Electrical Forum - generator ground wire size

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Subject - generator ground wire size
Helpless_N_ny	What size wire should be used to ground a generator to a grounding rod? Would 14-3 extension cord wire be alright?
lctrc789	What size generator and 14-3 ext. cord never. Need more information to know for sure.
Ryan_J	Many generators don't need a grounding electrode. You should be more worried about whether or not the nuetral and ground are required to be bonded, and whether or not your transfre switch creates a seperatley derived system.
Helpless_N_ny	The generator is a 5600 watt (8600 surge) Craftsman. I'm planning to have it in my garage, have two metal boxes on garage wall each with a 12-2 extension cord hardwired to 12-2 romex going underground to the basement. The extension cords make it possible to move the generator around in garage and still be able to backup house. I want to have one circuit for my sump pump, and the other for my furnace. I'm going to put a switch (right after the breaker box) and a receptacle (right before furnace) in the romex that runs between panel and furnace. The second circuit will have a junction box with a short length of 12-2 extension cord with plug. When power goes off I'll open breaker at panel, and turn off at the switch (as a safety backup), then plug the extension cord plug into the receptacle by furnace. When power comes back on I'll disconnect the plug at furnace, close switch by panel and close breaker. I'm going to use 8 foot copper clad steel ground rod with clamp to ground generator (although generator manual doesn't mention having to). I thought using 14-3 extension cord wire (all wires, not just the ground wire) would be a good ground wire, considering it's flexibility. I'm trying to stay away from grid when using generator. I want to keep the two circuits seperate from the house wireing.
Ryan_J	Tell me about your transfer switch.
JimmyDee	quote: Originally posted by Ryan_J Tell me about your transfer switch. Looks like we don't have one in this case. Just a clear warning to those that choose to hook up an emergency generator illegally by not properly installing a transfer switch, I hope you have enough money to pay for a power company's lineman's funeral and family expenses the rest of their lives if you kill a lineman with this illegal hookup. I'm sure there would also be some criminal liability as well. I have been requested to show several persons how to back feed their systems. Because I'm enjoying a well earned retirement now, and want it to stay that way, I refuse to say or do anything that will help in that situation. I make a clear warning that what they are proposing is an illegal, dangerous and life threating situation. Back feeding a power company's transformer can kill. I guess what really scares me is when one does an illegal hookup, is the person that will connect the generator to the house, always know what they are doing?????? Transfer switches can be purchased for less than $60 at Mennards or Home Depot. The life we save may be a friend of mine. Jim
Helpless_N_ny	I wasn't aware that setting it up this way is considered back feeding. That's why I would run the circuits from the generator to house and not go into breaker box. As I said, I want to stay away from the grid. That is the last thing I wanted to do, thus the whole involved wireing idea in the first place. I don't mind the cost of a transfer switch, but can it be used either by me or an electrician without going near the panel? The whole idea was to have a backup without there being a chance of injury to anyone.
Ryan_J	You need a transfer switch.
stedder	For the amount of items you need / want to run, a six circuit transfer switch would suffice and would make your blackout experiance eaiser in the long run but the wire size does not match the generator output. We wish that you would get the job done safely and correctly. Thank You P.S. If done correctly the grounding and bonding will take care of themselves!
eleccon	Here in our area, we have to contact PG&E and tell them we are hooking up a generator so they can put it in the computer and the lineman can be made aware of it.