Grounding

The crankcase breather tube (fig. 3-4) is clamped to the engine breather assembly. The breather tube provides a path for engine crankcase vapors to exit the generator set. A rain shield is provided at the tube outlet to prevent rain from entering the tube when the generator is used outdoors. GROUNDING The generator set must be connected to a suitable ground before operation. WARNING Electrical faults in the generator set, load lines, or load equipment can cause injury or electrocution from contact with an ungrounded generator. The ground can be, in order of preference, an underground metallic water piping system (fig. 3-5, view A), a driven metal rod (fig. 3-5, view B), or a buried metal plate (fig. 3-5, view C). A ground rod must have a minimum diameter of 5/8 inch (41 mm) if solid or 3/4 inch (44 mm) if pipe. The rod must be driven to a minimum depth of 8 feet (2.44 M). A ground plate must have a minimum area of 2 square feet (0.186 square meter) and, where practical, be embedded below the permanent moisture level. The ground lead must be at least No. 6 AWG (American Wire Gauge) copper wire. The lead must be bolted or clamped to the rod, plate, or piping system. Connect the other end of the ground lead to the generator set ground terminal stud (fig. 3-6, view A). Use the following procedure to install ground rods: 1. Install the ground cable into the slot in the ground stud and tighten the nut against the cable. 2. Connect a ground rod coupling to the rod and install the driving stud in the coupling (fig. 3-6, view B). Make sure that the driving stud is bottomed on the ground rod. 3. Drive the ground rod into the ground until the coupling is just above the ground surface. 4. Connect additional rod sections, as required, by removing the driving stud from the coupling and installing another rod section in the coupling. Make sure the new ground rod section is bottomed on the ground rod section previously installed. Connect another coupling on the new section and again install the driving stud. Figure 3-5.—Methods of grounding generators. 3-9