Installed FCSP, Generator Inlet, MTS, Subpanel, Conduit, and my entire body hurts.

[Runaway Tractor]

Amazing write up an admirable job! Kudos! So regarding the grounding situation. I have an existing generator setup like yours which is grounded. I too disconnected the ground for the truck. My question is, when using the gas-powered Honda gen on the same set up, is the generator not grounded thus requiring the original ground wire? Sorry I am an electrical idiot.

It's really no different. Most portable generators have a bonded neutral, just like the truck. They just don't have a GFCI, so portable generators don't trip like the truck would. It is an improper hookup by the code book regardless. And virtually everyone with a portable generator unknowingly hooks them up like that. It's really a whole other thread worth of information on how to "properly" hook up a portable generator and bonded vs unbounded configurations.

The bottom line with this setup, which many many people do without dying or causing the planet to implode, is that this is a temporary emergency power setup. It is configured safely with no additional risks and no compromised safeties. It is the best you can do without spending thousands upon thousands to completely reconfigure your main service entry with whole-home transfer switch or a neutral switching critical load subpanel. Neither of these "code book correct" methods were practical so I did the well documented next best thing, maintaining all safety measures. The only thing wrong is "the book doesn't say so".

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[chl]

Sorry, everybody, I was wrong about the bonding in only one place rule - there is an exception I was unaware of in the code for an outdoor "separately derived system."

A "separately derived system" in the National Electrical Code (NEC) refers to a power source that is completely independent from the main service, meaning it has no direct electrical connection to the supply conductors of another system, and requires specific grounding and bonding rules to ensure safety.

No direct connection:
The most important aspect is that there is no direct electrical connection between the conductors of the separately derived system and the main service conductors, including the neutral wire.

I guess I "snapped" when I read about the disconnected ground and missed the sub-panel part, so I now realize I jumped to a wrong conclusion about the NEC bonding rule, there is an exception.

I found that when looked in the latest code book on-line after the strong reactions to my post.

There is an exception to the "bonded in two places" prohibition in the case where you are feeding a sub-panel from a "separately derived system" through a first disconnect as shown in the image.

The neutrals still have to be switched if feeding your main panel so there is no direct connection between the neutrals of the utility and the "separately derived system" source. If not, the outdoor source is no longer a "separately derived system."

I had not seen that before, so I apologize for my erroneous post.
Mea culpa.

I noticed though that the code does still apparently require the source (generator, transformer or Lightning?) be grounded with a grounding electrode nearby.

I imagine that is because, if the source neutral is not grounded, some voltage difference with respect to ground at the bonding (case or Lightning body) could develop due to current traveling on the bonded neutral.

In the case of an unbalanced load there would be some current on the neutral between the lightning and the first disconnect.

That current traveling through the wire connecting the Lightning and the first disconnect would produce a voltage difference between the two ends (I x R).

Then, for example, if someone was standing on wet ground and touched the body of the Lightning, the voltage difference could discharge through their body?

That should open the GFCI of course.

I believe that is what happened to someone in a different post I read here or maybe another forum, except there was may have been no sub-panel in that case?

Anyway, I'm sure if there is anything wrong with the above, somebody will let me know. Nobody's perfect.
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