"Ignoramus24153" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 23:32:14 -0500, Robert Morein
wrote:

"Ignoramus24153" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 19:11:34 GMT, toller wrote:
[snip]

The article went on for pages about ground loops or somesuch thing
(the
neutral being grounded in two different places). So, my suggestion
is
that
you find out if you can unbond your generator, since you are unlikely
to
find a transfer switch to switch both hot and neutral. There is no
need
to
ground the generator separately, since it's ground is not connected
to
anything except the house ground.

I will check and post updates. I am not sure just what possible
dangers to the generator could be created by unbonding.

I recently spoke to a professional electrician who confided that
although
prohibited by the NEC, multiple hot-neutral bonds are quite common. He
has
seen the question raised in professional meetings, and the answers were
always sketchy.

Hot-neutral bonds?????????????????

I am sure that he is referring to multiple bonding points to the neutral.
Your supposed to do it once at the service. The neutral is a "grounded
current carrying conductor" Having it grounded/bonded in more than one place
just increases the probability of something going wrong. Does it happen you
bet, is it correct. NO

If you ground to your service, best in my opinion. Use the same size ground
wire as your service. You are creating an "supplemental ground" for the
service. Any ground conductor smaller than the ground for the service could
create a weak link in the grounding. Bonding to the metallic piping systems
is required. This may not be a problem if you are able to come off of the
ground bar in the service. Assuming that the metallic piping systems are
bonded currently.

Personally I like and use only switched neutral transfer panels. Solid
neutral switches are available and a little cheaper. I have had to many
problems with sensitive electronics over the years. If my customer insists
then they find someone else to do the job. Almost all that have in the past
have come "crawling back" for me to fix it AFTER the damage was done. They
are very careful not to discuss or complain about price.
Having two sources of power is not rocket science. It is problematic when
incorrectly installed. If you land on a solid neutral block, you will have a
the possibility of current traveling to your generator while it is off.
Switching the neutral with the phases assures that the generator will be
completely isolated when not being used.