Electrical GFCI UPS inverter question

[Gin_Tseng]

I understand that a GFCI can operate on a two wire system (hot and neutral). All the GFCI does is to compare the current of the hot going to the load and the neutral coming back. In an normal operation when you have the GFCI connected to the wall and you trip the GFCI you have leakage current from hot to ground and there is a difference between hot and neutral.

So my question is when you connect a GFCI to the output of an inverter that is connected to the battery and the battery is connected to an battery charger, is the neutral from the inverter grounded to the ground of your house thru the ups system? If it is not then you may have a floating neutral that is not grounded to your house earth ground, so if you somehow grounded your hot wire on the inverter to your house earth ground what will happen, will the GFCI that is connected to the output of the inverter trip? What if a powerhead failed in your tank and shorted your hot and neutral to the inverter, and you stick your hand in the tank what will the GFCI do or what would happen? If the inverter is ungrounded/floating, is touching the hot and neutral to complete the circuit the only way to shock you?

Thanks

 

[BeanAnimal]

Instead of trying to word it better.... here is a good link.

We run into this a lot when hooking up redundant UPS system to generators through transfer switched.

Hope that helps some.

 

[greenstarman]

no link?

 

[b_rabun1]

a gfci will NOT work if it does not have a ground

 

[tye_c]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7905175#post7905175 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by b_rabun1
a gfci will NOT work if it does not have a ground

Not true. In older 2 wire houses with 2 prong outlets (hot and neutral only). The only way by code to get to a 3 pronged outlet is to use a GFCI or replace the wiring. If the NEC recommends using GFCI's this way then I would think they will work.

 

[greenstarman]

I agree. Hardware stores sell 2 wire (hot and neutral) extension cords.

 

[BeanAnimal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7905175#post7905175 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by b_rabun1
a gfci will NOT work if it does not have a ground

That is 100% false. I am not trying to be rude, but it is bad information regarding a serious issue

GFCIs work on HOT/NEUTRAL only circuits and DO NOT REQUIRE a ground. Actually if you have an older home with 2 wire outlets, you should install GFCIs in place of the grounds!

Ohh heres the link: (sorry I neglected to past it).
http://members.rennlist.org/warren/gt5000c.html

 

[BeanAnimal]

ahh I did not look either, and see that tye already mentioned the 2 wire outlets.