Generator grounding question

[jdarwin]

We just bought a Champion 200988 4500 watt inverter generator. When I plugin my Southwire surge protector, (with shore power connected) it’s throwing an error saying the L1&2 and grounds are reversed. I called Champion who told me the problem is with the sensitivity of the surge protector. I read a couple of websites that suggest making a bonding plug. As power problems are not my strong suit I’m looking for help. I get nervous when a company points fingers at another’s products.

Here’s a link to Champion discussing the problem
http://help.championpowerequipment.c...n-my-generator

[rohrmann]

You can either buy one or make your own. This is one for sale. https://rvpower.southwire.com/produc...g-model-44400/
Or, you can just buy a three prong replacement plug, and using a short pice of wire, connect the ground terminal to the neutral terminal inside the plug housing. This is exactly what the one above is.
Many generators that are inverter style have a floating ground instead of like contractor generators that have them tied together. The EMS devices are expecting to see what you would have plugged into a pedestal, where the ground and neutral is connected together back at the main meter panel, so they throw a code or just stay open if they don’t see this with these generators.

[Carl n Susan]

Here is a great article on the floating ground and the solution using a bonded neutral plug, including pictures.
http://noshockzone.org/generator-gro...utral-bonding/

Do a Search here on the MOC for "bonded neutral plug" and you will find you are not the first to discover this phenomenon. Lots of good info in these discussions.

[Keith Schweizer]

I have 2 Honda 2000 watt to power my fiver. Would I need to have a bonding plug for each generator as I would run the 2 generators together as one.
I have the Progressive 50 amp installed inside.
Anyone have this issue and resolved it? I would really appreciate any help with this.
Thank you to any replies, Keith

[carlrx7]

Originally Posted by Keith Schweizer

I have 2 Honda 2000 watt to power my fiver. Would I need to have a bonding plug for each generator as I would run the 2 generators together as one.
I have the Progressive 50 amp installed inside.
Anyone have this issue and resolved it? I would really appreciate any help with this.
Thank you to any replies, Keith

If you run both gens in parallel, only one needs to be bonded to neutral.

[DQDick]

And the bonding plugs are inexpensive on Amazon.