Generac 5778 Portable Generator - XG4000 - 3600 Watt Portable Generator

4 Questions

Q: I AM CONSIDERING THIS GENERATOR TO POWER A 5TH WHEEL CAMPER TRAILER WITH A 15,000 BTU AIR CONDITIONER. IS IT ENOUGH POWER? WHAT IS THE DECIBEL RATING?
by WAYNE KLABUNDE from North Dakota on February 12, 2012

A: A typical 15k BTU AC unit can require 2800 watts at start-up but it is recommended to double check the starting amperage and use the following formula to calculate the true starting wattage required for the AC unit.

Starting Amps x Volts = Watts

Unfortunately, not all generator manufacturers publish the decibel ratings for their generators.

Currently, there are no industry standards or requirements for generator manufacturers to follow when testing their generators for noise.

Due to this, manufacturers can test the noise level under any conditions they choose and, therefore, the results are not very reliable as each company will test under conditions that are favorable to their products.

At this time there are no db(A) ratings available on this model.

by Jim, Product Expert

Q: Jim,
I'm a licensed NH Electrician I have a Honeywell 7500Watt Portable Generator that will be used to supply selected loads in a non-separately derived residential application as outlined by the 2011 NEC. The tag on this generator indicated that the neutral is bonded to the frame. I need to know if this generator can be made into a floating neutral generator without voiding listings or warranty. If the answer is yes then where and how does the manufacture recommend the removal of the bond? And will the manufacture send a new label that indicates the generator is now a floating neutral generator. This will be an issue with any generator that has its neutral bonded to the frame portable or stationary. Any info that you can give me will be a great help.

Regards,

Ron T.

by Ron Tasker from New Hampshire on January 08, 2012

A: The manufacturer does not recommend removing the bonded neutral from the generator and neither do I and just about 97% of generators on the market have a bonded neutral.

If you need to break the neutral in the generator backup set-up then you need to go with a GFI type transfer switch such as the Reliance Controls "X" series switches.....see link for details.

Reliance 30A GFI Transfer Panels

Reliance 60A GFI Transfer Panels

Note: Typically these switches are not required unless the large transfer switch outlet on the generator is GFI protected which is found on Professional generators such as the Generac "XP" models and not the "XG" model.

The biggest thing, is the fact that a generator has a bonded-neutral does not rule out compatibility with 2-pole transfer switches. The only time that a portable generator will not be compatible with a 2-pole transfer switch is if the generator has a bonded-neutral AND there is a GFCI breaker or GFCI mechanism protecting the receptacle they are using to connect the generator to the transfer switch.

Code does not require switching the neutral, so using a bonded generator with a Pro/Tran is perfectly fine as long as there is not a GFCI built into the receptacle that is being used. If there is a GFCI, it won't work because the breaker trips.

Any time a bonded-neutral generator is connected through a transfer switch to a house wiring system, there are two neutral-to-ground bond points: one at the main panel and one at the generator.

Having two bond points creates 'dual paths' on the ground and neutral, aka "ground loop", meaning the ground wire from the generator to the house panel will share everything with the neutral wire from the generator to the house panel.

This leads to there being a very small amount of current on the ground. If there is a GFCI breaker tied into the generator receptacle, it will sense this current on the ground and trip every time the generator is connected, even under No load.

* If the generator does not have a GFCI protecting the in-use receptacle, there will not be a trip and the generator will power circuits
successfully.

A common argument against this is: "but the ground cannot have any voltage or current in any situation" - this is not true. The NEC states "the ground cannot carry 'objectionable' current".

The ground wire in question is the wire between the house panel and the generator, a small amount of power on this wire is not a safety concern in this type of application.

We have no record of a single injury, or a single inspection ever turned down, related to a bonded neutral generator connected to a home through a 2-pole transfer switch.

Note that this has been done historically for decades, using bonded generators without switching the neutral, ever since generators and transfer switches existed.

There was never a problem until about 10 years ago when generators started adding GFCI's (per OSHA job site requirements) and wiring them into the larger receptacles. GFCI's on the 15 amp 120v outlets are usually separate and not connected to the 4 wire 120/240 outlets, but it's a challenge to identify this without contacting the manufacturer. It varies greatly and is rarely specified in the owners manual.

The entire problem here is related strictly to the GFCI breakers built into bonded-neutral generators, not the fact the generator has the neutral bond alone. In knowing this, if we look at all of the portable generators that are bonded neutral, and then if we separate the models WITH a GFCI breaker protecting the 120/240 outlet, the percentage of these generators is extremely small. These are the only generators that will ultimately require a 3-pole transfer switch that breaks the neutral.

Breaking the neutral simply eliminates the ground loop (dual paths) between the generator and house panel created by having two bond points, and will eliminate the problem of the GFCI breaker tripping.

I hope this information was helpful.

by Jim, Product Expert

Q: Jim, This is getting rediculus, not only you but every place I look they say the X series switches have been dis-continued, so what do we use ? I'm ready to order the XG7000E if I can find a switch that will work with it.
by Carl Funaro from New York on October 01, 2011

A: Have you considered this switch?

Reliance Controls Switch
by Jim, Product Expert

Q: I have just bought a XG8000E generator and I am unclear about how to ground it. Haven't needed to use it yet but I want to be prepared. The instructions are kind of vague on this and was hoping you could be a little more specific.
by Hugh Mulcahy from New York on February 25, 2011

A: There is a grounding lug at the bottom of the frame where you will see a green wire connected to a brass connection. From there you will need to connect your own green wire to a metal rod that is driven into the ground a minimum of 8 - 10 feet to meet most standard codes and then connect the green wire to the rod for proper grounding.
by Jim, Product Expert