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<blockquote data-quote="David Buckley" data-source="post: 64373" data-attributes="member: 2235">Re: Running a generator on a boat?You can&#039;t, not without modding the generator, or using a transformer.I have a genset just like that, it&#039;s a dual voltage generator, in that it can supply either 240v or 120v, and both are centre tapped.In 110v mode it is compatible with the UK building site standard, which is 55-0-55 so a phase to earth shock is 55v.None of the many generator grounding or voltage arrangement is bad or good, they are&nbsp; just different and need to be understood in the context on how you want to use the genset.For this specific boat example, using a genset with RCD/GFCI outlets i&#039;d be tempted to bond the ground pin of the genset outlet to the boat ground terminal which should be the same as the boat metalwork.&nbsp;&nbsp; For a temporary setup this seems to offer the best chance of a safe setup.E2A - if you are running with a centre tapped supply one wiggle is that there are usually protective fuses in just the hot line, but with a centre tapped supply you have two hots and no neutral.&nbsp; Again not a big deal on a temp rig using RCDs and puny generators, but it is something to be aware of with bigger systems (eg &quot;balanced power&quot;) with more fault current potential.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="David Buckley, post: 64373, member: 2235"] Re: Running a generator on a boat? You can't, not without modding the generator, or using a transformer. I have a genset just like that, it's a dual voltage generator, in that it can supply either 240v or 120v, and both are centre tapped. In 110v mode it is compatible with the UK building site standard, which is 55-0-55 so a phase to earth shock is 55v. None of the many generator grounding or voltage arrangement is bad or good, they are just different and need to be understood in the context on how you want to use the genset. For this specific boat example, using a genset with RCD/GFCI outlets i'd be tempted to bond the ground pin of the genset outlet to the boat ground terminal which should be the same as the boat metalwork. For a temporary setup this seems to offer the best chance of a safe setup. E2A - if you are running with a centre tapped supply one wiggle is that there are usually protective fuses in just the hot line, but with a centre tapped supply you have two hots and no neutral. Again not a big deal on a temp rig using RCDs and puny generators, but it is something to be aware of with bigger systems (eg "balanced power") with more fault current potential. [/QUOTE]

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