To preface, we were without power for a full week around 2003 due to an ice storm in the Midwest US. The WAF was very low then, since no generators were available because they sold out everywhere. Ended up ordering a generator and going to a hotel in the meantime. Naturally the generator arrived the day after the power was restored. I start it every 6 months.
Asking this here because there are a lot of electrically knowledgable people in these forums.
I installed an EZ Generator switch for my furnace. It comes wired for a bonded ground generator. A YouTube video shows how to rewire the switch for a floating ground generator.
My gas generator has a bonded ground.
Then I see this power station and figure it is easier to get power than hauling the generator out, filling it with gas, etc.
The link for the power station didn't work, so I wasn't able to see what it has for receptacles.
I have an EcoFlow Delta 2 and I do not believe there is an actual ground terminal on the receptacles - just a hole for the plug's ground pin to insert into. If your power station is the same, the plug you linked that jumpers the neutral to the ground won't do anything.
I too have a gas generator (purchased for my sister to use post Derecho 2020), with big dreams of one day getting a gen interlock on my main panel. Still haven't done the house side yet, but I did spend some time un-bonding the neutral to ground on the generator. If you don't use a switched neutral transfer switch on your house, that is where you would want to break the Neutral-Ground bond. When you use the generator stand alone (powering tools and devices directly from the gen's receptacles) is when you would want to use the bonding plug.
In short - you may be okay just using the power station as is. I don't know, but I assume there is some sort of GFCI on the power stations to prevent any issues.
The dreams really aren't that big or expensive if you have the breaker space, or can relocate a top one. It is very convenient to power whatever you want, within the parameters of your generator capability.
I've since gotten a standby, but continue to use this to save fuel.
My home is old, with fuses and 100 amp service. The power station will be plugged into the EZ Generator switch and the house wiring will be disconnected when I flip the switch.
I have 3 different outlet testers that all report open ground when plugged into the power station. There is no external ground lug.
Finally got a reply from the manufacturer of the power station confirming it has a floating neutral.
I know 12 volts from my years as a mechanic. 120 volts isn’t as forgiving.
You are correct. I plugged it in and all 3 testers still reported an open ground.
So do I wire the EZ Generator switch for floating ground and modify the gas generator to change it to a floating ground also ? (looks like remove a wire and wrap it with electrical tape)
Or should I return the power station and find one with a bonded ground?
My impression is the floating neutral generators are less safe.
Oh it's even worse - I have the interlock parts, I have the gen breaker in place, I have an inlet box, I have a roll of 10-3 Romex. I just need the time to put all the parts into place. That's been the stumbling block for the last few (sad to say) years.
My utility's stable power has really killed my motivation to get this particular project off the ground.
At this rate, I'm probably not far from a solar gen coming out with 240VAC native output and just skipping the gen connection going to the outside.
Fired up the gas generator (bonded neutral) to the EZ Generator Switch (bonded neutral). The furnace operated correctly of course.
Disconnected the gas generator and connected the power station (floating neutral) to the EZ Generator switch (bonded neutral). The furnace operated correctly.
Since both the gas generator and EZ Generator switch are bonded neutral, I can safely assume this is safe.
What issues could develop using the power station that has a floating neutral with the switch that is wired for a bonded neutral?
The owner of EZ Generator switch has a bunch of YouTube videos but none about my setup. He states right in the videos to call him with any questions. I call and get a message to call back then I get disconnected. My email message has been waiting for a reply for days.
If the EZ Generator switch is wired for a bonded ground, use a bonded ground generator. If the switch is wired for a floating ground, use a floating ground generator.
