I'm considering getting a small generator for emrgency use.

At present I would use this 'stand alone', with no connection to the
house circuits with changeover switch, etc.

I would get an inverter model, as I'd quite like stable output. Any
advice here would be useful.

One specific question; what you do with the earth terminal. As I
undersyand, these connect to the generator frame and to the generator
neutral. But what should I do with that terminal?




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Bob Eager wrote:

I'm considering getting a small generator for emrgency use.

At present I would use this 'stand alone', with no connection to the
house circuits with changeover switch, etc.

I would get an inverter model, as I'd quite like stable output. Any
advice here would be useful.

The honda EUxxi models seem good, inverter, easily converted to LPG, can
run twin sets in parallel ... but not cheap for emergency use only.

Bob Eager wrote:
I'm considering getting a small generator for emrgency use.

At present I would use this 'stand alone', with no connection to the
house circuits with changeover switch, etc.

I would get an inverter model, as I'd quite like stable output. Any
advice here would be useful.

One specific question; what you do with the earth terminal. As I
undersyand, these connect to the generator frame and to the generator
neutral. But what should I do with that terminal?





They arent normally connected to the generator neutral. If you want an RCD
to work, you need to link the neutral to the generator earth and link the
generator earth to your earth. The RCD goes after the link.

Above is from generator technical support.

Honda is certainly the best of the bunch, quiet, reliable, but expensive.

The Clarke ones are popular and much cheaper.

On Thu, 17 Sep 2020 09:48:30 +0000, Radio Man wrote:

Bob Eager wrote:
I'm considering getting a small generator for emrgency use.

At present I would use this 'stand alone', with no connection to the
house circuits with changeover switch, etc.

I would get an inverter model, as I'd quite like stable output. Any
advice here would be useful.

One specific question; what you do with the earth terminal. As I
undersyand, these connect to the generator frame and to the generator
neutral. But what should I do with that terminal?





They arent normally connected to the generator neutral. If you want an
RCD to work, you need to link the neutral to the generator earth and
link the generator earth to your earth. The RCD goes after the link.

Above is from generator technical support.

Honda is certainly the best of the bunch, quiet, reliable, but
expensive.

The Clarke ones are popular and much cheaper.

Thanks for the earth advice. I had decided that Honda were a bit
expensive for me, and I am a bit wary about Clarke since other Clarke
stuff (I know it's all badged for Machine Mart) has been a disappointment!

Currently looking at Champion, Hyundai and Loncin.


--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

In article ,
Bob Eager wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2020 09:48:30 +0000, Radio Man wrote:

Bob Eager wrote:
I'm considering getting a small generator for emrgency use.

At present I would use this 'stand alone', with no connection to the
house circuits with changeover switch, etc.

I would get an inverter model, as I'd quite like stable output. Any
advice here would be useful.

One specific question; what you do with the earth terminal. As I
undersyand, these connect to the generator frame and to the generator
neutral. But what should I do with that terminal?





They aren‘t normally connected to the generator neutral. If you want an
RCD to work, you need to link the neutral to the generator earth and
link the generator earth to your earth. The RCD goes after the link.

Above is from generator technical support.

Honda is certainly the best of the bunch, quiet, reliable, but
expensive.

The Clarke ones are popular and much cheaper.

Thanks for the earth advice. I had decided that Honda were a bit
expensive for me, and I am a bit wary about Clarke since other Clarke
stuff (I know it's all badged for Machine Mart) has been a disappointment!

Currently looking at Champion, Hyundai and Loncin.

also look at Lidl/Aldi


--

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

On 17/09/2020 10:48, Radio Man wrote:
They arent normally connected to the generator neutral. If you want an RCD
to work, you need to link the neutral to the generator earth and link the
generator earth to your earth. The RCD goes after the link.

And if you want to power the boiler the ignition needs neutral and earth
to be connected together.

Bill

On 17/09/2020 11:54, charles wrote:
In article ,
Bob Eager wrote:
On Thu, 17 Sep 2020 09:48:30 +0000, Radio Man wrote:

Bob Eager wrote:
I'm considering getting a small generator for emrgency use.

At present I would use this 'stand alone', with no connection to the
house circuits with changeover switch, etc.

I would get an inverter model, as I'd quite like stable output. Any
advice here would be useful.

One specific question; what you do with the earth terminal. As I
undersyand, these connect to the generator frame and to the generator
neutral. But what should I do with that terminal?





They aren€˜t normally connected to the generator neutral. If you want an
RCD to work, you need to link the neutral to the generator earth and
link the generator earth to your earth. The RCD goes after the link.

Above is from generator technical support.

Honda is certainly the best of the bunch, quiet, reliable, but
expensive.

The Clarke ones are popular and much cheaper.

Thanks for the earth advice. I had decided that Honda were a bit
expensive for me, and I am a bit wary about Clarke since other Clarke
stuff (I know it's all badged for Machine Mart) has been a disappointment!

Currently looking at Champion, Hyundai and Loncin.

also look at Lidl/Aldi


--

Ive had a little Lidl inverter generator as standby for several years,
easy to start and does the job.

Mike

On 17/09/2020 11:34, Bob Eager wrote:

Currently looking at Champion, Hyundai and Loncin.

Not that you can read much into it, but FWIW my wood chipper has a
Loincin engine - seems well made and is very easy to start.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On Thu, 17 Sep 2020 18:40:28 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

On 17/09/2020 11:34, Bob Eager wrote:

Currently looking at Champion, Hyundai and Loncin.

Not that you can read much into it, but FWIW my wood chipper has a
Loincin engine - seems well made and is very easy to start.

The rveiews seem encouraging.



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My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

On 17/09/2020 17:40, Muddymike wrote:
On 17/09/2020 11:54, charles wrote:


Ive had a little Lidl inverter generator as standby for several years,
easy to start and does the job.

Mike

I've had the small MM Clarke inverter generator for some years. My
impression is that the Chinese "fake honda engines" are virtually as
good as the real thing these days.

On Thu, 17 Sep 2020 10:37:29 +0100, Andy Burns wrote:

I would get an inverter model, as I'd quite like stable output.
Any
advice here would be useful.

The honda EUxxi models seem good, inverter, easily converted to LPG, can
run twin sets in parallel ... but not cheap for emergency use only.

And they are very quiet. Unlike my 2kVA open frame single cylinder
diesel but then it was 1/10 the cost of a Honda EU20i.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On 17/09/2020 20:23, newshound wrote:
On 17/09/2020 17:40, Muddymike wrote:
On 17/09/2020 11:54, charles wrote:


Ive had a little Lidl inverter generator as standby for several years,
easy to start and does the job.

Mike

I've had the small MM Clarke inverter generator for some years. My
impression is that the Chinese "fake honda engines" are virtually as
good as the real thing these days.

That depends on which factory made it and to what budget constraints. A
lot of genuine branded small engines are made in China including the
excellent one on my Mountfield mower.

Mike

On Thursday, 17 September 2020 10:18:59 UTC+1, Bob Eager wrote:
I'm considering getting a small generator for emrgency use.

At present I would use this 'stand alone', with no connection to the
house circuits with changeover switch, etc.

I would get an inverter model, as I'd quite like stable output. Any
advice here would be useful.

One specific question; what you do with the earth terminal. As I
undersyand, these connect to the generator frame and to the generator
neutral. But what should I do with that terminal?

The important thing is that the house's earth needs to remain earthed. No problem with TT but it can be a problem if a supply cable is cut for work and you rely on a supplier earth. Adding a local earth rod can solve the latter.

Whether the gen frame is connected to anything is another matter with its own issues. Portable gen are mostly run IT, ie not earthed.


NT