How to Ground a Home Electrical Generator

An electrical generator is an excellent way to provide power to your home, either on a normal basis or in the event of a power failure or other unusual condition. When installing or setting up an electrical generator of any kind, as with any other installation project involving electricity, it is crucial that you maintain the safety of yourself and those around you. Grounding your home electrical generator will help to control the flow of electricity and reduce the likelihood of electrocution, fire and other potentially serious damage. However, the grounding procedure itself can be dangerous if performed incorrectly. Follow these guidelines to safely ground your home electrical generator.

Step 1 - Collect Your Materials

You'll need the following materials in order to ground your electrical generator:

• Electrical generator
• Grounding rod (at least 8 feet long and 5/8-inch wide)
• Hammer drill with a grounding rod attachment
• Bare copper wire and cutters
• Acorn clamps
• Miscellaneous tools

Most do-it-yourself builders do not possess a hammer drill. These are often available for rent for a short period of time from construction companies and other large machinery rental stores. Consult the classified ads or the internet for listings in your area if you need to rent one of these pieces of equipment.

Step 2 - Check for Pipes and Electrical Wiring Underground

Before installing any rods or anything else into the ground around your home, it is crucial that you verify that there are no electrical lines or other pipes buried underneath the ground. Contact with these lines can prove to be fatal. Check in with your local building authority to confirm the location of any drainage or sewer pipes as well as any underground electrical cables or lines before beginning to ground your electrical generator.

Step 3 - Install the Grounding Rod

Using the hammer drill, install the grounding rod into the ground so that it is flush with the grade of the ground. Take care that the rod does not bend or break during the process. A galvanized rod will prove less prone to rusting and damage due to exposure than a carbon-plated rod.

Step 4 - Clamp the Wire

Use an acorn clamp to clamp one end of the copper wire to the grounding rod itself. Run the wire to the grounding lug on the frame of the electrical generator itself. Ensure that you have adequate length of wire before using the wire cutters to cut the copper wire. Affix the wire to the lug on the electrical generator frame according to the generator instructions.

Most of the tools necessary to complete this project are available for sale at hardware stores. Many electrical generator sets come complete with the tools necessary to ground the generator, although you will still most likely have to purchase a separate grounding rod before beginning the project. Consult with an electrician if you have any doubts about your abilities or procedure whatsoever, as failure to complete this task safely could result in electrocution or other serious injury.