Honda generator???
 

I have just recently purchased a Honda EU1000 generator to use at the
dock when the power goes out during storm conditions. In using a
circuit tester I have found the unit has power on both the hot side
and the neutral side of the plug. This sets off the reverse polarity
light on my AC panel. Is this normal or do I have a problem with this
unit. Thanks, Chuck

Sounds like something is backwards. I would doubt that the Honda folks
would wire their generator backwards. How did you get from a 30 amp
connector to a 15?

"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
I have just recently purchased a Honda EU1000 generator to use at the
dock when the power goes out during storm conditions. In using a
circuit tester I have found the unit has power on both the hot side
and the neutral side of the plug. This sets off the reverse polarity
light on my AC panel. Is this normal or do I have a problem with this
unit. Thanks, Chuck

Rick, Marinco makes an adapter.



"Rick" wrote in message ...
Sounds like something is backwards. I would doubt that the Honda folks
would wire their generator backwards. How did you get from a 30 amp
connector to a 15?

"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
I have just recently purchased a Honda EU1000 generator to use at the
dock when the power goes out during storm conditions. In using a
circuit tester I have found the unit has power on both the hot side
and the neutral side of the plug. This sets off the reverse polarity
light on my AC panel. Is this normal or do I have a problem with this
unit. Thanks, Chuck

Agreed I would trust a MarinCo adaptor but a lot of 30A to 15A are home
made. If it is made "Official" I would check it with a VOM to verify.


"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
Rick, Marinco makes an adapter.



"Rick" wrote in message
...
Sounds like something is backwards. I would doubt that the Honda folks
would wire their generator backwards. How did you get from a 30 amp
connector to a 15?

"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
I have just recently purchased a Honda EU1000 generator to use at the
dock when the power goes out during storm conditions. In using a
circuit tester I have found the unit has power on both the hot side
and the neutral side of the plug. This sets off the reverse polarity
light on my AC panel. Is this normal or do I have a problem with this
unit. Thanks, Chuck

A 30A to 15A adapter is a pin for pin transformation. Why would it be
suspect?

Doug
s/v Callista

"Rick" wrote in message
...
Agreed I would trust a MarinCo adaptor but a lot of 30A to 15A are home
made. If it is made "Official" I would check it with a VOM to verify.


"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
Rick, Marinco makes an adapter.



"Rick" wrote in message
...
Sounds like something is backwards. I would doubt that the Honda
folks
would wire their generator backwards. How did you get from a 30 amp
connector to a 15?

"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
I have just recently purchased a Honda EU1000 generator to use at
the
dock when the power goes out during storm conditions. In using a
circuit tester I have found the unit has power on both the hot side
and the neutral side of the plug. This sets off the reverse polarity
light on my AC panel. Is this normal or do I have a problem with
this
unit. Thanks, Chuck

Because there are two new items in the mix. The adaptor to get to a 15 amp
connector and the Honda generator. This of course assumes that the boat is
wired correctly. If black and white are swapped in the dock outlet (when
the electrician put it in; doubtful) then the boat owner may have swapped
black and white in the boat to compensate; double doubtful.

When it comes down to it just check it with a VOM. Any number of things
could be wrong.

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
A 30A to 15A adapter is a pin for pin transformation. Why would it be
suspect?

Doug
s/v Callista

"Rick" wrote in message
...
Agreed I would trust a MarinCo adaptor but a lot of 30A to 15A are home
made. If it is made "Official" I would check it with a VOM to verify.


"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
Rick, Marinco makes an adapter.



"Rick" wrote in message
...
Sounds like something is backwards. I would doubt that the Honda
folks
would wire their generator backwards. How did you get from a 30 amp
connector to a 15?

"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
I have just recently purchased a Honda EU1000 generator to use at
the
dock when the power goes out during storm conditions. In using a
circuit tester I have found the unit has power on both the hot
side
and the neutral side of the plug. This sets off the reverse
polarity
light on my AC panel. Is this normal or do I have a problem with
this
unit. Thanks, Chuck

Chuck Baier wrote:
I have just recently purchased a Honda EU1000 generator to use at the
dock when the power goes out during storm conditions. In using a
circuit tester I have found the unit has power on both the hot side
and the neutral side of the plug. This sets off the reverse polarity
light on my AC panel. Is this normal or do I have a problem with this
unit. Thanks, Chuck

You should not expect to be able to make accurate measurements
between the shore power and the generator output unless you have an
arrangement set up to ensure phase lock synchronisation between the
shore power and the generator exciter. This is not a common option.

Whithout sync the AC frequencies will not be in step, and voltage
measurements between the two systems are misleading, even downright
confusing.

If shore power fails and then you start the gen and switch power
plugs all would likely be fine, try it and see. If you want auto
startup and switchover, sync is not normally an issue, because a
regrigerator or a radio won't care much. The only time you would
expect to see coherent readings is if you had a hot running standby
generator set up to switchover either in sync, or at zero phase
switchover which removes the possibility of a power bump, providing
a clean power switchover. Such a system is overkill for most
consumer applications. A hot standby battery - inverter UPS is
better cost effectiveness for sensitive computer operations. It will
maintain a constant output ac frequency without phase lock during
main power failure and generator startup, because it provides an
independant ac source for critical equipment all the time. Note:
this power is not garaunteed to be in sync with main power source
from hydro either, without a similar complicated synchronised setup.

If you don't know about phase power technicalities, please consult a
professional.

Terry K

Finally talked to a human at honda service dept. They tell me this is
normal for both points of the outlet to show voltage and it "won't
hurt anything". BTW the boat is 22 years old and wire fine. I have no
problems whatsoever with the 110 volt when plugged in at various
Marinas and docks over the years. This just sounds odd to me, but I
have never had a small gas generator like this before.


"Rick" wrote in message ...
Because there are two new items in the mix. The adaptor to get to a 15 amp
connector and the Honda generator. This of course assumes that the boat is
wired correctly. If black and white are swapped in the dock outlet (when
the electrician put it in; doubtful) then the boat owner may have swapped
black and white in the boat to compensate; double doubtful.

When it comes down to it just check it with a VOM. Any number of things
could be wrong.

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
A 30A to 15A adapter is a pin for pin transformation. Why would it be
suspect?

Doug
s/v Callista

"Rick" wrote in message
...
Agreed I would trust a MarinCo adaptor but a lot of 30A to 15A are home
made. If it is made "Official" I would check it with a VOM to verify.


"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
Rick, Marinco makes an adapter.



"Rick" wrote in message
...
Sounds like something is backwards. I would doubt that the Honda
folks
would wire their generator backwards. How did you get from a 30 amp
connector to a 15?

"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
I have just recently purchased a Honda EU1000 generator to use at
the
dock when the power goes out during storm conditions. In using a
circuit tester I have found the unit has power on both the hot
side
and the neutral side of the plug. This sets off the reverse
polarity
light on my AC panel. Is this normal or do I have a problem with
this
unit. Thanks, Chuck

Chuck,
In a home electrical system there is zero volts between ground (green)
and common (white), the larger of the two slots. They're attached to a
common bar in your circuit breaker box. There is 120 volts between either
ground or common (neutral) and the line wire (black), the smaller slot. This
is know as a grounded system. A lot of industrial systems are ungrounded.
There is about 60 volts between ground and either the neutral or the line
side, there is 120 volts between neutral and the line wire. Sounds like you
might have an ungrounded system.
Paul


"Chuck Baier" wrote in message
om...
I have just recently purchased a Honda EU1000 generator to use at the
dock when the power goes out during storm conditions. In using a
circuit tester I have found the unit has power on both the hot side
and the neutral side of the plug. This sets off the reverse polarity
light on my AC panel. Is this normal or do I have a problem with this
unit. Thanks, Chuck

There should be NO interconnect at all between the generator and shore
power. If shore power is live your generator would provide an
interesting fireworks show. If shore power is out you could kill the
linemen working on it who are not expecting power to come the "wrong
direction". If you are going to plug a boat into the generator and
have it mimic shore power the neutral and the green ground wire would
be connected at the generator and the generator frame would also be
connected to these wires and a good ground. It sounds like the
generator is letting the neutral "float" in relation to ground. I
really don't know enough about the Honda generator to tell you if this
is dangerous or if grounding it the way I described might also be
dangerous.

Joe

ps - If it were possible to wire boats with a floating AC system I
think it would be much better, but we are stuck with the grounded
system.