[TowerTalk] Grounding, portable generators, field day

[Jim Brown]

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 11:00:51 -0500, Gary Schafer wrote:

>Why do you install a ground rod at the generator?

Safety codes in general require that a power system have its neutral 
bonded to earth within a very short distance of where it is 
established. In a building, that would be the service entrance. A 
generator also establishes a system, so that's the generally 
required location. 

>Just use a gfi breaker. 

Well, it's safe, but I would be concerned that leakage currents 
could cause nuisance tripping. As K6RIX noted, they can also trip on 
RF (although I would be VERY surprised if they tripped at the 150 
watt level unless the antenna system was "strange"). I've had 
problems at home with RF tripping at 1 kW to antennas within about 
20 ft, but never at 100 watts. 

BTW -- our club (North Shore Radio Club, operating as K9OR) was #3 
in 3A, a close second for all classes in the 9th call area, and #16 
nationally for all classes. 

Jim Brown  K9YC