Floating Neutral and Metal back box - OK?

[Justin Time]

My Champion generator is set up (according to the manual) as having a floating neutral.

The plan was to run a 16A commando hook up cable from the generator, to supply the house via a 4 gang extension cable taken from the hook-up, to power class 2 devices in the house

However, instead of running the hook up through a window into the house, I'd considered running it to an outside wall, into a 16A Mennekes 16A commando plug, and then through the wall to a stand-alone13A wall socket, which would be completely independent of the mains electricity supply/system in the house.

Looking at possible 13A wall socket possibilities, obviously those with metal 25mm backplates have an earth connection on the plate and an earth strap from the earth terminal on the faceplate, connecting the fixing screws to the plate. If this arrangement is used, my question is whether this would negate the floating neutral system, which I want to maintain?

As an alternative, would a surface mounted plastic backbox for a 13A wall socket work better, as these are not earthed/grounded to the house wall, but rely on the floating neutral system?

Or, would it be better to feed through the wall, to a 16A commando plug, on the inside wall of the house, which would also be stand alone and not earthed to the wall?

One of the 4 gang extension cables I have has a 16A plug attached, so this could be readily used in the house to run class 2 items from.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

There's no hazard with the earth terminal of the equipment being in contact with earth, or not well insulated from it. The point of IT is that both live conductors need to remain highly insulated from earth and until you make a deliberate connection to neutral, or the first fault occurs, that will remain so.

If you want to power multiple devices from an IT source, it's worth remembering that protection against shock from multiple faults can be achieved by separate RCD protection of each device. The RCDs will not trip on the first fault but will do so if a shock current passes through a second fault at a different location to the first.

 

[Justin Time]

There's no hazard with the earth terminal of the equipment being in contact with earth, or not well insulated from it. The point of IT is that both live conductors need to remain highly insulated from earth and until you make a deliberate connection to neutral, or the first fault occurs, that will remain so.

If you want to power multiple devices from an IT source, it's worth remembering that protection against shock from multiple faults can be achieved by separate RCD protection of each device. The RCDs will not trip on the first fault but will do so if a shock current passes through a second fault at a different location to the first.

Thanks Lucien. That's very reassuring to know.