tonyfletcher Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Hi All, Just bought a generator for those desparate moments. Followed the instructions, boiled a low voltage kettle ok, but when I plugged in to the Motor home, the reverse polarity light glows. Is this common? or do I have to use the reverse polarity lead I have made for the Continent? Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Have you connected the earth between generator and motorhome? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyfletcher Posted April 5, 2009 Author Share Posted April 5, 2009 I am using the same lead that I use when I connect the Motor home to the House. This works fine, all 3 wires are connected. Disconnecting the lead from the house and plugging it into the geny causes the reverse polarity light to glow????? Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Tony, I don't think that I can help you much more here, except to check that the generator is wired correctly and that the live is indeed the live etc. Do you mean the reverse polarity light fitted into your motorhome? Have you tried running the generator with a reversed lead? Sorry, not much help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Your polarity light is coming on because the generator is not wired the same as mains connections where the neutral is connected to earth at the substation. In your genny the earth is connected to the genny's frame but not to neutral. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyfletcher Posted April 5, 2009 Author Share Posted April 5, 2009 Thanks for reply, Does my husband need to worry about this or can it be used safely.It is only to top up battery, will not be running anything electrical from it. Will it cause any damage to the mh charger? Thanks Nicola Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Question for Dave Newell. Would there be any harm in connecting the generator earth to the generator neutral, so as to replicate the domestic supply conditions? Presumably this would put out the reverse polarity light in the motorhome? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul- Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Realistically no generator is safe unless it’s earthed; this requires fastening the earth lead to a metal rod & knocking it about a meter into the ground Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 If you wish then connect the generator EARTH and NEUTRAL connections inside the socket outlet on the generator. NO WHERE ELSE. You MUST then put a substancial earth stake into ground and connect this to the generator EARTH. You must then check for correct operation of your RCD on a regular basis. Isolated output generators are permitted in the UK providing they are used to power one piece of equipment or power tool. As soon as the supply is routed to more than one outlet or place then neutral bonding and earthing is required. Much more details in V17 of the IEE regs. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olley Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Hi you have had the technical explanation, so we can now get back to the real world; just use it the same as 99% of motorhomers. Olley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trooper Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I agree with olley, as long as it is a inverter type genny, just get on and use it, no prob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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