out when I run it from a petrol
generator supply
Sparks: you suggested I measure voltages as generators are often
centre tapped. Results (no load) are - L--N 240v
N--E 85v
L--E 85v

I am now more puzzled than ever. Where's my missing 85v?

The output is probably floating - with no electrical connection to earth -
and what you're measuring is probably just an induced voltage. Chances are
that you can actually strap N to E with no ill effects.

Try this:
Connect a mains 100w bulb between N&E and see whether it glows at all.
Assuming it doesn't (mine didn't!), repeat the above 3 measurements with
the bulb in circuit. You'll likely get something very close to:
L--N 240v
N--E 0v
L--E 240v

If this is the case, you can safely strap N to E with something having a
much lower impedance than a lightbulb. My genny has 2 x 13A sockets. I
have made up a plug which has an internal wire between N and E, and that
is plugged into one of the sockets - with the other socket being used for
the real output. The genny runs perfectly happily. I haven't yet tried
powering my boiler with it (preferring to wait for warmer weather, when
the boiler is less critical) but I have every confidence that it will
work.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!


Agreed, My generator has the E and N bonded together, so I get

E-N - 0
L-N - 230
L-E - 230

I have also installed a Briggs&Stratton transfer switch in the house.
(This has a 30mA RCD in it.

Before I installed the generator, we have a fair few power cuts.
Afterwards, we have had two short ones in 3 years, and these were both on
the same day, about 2 weeks ago!!!
Bloody typical isn't it!

Sparks...