Honda Generator & Reverse Polarity Indication

[CaspersCruiser]

I tried using my Honda Eu2000 generator for shore power with the my R27 on the trailer. Upon plugging it in and going to the power panel at the helm, I saw the “Reverse Polarity” red light illuminated. I checked all connections and everything was fine. Is there a work-around for this?

 

[JamesTXSD]

Pretty well documented with the portable Honda generator on boats because there is no ground connected to an earth ground. We used our Honda 2000 on the boat for years, with the "reverse polarity" lit and no issue.

 

[knotflying]

Same here. You will get the reverse polarity and there has been information about changing the ground in the unit. I did that and still get it. I think it has more to do with how the electricity is derived from the generator than the earth ground scenario. No one with the built in generator has this issue and there is no earth ground there. I believe it has something to do about how the current cycles from the honda.

 

[SgtAlf]

I run a Harbor Freight 2000 generator and I do not get a reverse polarity Light. Go figure.

 

[Larry H]

The reverse polarity light comes on because the Honda has a 'floating ground'. You can stop this by connecting the neutral and ground together at the outlet on the generator. I made a 120v plug with the neutral prong connected to the ground prong with a single jumper wire. Caution, be sure you are connecting only the neutral and ground prongs together! Plug that into one of the outlets and the reverse polarity light goes out. A google search should find this info. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, don't do it!

 

[marcham]

This is usually an issue only with portable inverter type generators. A plug can be purchased for about $10 or make one yourself. AC breakers require neutral be bonded to ground somewhere, and only once. Without this the breaker may not trip when it should.

Personally, I wouldn't rewire the generator. I just use a bonding plug. This is a common issue in RVs as well.

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[marcham]

Found a little more info... ABYC Standards: The ONLY place where the AC neutral (white) and ground (green) are connected together on board is at sources of AC power on the boat, such as inverters and generators. In the case of inverters they are only linked when the inverter is actually producing AC power.

The reverse polarity sensor ensures that the pedestal is properly wired. An incorrectly wired pedestal could route neutral through the breakers and hot directly to the loads, bypassing the CB. This would still provide protection from an overload but not from a short. The reverse polarity light activates when there is a voltage differential between ground and neutral. Not something that you can ignore since at dockside someone in the water could get electrocuted!

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