Do you run portable genny in the rain?

[Bru9]

My interest in gennys has peaked a bit, been camping a few times with people who had small gennys running long extension cords to there lights and fridges while pouring down all night. They just keep the thing exposed. Always wondered about electruction. Maybe the gennys have really high ip rating or something with all the electrical? Doing a bit of seatching online doesn't give any clear answers as how safe they are besides the usual 'you should never do it mate'
So you walk over to turn it off or start it up and get zapped? Due to the entire ground and genny being wet.

Also cords can get cut or joiners undone energizing the wet ground. Just amazing how these guys seem to never give it a thought.

[Dicko1]

When I run my 2kva Honda iy is on a baseboard with 30mm sides to stop it sucking in dust and when iy rains I throw a tarp over it on a frame made of sticks to stop catch burning and to keep gennie from rain water. Also plastic bag the connections of the leads. Some people have a death wish though!

[Pushbike]

Bru9,
The State Gov't OH&S department whatever it is called or Standards Australia should have a guide for the use of portable generators and other sources such as 12V-240V inverters. Other than recreational users, portable generators are used extensively in the building construction industry.

Both pose a risk to personal safety and are awkward to setup with say Core balance/ ELCB/ Safety switch protection.
If the voltage source is fully floating, i.e. no connection whatever and a very high resistance between active ( both the "active" and "neutral") conductors to ground/earth or exterior conductive surface, some times facilitated by "double insulation", The only danger is to get across the exposed conductors. E.G. handling plug/socket connections,light fittings, cutting a cable or dismantling equipment.

If the generator's frame has been connected to either side of the voltage source as a quasie earth then you have a problem.
Again Check the Gov't OHS docs and Standards Aust. recommendations on the use of portable voltage sources.

[Bru9]

When I run my 2kva Honda iy is on a baseboard with 30mm sides to stop it sucking in dust and when iy rains I throw a tarp over it on a frame made of sticks to stop catch burning and to keep gennie from rain water. Also plastic bag the connections of the leads. Some people have a death wish though!

Too much stuffing around for me unless running something like an air con. But thanks.

[Bru9]

Bru9,
The State Gov't OH&S department whatever it is called or Standards Australia should have a guide for the use of portable generators and other sources such as 12V-240V inverters. Other than recreational users, portable generators are used extensively in the building construction industry.

Both pose a risk to personal safety and are awkward to setup with say Core balance/ ELCB/ Safety switch protection.
If the voltage source is fully floating, i.e. no connection whatever and a very high resistance between active ( both the "active" and "neutral") conductors to ground/earth or exterior conductive surface, some times facilitated by "double insulation", The only danger is to get across the exposed conductors. E.G. handling plug/socket connections,light fittings, cutting a cable or dismantling equipment.

If the generator's frame has been connected to either side of the voltage source as a quasie earth then you have a problem.
Again Check the Gov't OHS docs and Standards Aust. recommendations on the use of portable voltage sources.

Thanks.

[Dicko1]

Too much stuffing around for me unless running something like an air con. But thanks.

Dont use mine much. But has been handy when camping for a week and little sun. 25 amp battery charger gets used to assist with the solar panels. 2 x 40 litre engels and lights, music use a bit of power but normally the gennie gets used (90%of the time) to assist fellow campers who are not as well set up. Can understand people not liking to hear them running.

[littleriver]

Dont use mine much. But has been handy when camping for a week and little sun. 25 amp battery charger gets used to assist with the solar panels. 2 x 40 litre engels and lights, music use a bit of power but normally the gennie gets used (90%of the time) to assist fellow campers who are not as well set up. Can understand people not liking to hear them running.

That honda of yours would be very quiet ...

We have a kings generator 2kva .. a few db louder
.. try to keep ours dry ..

[Dicko1]

That honda of yours would be very quiet ...

We have a kings generator 2kva .. a few db louder
.. try to keep ours dry ..

[Ian H]

If I see a generator, I camp somewhere else.

They are banned in some places too.

[Kingbrown]

For the technically minded amongst us, the document linked below is a good read on generators:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/280754/OUT10-2110-EES-014-Technical-principles-for-the-use-of-stand-alone-generators-_version-2__5_.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjUs_Lv6uDbAhUkC6YKHa2kC28QFjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw1vJcXf_FqKC2Y2Wkg-om0G

[Pushbike]

Kingbrown,
Thanks.
A very good reference, a must read for all portable gen users. Maybe a "Sticky" up front of this section.
It also refers to an inverter fitted with an RCD/Safety Switch similar precautions would apply. Jaycar cat. does not list an inverter that would comply with this reference.
Note this is a pdf doc and some browsers configurations may download directly to your PC /Device. Keep it for future reference.

[Bru9]

Dont use mine much. But has been handy when camping for a week and little sun. 25 amp battery charger gets used to assist with the solar panels. 2 x 40 litre engels and lights, music use a bit of power but normally the gennie gets used (90%of the time) to assist fellow campers who are not as well set up. Can understand people not liking to hear them running.

You got two small fridges instead of the one big one huh?
That is the way i go now as one big one is too awkard and much of its space is in the height so more sorting.

The problem is they are too noisy even the new ones unless you got it 200meters away which is impractical.

[Bru9]

If I see a generator, I camp somewhere else.

They are banned in some places too.

Yep too much city slicker crap being used. I really hope they get banned everywhere.

[Dicko1]

Yep too much city slicker crap being used. I really hope they get banned everywhere.

Bit like city slickers buying 4wd,s and only using them once a year if their lucky. Or putting 2 inch lift on their car. ? Or putting louder 3inch system on their car. City slicker their not! Generators have a definite use in the bush. Try camping with a group of fishermen who all have a minimum 60 litre engel. Often 100 litre trailblazer fridges. Many groups take a household fridge for the trip or a freezer. Now they want them as freezers for their fillets. A 60 litre engel in the Northern wet season will use 45-50amps a day just as a fridge. As a freezer they would pull close to 80amps a day. Generator is an easy way to keep battery full as solar is not reliable in the wet. I agree that they can be noisy , irritating machines but anyone who finds a 1 or 2 kve honda/yammie too noisy at 50 meters would just be a paranoid whingeing fart. People who leave them running all night give me the shites as well. They are just another tool that has a place and purpose. Gennies are great...its the dolt pulling the starter cord that can be an issue....

[MTN-KAT]

Bit like city slickers buying 4wd,s and only using them once a year if their lucky. Or putting 2 inch lift on their car. ? Or putting louder 3inch system on their car. City slicker their not! Generators have a definite use in the bush. Try camping with a group of fishermen who all have a minimum 60 litre engel. Often 100 litre trailblazer fridges. Many groups take a household fridge for the trip or a freezer. Now they want them as freezers for their fillets. A 60 litre engel in the Northern wet season will use 45-50amps a day just as a fridge. As a freezer they would pull close to 80amps a day. Generator is an easy way to keep battery full as solar is not reliable in the wet. I agree that they can be noisy , irritating machines but anyone who finds a 1 or 2 kve honda/yammie too noisy at 50 meters would just be a paranoid whingeing fart. People who leave them running all night give me the shites as well. They are just another tool that has a place and purpose. Gennies are great...its the dolt pulling the starter cord that can be an issue....

It's a two way street/track. Gennies have their place to be sure but the considerate user will turn them off by 11.00pm. Some camps even have a rule to that effect. There is a simple solution. Since my first experience with the inconsiderate all niter, I always carry ear plugs. This puts the offending gennie noise way off in the distance and makes it easier to get to sleep.