BigWallop wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...

Should an earth spike be used when a generator is used to power class 1
equipment that normally needs an earth? (thinking of safety and ignoring
EMC). I should know the answer to this but can see two sides of the coin
and can't choose between the two.
On one side it would be good to tie the gen and neutral down to Earth,
but on the other side it would seem sensible to let the whole lot float.
.. and how would an RCD cope?
The particular case is using a gen to provide power for an outdoor PA
system (and maybe a band).

Dave



If it is a small 240 volts AC genset, then what do want an earth point on it
for. If you're plugging directly in to the generator, then it already has,
or better have, its own safety devices protecting it and the supply outlets.

A generator doesn't really need an earth point, and some generators don't
really like being pinned to the earth, so you'd need to make sure that the
metal work, if any, around the performance area was insulated from earth,
but not the generator. Blocks of wood under the legs of any metal staging
is usually enough to isolate the stage from earth.

.... snipped

It all depends on what and how the generator is going to used.



It's a small 240 generator, there's an integral overload breaker but not
an RCD. That's spurred a few more questions:
- Why would a generator object to being grounded?
- What is the metalwork on a generator connected to internally?
- If the generator is floating why does any adjacent metalwork need to
be isolated from earth? If it's truly floating there wouldn't be a path
for current to flow.

Dave