Generators - and wet weather
Submitted: Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 at 13:21
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Member - Chrispy (NSW)
Hi all :)
Just wondering how owners of generators use them in inclement weather in regards to safe operation when its raining.
We recently bought our gennie only to use on our property in lieu of power not being available to the temporary caravan we have set up as
home - and especially during winter. It worries me using it in wet weather conditions - given that these things output 240VAC. It has to be covered so that it doesn't get wet - but also needs to be able to breathe. I'm also not sure that I like the idea of an extension cord snaking around the ground outside in the wet...or is this worry a furphy as long as both ends are dry?
What do people do as far as a gennie cover when it's raining? I'm thinking of using our (departed) dog's kennel as a permanent cover - but it's made from steel and isn't really
well...uhmmm... insulated. It has a big entrance, so the exhaust could be pointed out
the entrance leaving it sucking clean air to burn from behind.
Any ideas?
Cheers
Chris
Reply By: Member - bushfix - Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 at 14:22
Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 at 14:22
G'day,
yep, i use a (RIP my girl) kennel, marine painted 3ply, at
home for the tank pump. Only because my girl ain't above ground anymore, sympathise with you there Chris. Otherwise, much cheaper (and easy) to knock up your own housing. My genset sits in the garage. Funny you posted this today as last night we had a blackout. My six neighbours had power yet I was the only one with sunken power (dug it myself!!! uhhhh) and a genset. Needed it for a couple of hours.
Ditto on the ventilation, and don't forget to earth it.
Re your concern on the cord: Get the longest you can then elec tape over the join and overhand them together (to take up stress if pulled) and keep off ground at the junctions, to minimise seepage into the conductors. Do you have an AC protection switch on the genset, then use it. Otherwise, use a portable RCD.
cheers,
Jeremy.
AnswerID:
117060
Follow Up By: hl - Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 at 16:46
Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 at 16:46
Hi,
A portable RCD will do nothing unless the generator is properly grounded.
As for the circuit breaker, it will also do nothing to protect you.
As it may be impractical to ground the gennie properly, it would be best to use only double insulated appliances with it and be extremely cautious.
If you can ground the generator, the an RCD is a must, in my opinion.
Cheers
FollowupID:
372567
Follow Up By: Member - bushfix - Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 at 21:13
Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 at 21:13
as i said, "don't forget to earth it"
the situation sounds like grounding/earthing will not be a prob. :)
FollowupID:
372605
Follow Up By: motherhen - Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 at 23:13
Thursday, Jun 23, 2005 at 23:13
Hi bushfix - how do you earth it?
FollowupID:
372619
Follow Up By: Member - bushfix - Friday, Jun 24, 2005 at 07:07
Friday, Jun 24, 2005 at 07:07
G'day motherhen,
should be an earth/ground terminal on the gennie. from that, run as short a length as posibble of earthing cable (good copper) to a metal stake/"pin" and tap that into the ground firmly, the deeper the better, the firmer the connections the better. some gennies come with the cable and stake, some without.
cheers.
FollowupID:
372633