Connecting backup generators to existing electrical installation

[Dave A]

Aaah. Gotcha.

I'm amazed I never added the banghead smilie... Maybe it's time to add a new batch.

[Kevin Stubbs]

Originally Posted by murdock

by the question i can only assume you are not qualified to do the installation but if you plan on doing anyway....do you have a 3 phase supply or single phase supply...are you installing a automatic changeover system or manual?
are you feeding the entire electrical installation with the generator or only part....have you made provision for only partial if using a small generator...have you installed an earth spike...are plugs being fed from the generator on earth leakage...have you fitted barriers in the DB if only feeding part of the DB...have you clearly labelled the DB indicating which part of the DB will be fed by the generator...do you have a main switch in the DB if only part of the DB is supplied by the generator to isolate that part of the installation in case of accident leakage...have you done a loop impedance test and earth leakage test to verify if the earth leakage will trip in case of a fault while running on generator power...etc etc etc.

This goes back a long way, Thanks for your reply.
The supply is single Phaze. I would feed the entire electrical instalation. Manual change over. The DB has earth leakage and it does work on the generator.
My main question is ,does the crossover/change over switch have to include the neutral and earth, I have had mixed answers on that point from people in the profession.
Some say I dont have to switch the neutral and earth as well, some say I have to switch the neutral but dont have to do the earth.
Kevin

[AndyD]

You must switch both the live and neutral. No switching of the earth, earth bonds must be permanant connections.

If you're not qualified I would urge you to seek professional help with this. Firstly mistakes could kill someone (most likely the next electrician on site) and secondly mistakes can be expensive when it comes to generator damage.