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Old 08-10-2020, 02:24 PM   #1
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Question on ground to neutral bonding adapter

Hi,

I'm sure this has been discussed in many other threads, but I'm about to pull the trigger on a Gennconex Honda Companion Propane modified generator. I see they sell a package that includes the ground to neutral bonding adapter. Do i need this for my 19ft Flying Cloud? It's $49 and not sure if I really need it. I was planning to use the camper's provided 30amp power cord and plug that directly into the generator. (I know it won't output 30amps)

I plan to use the generator mostly to charge the house batteries and occasionally run the 13,500 btu AC with the Easy Start I installed.

Thanks!
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Old 08-10-2020, 02:46 PM   #2
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Do you use a surge protector?

If yes then a bond plug will allow surge to work.

If no, not required.

Consult surge protector manual.
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Old 08-10-2020, 02:59 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by jsmall01 View Post
Hi,

It's $49 and not sure if I really need it.

Thanks!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$12.15 on Amazon.
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Old 08-10-2020, 03:22 PM   #4
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question on ground to neutral bonding adapter

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Originally Posted by SeaLevel View Post


Can be made using a scrap of 12 gauge wire and a standard duplex plug from the big box home improvement store. Mine cost me $0.50 or so from my junk box spares. Took the plug off an old power cord.

Just run the wire from the green ground screw to the silver neutral screw, put the cover back on, and you are done. $49 for that simple an item is obscene.

Label it clearly so you can find it again.

$12 from Amazon is ok if you are not into electrical stuff. YMMV.
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Old 08-10-2020, 03:34 PM   #5
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I bought the one from Amazon. The generator works fine if you plug the trailer directly into the generator without the bonding plug. I do not think you need the surge protector while using the generator. However if you have the neutral bonding plug you can use the ems/protector and read how much load your trailer is drawing from the generator.
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Old 08-10-2020, 11:19 PM   #6
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bonding plug

thanks all. I don't use a surge protector.. (at least not so far) most trips have not involved plug-in to shore power. (California state parks, etc)

the link on amazon site looks to be for a standard 110 plug. The plug on the Honda generator is 30amp outlet.
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Old 08-10-2020, 11:25 PM   #7
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It sounds like you have the Companion model. The bonding plug plugs into the other receptacle. The two are wired in parallel.
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Old 08-10-2020, 11:44 PM   #8
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one more question

Can i use the 30amp power cord (Grey) that came with my Airstream and plug that in directly to the Honda companion's 30amp outlet? I read that the honda has a "twist-lock" female plug. Do I need an adapter or will it plug directly into the Honda generator.
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Old 08-11-2020, 04:50 AM   #9
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The plug on your cord that plugs into AC is an RV30 and you will need an adaptor for that male RV30 to go into your generator. Amazon and many others sell them. Genconnex has one that has the neutral bonding built in

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Old 08-11-2020, 09:09 AM   #10
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thanks all. I don't use a surge protector.. (at least not so far) most trips have not involved plug-in to shore power. (California state parks, etc)

the link on amazon site looks to be for a standard 110 plug. The plug on the Honda generator is 30amp outlet.
You plug the the neutral-ground adapter into the standard 110v outlet and it bonds them for all the outlets (including the 30 amp one) on your generator.

Made mine from $4 worth of parts.
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Old 08-11-2020, 10:47 AM   #11
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Bond is required

The pedestal at the campgrounds are bonded neutral to ground per NEC. Your generator must also be bonded per code. If not, you can have a difference in voltage between neutral and ground. This can be dangerous, especially if you have a neutral to ground fault or even leakage to ground in the trailer. and your GFI in the trailer may not work. I made a 110 v plug as suggested above.
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Old 08-11-2020, 12:44 PM   #12
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Thank you!

Thanks all for your responses. I really appreciate it. I may end up going with the regular Honda 2200 (not companion) The output is the same with a single generator setup, correct?

If so, any last comments from the group on if I should go with the standard 2200 or the companion model. I'd be paying roughly $150k more for the companion.
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Old 08-11-2020, 02:18 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by jsmall01 View Post
Thanks all for your responses. I really appreciate it. I may end up going with the regular Honda 2200 (not companion) The output is the same with a single generator setup, correct?

If so, any last comments from the group on if I should go with the standard 2200 or the companion model. I'd be paying roughly $150k more for the companion.
Hi

The "companion" is used for a dual genset setup. If you only have one generator, you want the "single" version.

======

Per NEC and common sense, you want your neutral and ground bonded.

Generators are not supplied with this hookup done. The reason is that they may feed a house. The house will already *have* a ground to neutral bond. You only want one.

Why do you want this?

The way a modern ( post 1930's) electrical system is set up, you have a ground (for your safety) and a neutral (to get power back to the source). The ground is what things like the shell of an appliance are hooked to. It's the "first thing" you hit playing with a device. It should never be "hot" relative to your power source.

In the worst case, if there is a wiring fault, the power is *supposed* to go to the ground and trip the breaker. One never can predict when a fault may happen.

If the neutral and ground are not connected anywhere .... who knows what your ground is doing. It's right there for you to bump into. It could easily be hot or who knows what ... that's not a good thing.

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Old 08-11-2020, 02:27 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by rmkrum View Post
Can be made using a scrap of 12 gauge wire and a standard duplex plug from the big box home improvement store. Mine cost me $0.50 or so from my junk box spares. Took the plug off an old power cord.

Just run the wire from the green ground screw to the silver neutral screw, put the cover back on, and you are done. $49 for that simple an item is obscene.

Label it clearly so you can find it again.

$12 from Amazon is ok if you are not into electrical stuff. YMMV.
Yup, I believe my cost was $4.99, and only that high because I bought a larger amperage heavy duty plug....only because it was larger and easy to grip.
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Old 08-11-2020, 02:46 PM   #15
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The 2200 companion is a great start for when you add a 2200 ...
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Old 08-11-2020, 05:06 PM   #16
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And as I understand it, the companion genset has an RV-30 plug already on it.
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Old 08-11-2020, 05:31 PM   #17
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No, I just got a companion. I do not remember the designation but it is a twist lock 30. I had to get an adaptor to use it.
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Old 08-11-2020, 11:27 PM   #18
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Sounds like it's a draw. some buy the base model and some buy the companion. I don't plan on using two of them, but still seems like the companion may be worth the extra cost. I'd prefer not buying yet another adapter but appears I will need it for connecting the AS power cord to it.
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Old 08-12-2020, 12:41 AM   #19
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Question on ground to neutral bonding adapter

Ok, I stand corrected on the companion generator.

The Champion 3400 watt dual fuel Inverter has an RV-30 built into it. One of the several reasons I picked that one. It’s really optimized for a 30 amp RV situation. It’s also reasonably quiet and easily adapted to run directly off the Airstream propane system. Lifesaver in hot weather!

Only “adapter” it needs on the electrical side is the neutral/ground bonding plug, needed only if you use a surge suppressor/EMS system with the generator.
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