Larry, One of my points in the HP gennie article is that you get what you pay for, and cheap generators - in this case, both the Homelite and the Generac - aren't always a good choice. The added cost of the T240 makes the great price not so great.
If the customer balks, offer them the article. If they still balk, turn down the job - you didn't cause the problem. If the Generac had a 120/120-240 selector switch, the T240 wouldn't be necessary. The selector switch comes on some more expensive units, like some Hondas and Subarus. Without it a T240 or equivalent is the only way to get full available output from the unit. I guarantee you'd void the warranty. Good luck! Allan Sindelar al...@positiveenergysolar.com NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer EE98J Journeyman Electrician Positive Energy, Inc. 3201 Calle Marie Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 505 424-1112 www.PositiveEnergySolar.com Allan, Using a T-240 fed from the 30 amp twist lock, non GFI, outlet with 240 volts and then taking the stepped down 120 volts into the Outback looks like it would solve the problem of having two neutral to ground bonds. It is a little pricey for the extra T-240 needed but it means not altering the new generator and possibly voiding the warrantee. It also leaves the 2-20 amp GFI receptacles on the generator in their proper working order for future use. Thanks for the helpful fix Larry On Nov 10, 2009, at 8:10 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote: > Larry, > The single VFX3524 takes 19A plus loads from one leg, way > overloading that > 120V leg. Your best bet would be to add a T240 or PSX240 to balance > both > legs. Then use the 30A 240V receptacle on the Genereck. The twist-loc > receptacle doesn't run through a GFI, so the tripping will go away. > Plus > your VFX can overload and trip the 20A breaker when charging at the > full 19A > and a surge load comes on. This would likely solve that. > > Contact me off-list if you'd like a pdf copy of the off-grid > gennies article > in Home Power; it will help explain a bit about wiring with the !)$%&@ > bonded-chassis neutral and a few other issues. > > Allan Sindelar > > -----Original Message----- > > On an off the grid system we did for a client a year or two back, we > installed an Outback VFX3524 mounted on a Midnight Solar E Panel. > They had a manual pull Homelight generator as back up. All worked > well. > Recently the client upgraded to an electric start 8000 watt Generac > generator. > Now every time they start the new generator, the GFI 20 amp > receptacle on the generator pops. > There is probably a redundant neutral to ground bond that is causing > this but I am uncertain on the best approach to remedy this condition > Any recommendations or experience on how to get the generator to > interface with the system? > > Thanks > Larry > > Larry Brown > Sun Mountain _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
