When you get a new Predator generator, the first instruction for safety maintenance you’ll hear is to make sure it is grounded. A portable generator may seem like it doesn’t need grounding. However, you should know how to ground your generator to avoid safety concerns. So how exactly do you go about grounding a generator?
Grounding helps ensure the safety of your generator. To ground your generator, you need to use a copper rod. Insert this into the earth, a few feet away from your generator. Securely connect the other end of the copper rod to the generator. This technique will prevent any issues with electrical safety.
The paragraph above explains the gist of what is needed to complete grounding, but that’s not all. This process can be pretty complicated, so we recommend that you read through this whole article to understand what grounding actually entails.
Grounding A Predator Generator
You may have heard other people talking about grounding their generators. Some people have a common misconception that portable generators don’t need grounding. However, in order to have a safe experience, you need to ground your generator. If you’ve wondered if you also need to ground your generator, this article is for you.
What Grounding Is
Grounding is an electrical technique in which you can connect an active electrical pathway to the ground. In some cases, you can also call this process earthing, a term used interchangeably in this article. Think of what happens when the current passes through a closed circuit. In terms of a generator, this process is even more amplified.
When you don’t connect a generator to the Earth, you carry out a considerable safety risk. Let’s say your generator gets overloaded by appliances, and there is a power surge through your circuit. If you don’t ground the generator, there is a risk that a fire can start as a result. You are also placing yourself at risk of getting a nasty electrical shock in some cases.
Grounding Portable Generators
There is a lot of debate about whether or not the manufacturers have already grounded portable generators. However, the answer is not as simple as it looks. Instead, the answer lies in whether your model needs earthing or not. Consider the idea that the manufacturers already earth newer models. However, you can’t know for sure. So how do you find out? Here are some things you can do:
- Check the safety manual you got with the generator. It will mention whether the grounding is necessary or not.
- Look up your generator model online and see what the manufacturer mentions regarding safety protocols.
- Is your model separately derived? Is there a transfer switch that has no space for a copper rod? This fact indicates there is no need for grounding.
However, if you are using an older model as a generator, you will find it might need earthing. To learn how to do that, you can keep reading this article for more information.
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Materials
You will need to get some things before you can get started on grounding your generator. Stop by your local hardware store or order them online, but make sure you have them all on hand, so you don’t have to scramble halfway through the process.
- Copper wire: you can use the copper wire to connect the generator to the rod that you will use for grounding.
- Copper rod: you will need a copper rod that is adaptable to grounding and measures at least 4 feet in length.
- Wire stripper: A wire stripper is an easy and safe way to connect your copper wire with other wires.
- Hammers, pliers, and a wrench.
- You may need a shovel to soften the Earth for grounding in some cases.
How to Ground Your Predator Generator
Now that you have all of the materials you need, you can get started on the actual process of grounding your Predator generator. So, how does this work? Follow these steps to get ahead:
- Choose a spot to install your copper rod. The rod needs to be inserted deep into the Earth to be effective. The best course of action is to find a spot a few feet away from your generator.
- If the ground is too hard in the spot you have chosen, you will need to add water and shovel the dirt up. This process will help soften the land to be ready for the installation process.
- Install the copper rod within the ground and make sure it is deep inside the Earth to be an effective grounding tool.
- Strip the copper wire at one end, and connect the end to your copper rod. Warp the connection using a plier to secure it even further.
- Strip the copper wire at the other end, and connect it to the generator. Use a grounding bolt to make the connection, and tighten it with a plier.
- Start your generator and use it as recommended. The generator should function as usual, with an added layer of security in the form of grounding.
Safety Precautions
You need to prioritize safety during this whole process. The last thing anyone needs is for someone to get hurt during the grounding process. So, keep in mind that maintaining safety precautions is a continuous process, making using the generator easy and protecting its longevity.
Always use the generator as you are directed to by the manufacturers. You can find information on how to do that in the instructions and safety manual. Secondly, there shouldn’t be a direct attachment between the generator and anything. There are transfer switches available, which can add another layer of security.
Finally, another way to make sure you are safe in this process is to use good-quality wires, switches, and equipment. Using cheaper alternatives can be quick and easy in the short term, but they will harm your generator after some time.
Conclusion
All in all, never put off grounding or assume that your generator doesn’t need it. With just a bit of work, you can cut down the chances of shocks and fires springing up, and you can also increase your generator’s health.