Grounding of Wind Generator

[ereiss]

Working spring projects already. One is to install and air-x wind generator. The instructions say that: "if you choose to net up an earth ground system (not required for systems under 50 volts) the Air X green and black conductors must be connected to each other . . ." .

It then goes on to warn in bold letters that "boat installations be grounded according to the American Boat and Yacht Council recommendations".

I went to their website but got lost. Is the bold language simply their lawyering up the instructions? Am I missing anything?

As always, thank you for your help.

[mitiempo]

The black and green wires should both go to the negative connection on the boat. Usually this is a bus that is connected to battery negative as well as the engine block.

[ereiss]

Brian; Is it necessary that they both go to the negative bus or can I join them together and run a line to the bus? I hope the latter works since I ordered 6/2 wire, not 6/3.

[mitiempo]

My first inclination is to suggest a separate ground wire.

On the other hand I installed a Superwind 350 on a Westsail 32 recently and there is no mention of any wires other than the positive and negative generator output in their manual.

How far from the Air X to the engine ground point? For the price of a few feet of 6ga I would keep it separate.

[peikenberry]

Without seeing a wiring diagram, it doesn't sound right here. Is the output DC or AC (that is, is the wind "generator" actually an alternator, or a dc generator? generally in AC systems the black is hot, the white is neutral and the green the grounding wire. In all sources of AC power the green and white are connected. You then run the green to the boat's ground. The green and white should not be connected anywhere on the boat in an AC.

If it is putting out DC then you should have a red (the positive side) a black the negative side) and a green which again is a grounding wire. The black and green both go to the negative bus. The negative bus should have a wire to the negative pole on the battery. The battery will have the negative connected to ground.

[mitiempo]

It is a DC generator. I have downloaded a manual but it seems to favor terrestrial installations.

[peikenberry]

If it is putting out DC then you should have a red (the positive side) a black the negative side) and a green which again is a grounding wire. The black and green both go to the negative bus. The negative bus should have a wire to the negative pole on the battery. The battery will have the negative connected to ground.

If you look at the diagram you will see Turbine Positive red; that is the positive wire. It goes to the positive Buss.

You will see turbine negative Black. That is the Negative that goes to the negative buss.

And you will see a Turbine Ground Green. That also goes to the negative buss.

Substitute Boat ground for Earth Ground and Ground rod ( a Ground rod is an earth ground) Ignore Chassis ground. It has nothing to do with this. On a boat the boat ground is usually the engine block and normally there is a wire from the battery negative to the engine grounding post. That should be the only connection to ground. There should be another wire from the battery negative to the negative buss.

There should be a red wire from the battery positive to the Positive buss.

The diagram is very simplified but it is the basic idea.

[ereiss]

Peikenberry, since both the green and black go to the same point is there harm in my connecting them 30 feet away and running a similar sized wire to act as a shared connection to the Negative Bus or would this shared connection need to be the equivalent of two 6awg wires?

Thanks

[mitiempo]

I think I would keep them separate as the green wire is a chassis ground and not a current carrying wire as the black wire is. Small price to pay to be sure.

[ereiss]

Green wire on order. Now searching for 6 wag shrink butt clamps. WM has them (ugh $3.06 each) but non shrink. Guess could put shrink tube over.

Again. Thank you all.