I received this question recently:
I have posted it here with the permission of my friend Tim.
Hello mr Bill
Hope this finds you well during this covid crisis, bet distancing not a problem on the Canadian prairies, we’ve managed to avoid it, or was asymptomatic. Carol showed a pic of the siblings, fine looking crew. Unemployed at moment working on final stages of my off grid retreat. Hope you’ll entertain few technical questions.
Primary power is my gen but wanting to add some batteries and inverter for nighttime lights, tv etc.
Online literature said neutral/ground bonding should be at generator L(0), not load center, seems to be working fine, Plan on installing sub panel at ground level connecting to batteries/inverter and back feeding load center when needed. Wondering if bonding at generator will suffice for grounding or could this possibly damage gen. Gen will be isolated by disconnect at load center and breaker on gen itself. Or do I need alternate grounding/bonding when using batteries. Typically you bond at load center and run to ground rod as I understand it. I ran another line from ground bus bar back to gen L(0) then to ground rod. Should I ground sub panel? Also inverters usually 120 volts, can I install 240 breaker at sub panel with a jumper to energize both hot buses at load center
Had been looking at Used EV lithium batteries For 25$ each but seems that charging and fire hazards beyond my understanding, will use deep cycle marine or golf cart batteries and figure on changing out every couple years