[DeLuce]

As above. Those that use them, do you earth them to your van? Ground spike? Or not bother as the frame of the generator can act as earth point?
Just read gennie instructions and says to earth it ! Read up about this, but there seems to be differing points of view even among sparkies. Most say ground spikes are a waste of time. I was just going to either leave mine running in the very rear of van so fumes can escape or just plonk it on the ground outside the back doors!
What do you do?? Thanks.

[DeLuce]

Anumpty should read among!!

[DeLuce]

Doh! 'Among'

[Perfect Windows]

As above. Those that use them, do you earth them to your van? Ground spike? Or not bother as the frame of the generator can act as earth point?
Just read gennie instructions and says to earth it ! Read up about this, but there seems to be differing points of view even anumpty sparkies. Most say ground spikes are a waste of time. I was just going to either leave mine running in the very rear of van so fumes can escape or just plonk it on the ground outside the back doors!
What do you do?? Thanks.

Depends.  If you're running it on 110v, the max shock you'll get is 55v.  Unpleasant but not going to kill you, which is why it's used on every site in the UK.

I didn't use 240v when I did guttervaccing so I don't know about earthing it.  Get it wrong and you'll get t a full 240v shock, which is something you really, really don't want.

Vin

[G Griffin]

Anumpty should read anumpty!!

Among.

[DeLuce]

As above. Those that use them, do you earth them to your van? Ground spike? Or not bother as the frame of the generator can act as earth point?
Just read gennie instructions and says to earth it ! Read up about this, but there seems to be differing points of view even anumpty sparkies. Most say ground spikes are a waste of time. I was just going to either leave mine running in the very rear of van so fumes can escape or just plonk it on the ground outside the back doors!
What do you do?? Thanks.

Depends.  If you're running it on 110v, the max shock you'll get is 55v.  Unpleasant but not going to kill you, which is why it's used on every site in the UK.

I didn't use 240v when I did guttervaccing so I don't know about earthing it.  Get it wrong and you'll get t a full 240v shock, which is something you really, really don't want.

Vin

Ok Vin, thanks.

[Spruce]

I would have thought that using an RCD on a 230 volt genie would be a good idea.

[DeLuce]

Hi Spruce. Yeah, I wondered that. But they say if you do that you need to 'modify' the generator. Something to do with the earth.
I think I may have been a little hasty in acquiring one. I went for a 240v 3 pin plug model ( Clarke 2.8kva) . Maybe I should have gone for a 110v. Like Vin explained.

[Perfect Windows]

Hi Spruce. Yeah, I wondered that. But they say if you do that you need to 'modify' the generator. Something to do with the earth.
I think I may have been a little hasty in acquiring one. I went for a 240v 3 pin plug model ( Clarke 2.8kva) . Maybe I should have gone for a 110v. Like Vin explained.

110V gives you less chance of being fried but brings other problems (restricted length and large diameter wire requirements of extension cables being a biggie).  Loads of people work with 240v all day so if you research generator safety you should be able to find a safe way to work.

Vin

[AuRavelling79]

My generator I got from Aldi or Lidl, 18 months ago - it's got a pair of three pin plug sockets.

I start it, I plug in the guttervac, I use it. Not in the rain. Simples.

Where am I going wrong?

[Spruce]

Hi Spruce. Yeah, I wondered that. But they say if you do that you need to 'modify' the generator. Something to do with the earth.
I think I may have been a little hasty in acquiring one. I went for a 240v 3 pin plug model ( Clarke 2.8kva) . Maybe I should have gone for a 110v. Like Vin explained.

I don't think you were hasty. 110V is a requirement for building sites etc for the reason Vin has said. A 110v vacuum cleaner will require twice the amperage to run it than the exact same 230v unit would do. So 230v is more convenient. (On building sites they start off with 230v and then use a transformer to reduce the current to 110v to protect the operator).

Overseas we used 220v generators on site all the time and we never earthed them. We also never used earth leakage protection with them either.

I have had a look at the 2.8KVA generator on the Machine Mart website. They don't mention anything about earthing the generator in the list of 'don'ts.' Their generator isn't supplied with an rcd either.

Obviously, you won't be working outside in the rain with your generator and you won't be working with wet hands near switches etc.

If your van is in the back of the van, the van's tyres and generators rubber mounting feet will insulate the generator from the ground you are standing on and as you say, ground spikes are next to useless.

[Spruce]

I think the real issue with this started about 40 years ago when power tool motor housings started to be made from 'plastic' rather than 'metal'.

Plastic housings meant that motors now become double insulated which meant that there no longer was a requirement for a power cable to have a 3rd earth wire. (All power tools, strimmers etc only have twin wire cables, postive and neutral.)

So in extreme cases, suggesting that the generator be earthed to ground was better than nothing; but then I hardly think that most intelligent humans would use a 230v drilling machine whilst standing on an ali step ladder in the middle of a swimming pool full of water, would they.
Then again, anyone who does so deserves to be taken out of the gene pool, hopefully before they reproduce.  
 

[SeanK]

The thing is unless its your main job you don't need a generator for gutter vac cleaning.
If a customer asks for a gutter clean I make an appointment to be there at a certain time
and simply plug it into their electricity.
I usually arrange for all my gutter cleans to be done on a Saturday so as not to interfere with my window
cleaning.
On a plus point is there's nearly always a neighbour who sees me cleaning and asks if I could also do theirs.
A generator puts a fair bit of extra expense onto a clean.

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

I got a nasty shock from mine the other day, I run it in the back of my van when gutter cleaning. It ran out of petrol half way through the job, I was shocked as I had only recently filled it up!  240v in rain hail and thunder (waterproof plugs) SHOCKING! Whys my hair curly?

[DeLuce]

Hi Spruce. Yeah, I wondered that. But they say if you do that you need to 'modify' the generator. Something to do with the earth.
I think I may have been a little hasty in acquiring one. I went for a 240v 3 pin plug model ( Clarke 2.8kva) . Maybe I should have gone for a 110v. Like Vin explained.

I don't think you were hasty. 110V is a requirement for building sites etc for the reason Vin has said. A 110v vacuum cleaner will require twice the amperage to run it than the exact same 230v unit would do. So 230v is more convenient. (On building sites they start off with 230v and then use a transformer to reduce the current to 110v to protect the operator).

Overseas we used 220v generators on site all the time and we never earthed them. We also never used earth leakage protection with them either.

I have had a look at the 2.8KVA generator on the Machine Mart website. They don't mention anything about earthing the generator in the list of 'don'ts.' Their generator isn't supplied with an rcd either.

Obviously, you won't be working outside in the rain with your generator and you won't be working with wet hands near switches etc.

If your van is in the back of the van, the van's tyres and generators rubber mounting feet will insulate the generator from the ground you are standing on and as you say, ground spikes are next to useless.

Again, thanks for the replies.  Much appreciated. Feel a bit better after reading that and other posts. Cheers.

[DeLuce]

I got a nasty shock from mine the other day, I run it in the back of my van when gutter cleaning. It ran out of petrol half way through the job, I was shocked as I had only recently filled it up!  240v in rain hail and thunder (waterproof plugs) SHOCKING! Whys my hair curly?

  Niiice!!
I know, maybe I'm being overly cautious, but I'm scared of getting crisped. 

[J.D]

I use a loncin LC6500 genie and I phoned the company (W.Robinsons & Sons) and they told me I had no need to earth it! I'm still alive after 5 years use!

[DeLuce]

I use a loncin LC6500 genie and I phoned the company (W.Robinsons & Sons) and they told me I had no need to earth it! I'm still alive after 5 years use!

Ok, thanks JD, good to know.