Grounding the Generator
10 www.honeywellgenerators.com HW5600C Portable Electrical Generator Owner’s Manual
Grounding the Generator
The National Electric Code (NEC) and the Canadian Elec-
trical Code (CE Code) require the generator to be con-
nected to an earth ground. Before using the generator,
connect a copper wire (minimum 10 AWG) from the
ground terminal (see Figure 14) to an earth ground. Con-
sult a licensed electrician for proper grounding methods.
The generator has a floating neutral which means the
ground terminal on the generator is not connected to AC
neutral wire in the generator. If using a receptacle tester, it
will not show the same ground circuit condition as for a
home receptacle.
Special Requirements
There may be Federal or State Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, Canadian Cen-
tre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) regula-
tions, local codes, or ordinances that apply to the intended
use of generator. Consult a licensed electrician, electrical
inspector, or the local agency having jurisdiction.
• In some areas, generators are required to be regis-
tered with local utility companies.
• If generator is used at a construction site, there may
be additional regulations which must be observed.
Using Generator for Back-up Power
The NEC requires any generator connected to a building’s
electrical wiring utilize a transfer switch installed by a
licensed electrician.
Generator must be grounded to prevent electrical
shock from faulty appliances.
• Before using generator, consult a licensed electrician,
electrical inspector, or local agency having jurisdiction
for local codes or ordinances that apply to the intended
use of generator.
FIGURE 14: Ground Terminal
Before connecting to a building’s electrical system, consult
your local utility company and/or a licensed electrician.
Improper connections to a building's electrical system can
be deadly.
Electrical current from generator can feedback into
utility lines. Such feedback may electrocute utility
company workers or others who contact utility lines
during a power outage.
Electrical current can feedback into generator. When
utility power is restored, generator may explode,
burn, or cause fires in building's electrical system.
What is a transfer switch?
A transfer switch is a device that allows switching
from utility power to emergency generator power.
The transfer switch is either a manual switch, an
automatic switch, or a combination of manual and
automatic. During a power outage, the transfer
switch isolates generator-powered circuits from the
utility line, allowing for safe and efficient operation of
the generator without backfeeding into utility power.
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