portable generator wring

[brightspark26]

hi everyone i am a time served electrician and i have been asked to fit a consumer unit with 2 double sockets/ 1 internal light and 2 external lights
in a 12x6 box trailer
it will be supplied from a portable generator and supplied into the trailer via an apliance inlet
i have an issue that it may not be the same generator that supplies the trailer as its used for club events and it all depends what generator is there.I am intending fitting an insulated consumer unit with 30ma rcd main switch but im conserned about the earth issue
any ideas would be great

 

[Robotstar5]

I shall watch this with interest as I've had a few issues with generators at local stables.

 

[Guest123]

Tell whoever owns the trailer to buy their own genny to go with it.

You can't budget for the totally unknown, no one can.

 

[Strima]

Sect 717 covers the basics but for the life of me I can't remember if we TT'd the whole lot and had bonding through the supply cable, years of alcohol abuse has ruined that for me...

 

[Guest123]

Some info here...

Wiring Matters - 2011 issues - IET Electrical

Issue 39, summer 2011.


Also see attached PDF.

 

[brightspark26]

the problem i have is that the generator that will be used is unknown so i dont know if its a floating earth etc

 

[Guest123]

the problem i have is that the generator that will be used is unknown so i dont know if its a floating earth etc

That's what I was angling at in post #3, God knows what they will be plugging the unit in to.

 

[brightspark26]

i also thought about fitting a spike to the trailer but i dont think this would help

 

[brightspark26]

I got a generator with an earth spike and I connected the trailer up as per normal wiring and my tested showed no earth. So I bridged out n-e at the appliance inlet and then it showed and earth and allowed the red to trip. Is this the best way to do this ?

 

[Billynm]

I got a generator with an earth spike and I connected the trailer up as per normal wiring and my tested showed no earth. So I bridged out n-e at the appliance inlet and then it showed and earth and allowed the red to trip. Is this the best way to do this ?

Hasn't this turned the installation into a TN system ?

 

[brightspark26]

This was the only way the RCD would operate and show an earth at the sockets etc. why would it not work when it was wired normally. ?

 

[Billynm]

This was the only way the RCD would operate and show an earth at the sockets etc. why would it not work when it was wired normally. ?

Was an earth brought into the trailer with the supply ?

 

[brightspark26]

I fitted a c form appliance inlet then hard wired from there.
The cable from the generator to the trailer was a flex in good condition.
I just want to make sure this is the correct method. I may bridged it out at the appliance inlet as the generator was hired in for 1 day. They are planning on buying a generator with a earth spike etc soon