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Need help grounding my Yamaha portable generator?

I tried calling Yamaha and they were useless.

The manual says:

"Connect the ground lead of the machine to the ground terminal and connect the end to the ground electrode buried in the ground".

The machine currently has a green/yellow wire (ground and neutral, I think) connected to the engine and the other end bolted to the frame. This is the wire they are speaking of in the manual as there are no others. The problem is the ground terminal, which is behind the control box. They make it sound like I should have the G/Y wire and my ground electrode connected to the ground (earth) terminal. However, this terminal is a good seven inches away and if I unbolt the G/Y wire from the frame it will not reach; same if I remove from the engine. I'm not sure what the hell I'm supposed to do to ground this properly. Should I just leave the G/Y wire as is and run my ground electrode wire to the ground (earth) terminal behind the control box? It is a Yamaha EF2600, brand new right out of the box.

Update:

Goldwing, in a stationary situation a transfer switch is used so there is no risk of mixing household current with gen current. If the transfer switch is not properly installed, or god forbid bypassed entirely, grounding won't do a thing about the backfeed that could possibly electrocute those working on the power lines.

7 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    The only reason you would need a ground wire is if you are going to use this in a stationary situation. If you are going to use this with portable devices that have an AC cord and plug then you are done, no ground needed. If you are going to use it as a stationary source - for example hardwired to your furnace as a back up generator then you need to connect the "electrical ground" (frame) to the frame of the furnace with a bare copper wire the correct size. This "ground wire" will satisify the NEC requirements for a permanent in stallation.

  • hy
    Lv 4
    4 years ago

    Grounding A Portable Generator

  • rud
    Lv 4
    4 years ago

    You had better do your homework. Do you have a interior of sight save that may restoration such? maximum yet no longer all purchase a gas one. Now you ought to get into who manufacturers the gas engine. i could be careful of any generator that has a no call engine. a brilliant form of the no call engines are synthetic in China. the time-honored of such has the flair to be a disaster. sure, those so called chinese language ones replica different engine designs - however the producing and areas depart lots to be needed. And quicker or later the areas won't be available. And in case you ever prefer to sell such - which would be extra problematical. So that's acceptable to adhere with Honda or Yamaha engines. Or Kohler. probable Briggs & Stratton. yet be careful of Briggs & Stratton - as they only began to make a number of their engines in - watch for it - China. there's a plate on each engine that state the country of manufacture. stay remote from any variety the place engine is made in China. So the final diagnosis - get a Honda, Yamaha, or Kohler engine. Then, of direction, the fee is going up. You pay for what you get. you're gonna probable desire a 5000 or better a 7000. And back, who is going to repair such if maintenance are mandatory. from time to time it somewhat is acceptable to flow to interior of sight outdoor kit/small engine save and purchase regionally.

  • 1 decade ago

    OK..everyone's answer is right to a point! But....here is the full scoop!

    IF that gen set is used as truely portable, don't worry about it. IF a perminent or power situation, such as a beach, lake, etc., then you are usually required by law to have a true gound..as it is, you do NOT have a true ground and that could present danger if you have a defective unit plugged into the gen set, touch the unit and have bare feet on damp soil (will fry you) ...so they say, to cover their butts, GROUND to grounding rod..and they are right, for true safety, ground the unit...with a 5 foot rod hammered into the earth, run 12 gauge wire from frame to rod and clamp well on both ends...no chance of being electorcuted. But....in portable situations, no one does this. Once in the ground, you will probably not be able to get it back out. IF this is a back up gen set for power to the house, then GROUND IT!!!!! You do not want an ungrounded source of power to accidently mix with household current under any circumstances! Good luck and happy new year.

  • 1 decade ago

    Dont do a thing fire that puppy up its all ready grounded.

  • 1 decade ago

    That model is already grounded. Just make sure the oil level is good and fire her up.

  • Don
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Ground directly to the frame, and run your wire to a good earth ground. These parts are available at your local electrical supply that sells house-wiring supplies, you'll need a ground rod, clamp, and some solid copper wire.

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