Neutral bonding for standby generator?

 Hi all -

we're cleaning up the standby generator installation at our home.

We have a main panel and a sub-panel that has the desired standby circuits.

We have shore power coming into the main panel and feed the standby
panel from a dryer outlet on the main panel and a dryer pigtail
connecting to the standby distribution panel.

When we need generator power we plug the pigtail into the generator output.

How should we be doing the neutral bond in this case?

The main panel is neutral to ground bonded, and this is also bonded to
the house water lines. My understanding of code is that there is to be
one and only one ground-to-neutral bond in a system.

When we unplug the standby panel from shore power and plug it into the
generator output that disconnects the ground-to-neutral connection for
that panel and the neutral is floating. That doesn't seem right, but if
we also bond in the standby panel then any time it's connected to the
shore power we have two bonding points.

Any words of wisdom?

Thanks in advance

Carla

  Canadian code specifies each time youe neter a building the neutral
shall be bonded to ground. If there is great distance between sub and
main I would bond it again. Think of "bringing your feet up to the
same potential as the neutral"

If this generator is fdixed then I would bond the neutral of the
generator to ground rods or plate at the generator so when you
transfer the plugs the gorund comes with it, no matter where the
source is, or supply goes.

Best thing is to ask your electrical inspector and have him inspect
it. Even they usually hum and hah about because grounding is a
complete two week course, in itself, for them. Make him earn his
money..LOL

It can't hurt to have multiple grounds tied together unless you are in
a large electrical fault area (sub station or large power
distribution) or have a sensitive ground step potential area (hot tub
or swimming pool).