Roperteacher

I got a new Duromax 4400E generator. Nice unit and haven't fired it uo yet. There is a 120-240V switch on it. I am assuming that for my trailer the 120 is all I will ever use? If I ever had to hook it up to my electric Dryer then I would use the 240? ( Dryer in house, not RV).

ALSO, it has a "Grounding Procedure" for the generator where you screw a wire into the front of it and stick a post in the ground. I haveve never seen this done and none of my previous generators called for this. I called a friend of mine who is an Onan certified generator repair guy and he told me not to even worry about it. Opinion??? ThankS!

pdogg

the 240v setting is when you want to run a welder or such things that use that voltage. the 120v is the main voltage for your trailer.. yes..

John Faughn

On the end of things , the ground wire / rod , is a good thing to use , and more important as the equipment is powers is more sensitive , not your skillsaw , but any radio equipment , computers ect.
You do not have to , but this is added safety .

Roperteacher

Thanks! Can you pick up these grounding wires from say Home depot or similar place?

1-2-3

Just get you a spike, preferably copper and clamp a wire to it, the bigger you want to mess with the better, but not too terribly large, so your not wrestling with it. #10 ougta be fine. Clamp that wire to the metal rod of your choice, shove it into he ground, then connect the wire to that ground terminal.

CamperAndy

Ground wiring will create more of a trip hazard for you then actually provide additional ground protecting for your portable generator.

OSHA requirements for grounding

Roperteacher

Cool, sounds like I really don't need the grounding rod anyway after reading that article. Thanks!

bentwings

I asked about the earth ground a number of times on various boards. Even the local electrician thinks it is not necessary. I called the gen mfg and they said to use the copper rod. Ever try to drive a copper rod in rock hard ground?? I suggested just tossing my chains on the ground and hook up a ground to them.

Look around and I doubt you will see any RV's with a ground like this. the RV boards just laughed.

I'd just be carefull when the ground is wet and handling the gen while it is running.

I tried measuring the voltage to a ground rod and didn't see anything with my digital VOM.

Roperteacher

Same here, I called the manufacturer and they said they have to put those in there for legalities but nobody ever does it and the generator will actually ground with the cradle it's in.

whiteeye42

you don't need the grounding rod unless you are using the gen set at a construction site

Roperteacher

New generator fired up first time I turned the key! Flawless!

billie

Connect the ground to the trailer frame for mobile application. #10 AWG will be good.

FWIW a copper ground rod is actually a copper clad steel rod so driving it isn't an issue.

CamperAndy

But pulling it out is near impossible.

bentwings

There is a set of foot long steel tent stakes still stuck in the ground in Tenn....10 years ago. haha