Camping Generators Archives - GeneratorRookie.com

Camping is an excellent escape from the hectic work schedule and stressful lifestyle into the wonders of nature. As much fun it is to enjoy outdoor camping activities without any extraneous distractions, you may need to benefit from certain electrical appliances that'll make your camping experience much more relaxing and trouble-free. Grounding a generator is not a difficult task all you need is to follow these 4 simple steps to ground your generator while camping. This guide will help you through the process of grounding the Generator when camping, to operate safely. First STEP: You Must Have the Following Tools To Ground A Generator If you do not have an extension to connect your electrical appliances to your Generator, grounding is the only solution left for you. But wait! Have you collected the right type of instruments to do so? Without such tools, you can't follow even a single step. So let's start with a brief overview of the list of tools you need to ground your Generator on a camping site. Copper Rod Here comes the first and foremost tool, which should be present in your tool kit when you're all set to ground your Generator. It's dug into the earth for dropping your portable Generator. Make sure it'll be no more than 4 ft. in length. Buy On Amazon Grounding Wire The grounding rod and the Generator are connected with the help of a grounding wire. The distance between the grounding rod and the portable Generator determines the length of the wire you need. Buy On Amazon Mallet No one has that much power to embed the copper rode into the hard ground. All you need is a sturdy object like a hammer or mallet for embedding the copper into the ground. Buy On Amazon Wire Strippers and Wrench Some extra tools are needed to mold the grounding copper wire for connecting the copper rode and the portable Generator. These tools include wire strippers, pliers, and the most important one â€“ wrench. Buy On Amazon How To Ground A Generator When Camping Once you're set with all the equipment you need, all that is left for you to do is follow these simple steps to ground your generator: Hammer The Copper Rod in The Ground The first thing that you need to do is to hammer your copper rod at least 8 feet into the ground. If the surface you're trying to install your copper rod into is hard, then you can pour some water over it to soften it up. Otherwise, it won't be a problem for the Rod to sink into the ground smoothly. If running water over the surface doesn't help, try inserting the Rod at some specific angle, no more than 45 degrees. Use The Wire Stripper for Stripping the Copper Wire When you've grounded the copper wire into the earth, it's time to strip the collected wire with the copper rod and portable Generator. Make use of the wire stripper to strip the copper wire at both ends carefully. Avoid over-stripping the wire and deny only the portion needed for grounding. Wrap One End of The Wire on the Rod There's no fruit of connecting the wire with the Rod and Generator if it's not wrapped correctly. The electrical supply depends on the way you wrap the wire. After stripping the wire, use the pliers to attach one end of the wire to the copper rod. Ideally, you need to tightly wrap the wire around the Rod for the Generator to operate safely. Connect the Other End of the Wire Directly to the Generator At last, you need to loosen the grounding bolt on the Generator. Use the wrench to grip the bolt and then rotate it until you reduce it enough to insert the other end of the stripped copper wire into the gap. Once you've inserted the wire and wrapped it tightly in there, you can again make use of the wrench to tighten the grounding bolt and end the grounding process. Why are we Grounding a Generator While Camping? We ground generators to connect the electrical device to the ground to ensure the device's safe working. It eliminates the chances of any electrical fault and of getting injured due to electrocution. Helpful Tips For Grounding A Generator at a Camping Site Every procedure comes with specific tips and tricks to avoid unusual circumstances. Similarly, when you've decided to ground your portable Generator on the camping site, make sure to have a look at some essential tips to be safe from the extra struggle. Explore these handiest tips below. Your Safety Over Everything What if you ground your Generator without checking the safety precautions? You'll end up hurting yourself! Make sure that the materials you're using should be electrically safe. For this, all you need is to pick a high-quality copper rod, and the perfect length of the copper rod, which is about 8 feet. Resistance Matters the Most Grounding and bonding are two separate processes to do on camping sites. It's necessary to keep the resistance of both circuits low. The preferred resistance is about 0.2 ohms. Pick the Appropriate RV Electrical System There Are many kinds of electrical systems available in RVs depending upon which type of Generator you're going to use. A usual fact about the electrical systems of RVs is the presence of ground and neutral wires. This is all for ensuring the safety of the neutral bonding point. Benefits of Using a Portable Generator on Camping Portable generators come with various benefits these days. They are used in several places serving several functions. Below are a few listed benefits of portable generators when camping: Mobility One of the most significant advantages of using a portable generator instead of a standby generator is its mobility. Portable generators can be carried everywhere on your camping site, providing a continuous supply of power when needed. They can be easily transported from various locations, rendering them excellent while on a camping trip, which is precisely what you need! Cost Friendly Portable generators come in different price ranges, depending upon the manufacturer and power supply. Nevertheless, possibly the most significant advantage of a portable generator is that it's so budget-friendly. Being low in cost is quite possibly the most significant appeal of portable generators to the consumers. Now, camping trips can be even more economical! Safety Portable generators come with a range of safety options, which can serve very beneficial while you're out having fun. They contain circuit break options and even turn off automatically when low on fuel. Some might even include spark arresters, which prevent them from catching fire. So, you don't have to worry about the safety of these generators. Continuous Power Supply While being outdoors on a camping trip, a continuous power supply is necessary to ensure feasibility and comfort. Nowadays, portable generators allow just that, rendering them useful to their users in many aspects, supplying a continuous supply of power for various electrical appliances and ensuring the users' comfort. Damage Prevention Another great advantage that portable generators provide over standby generators is their damage protection to a great extent. This means that they can be leftover without examining them and worrying about the consequences much. While camping, you can go over and enjoy yourself without the constant pressure of having to keep a close watch on your generator. Powering Tools Portable generators are an efficient and useful way of providing a power supply to various tools while being outside, and at the same time also being budget-friendly. When camping, portable generators can provide power supply to multiple appliances such as mini-refrigerators, stereos, electric and stoves, etc. Thus, they can help make your camping trip way more facilitating. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Grounding Generator while Camping What Does Grounding A Generator Mean? Grounding or earthing in electrical equipment refers to the process of connecting an electrical source to the ground. This ensures the safety and stability of the device as well as the users. The low resistance connection enables a pathway for the charges if there is a surge of extra current. This prevents hazardous conditions from taking place. What Are The Safety Tips To Bear In Mind While Grounding A Generator? The installation and maintenance of all electrical equipment require some safety measures. While grounding a generator, some safety tips should be kept in mind, including making sure all the appliances are dry before use, avoiding teeming the generator with fuel, making sure not to overload your generator, and wearing safety equipment, including gloves and shoes with rubber soles. What Happens If You Donâ€™t Ground Your Generator? If a generator is not grounded correctly, there is a high risk of jeopardizing your safety and the electrical equipment being used. Grounding prevents a surge of electrical charge flowing through the device and thus protects the device from burning, saving your appliances. What Should Be The Optimum Length Of The Ground Rod? The ground rod is an essential component in grounding your generator. It serves to dissipate any extra current flowing through the circuit safely. The ground's ideal length is anywhere between 4 feet to 8 feet, depending upon the camping site and the ground condition. It may vary if the soil is rocky, muddy, wet, or dry. What Type Of Generator Does Not Need Grounding? Usually, portable generators already contain their components attached to the generator's frame. This means that they use an "unseparated derived system," which does not have a transfer switch to connect to the neutral ground. So, most portable conductors do not need grounding. Portable generators may be grounded to increase their efficiency and as a safety measure. Can A Portable Generator Run While Driving An RV? An RV contains two main types of generators, namely in-built generators and portable generators. In-built generators are designed to run even while an RV is moving. But portable generators are not so indoor friendly, and without proper ventilation, they cannot be used indoors. Thus, it is not advised to run a portable generator while driving an RV. Do I need to ground my Generator? Whether or not your Generator needs grounding depends on how the Generator is built or how it is used. Typically, most old generators always require grounding, whereas some portable generators work fine without it. Therefore, it's still better to read the instruction manual that comes with the Generator you buy, as it will provide you with a clear indication of if your Generator needs grounding. What's the Best Time to Ground Your Generator? Frankly speaking, there's no particular time for grounding your portable Generator. Camping on an RV for days or months demands extra power to run the electrical appliances. So whenever you feel like you're getting out of control, ground your Generator first. In addition to this, if your Generator is available with a separately derived system, ground it whether you need power or not. Is Using a Portable Beneficial on Camping? Nothing is more beneficial than using a portable generator on your RV trip. Just imagine the convenience of carrying the electrical supply everywhere with you! We're pretty sure you're going to love it. A portable generator can end all your worries about power production when you're out of the station. READ MORE: Where are Kohler generators made? Final Words Hooking up your essential electric devices with a portable generator can help make your camping trip a lot more pleasing and fuller with comfort. By learning the grounding procedure of a generator through this guide, now you can enjoy your camping trips in solace and safety. Generatorrookie.com uses affiliate links (No Additional Cost For You). As an Amazon Associate, I earn when you purchase Using My Affiliate Link. Learn more.