[Milsurplus] Electrical question...

[Ryan Gill]

Ok, you chaps here seem to understand this stuff pretty well, not 
just what code requires, but why things work the way they do.

In the case of a portable generator system, why does one use a ground 
spike to ground the generator? Does it protect the operator against 
transient voltages that are created by the inductive field of the 
generator? I was initially under the impression that if you don't 
bond the neutral/ground to earth then you'll not have a complete path 
from the powered equipment and back to the generator and thus 
wouldn't have a hazard if you come into contact with the energized 
hot/neutral wires (unless of course you get between Hot/Hot (in 
3phase) or between hot and neutral (in 3 or single phase)).

I've asked an engineer over here at work but, I'm just trying to 
understand the physics behind it all. Based on his explanation, he 
seemed to indicate that your proximity to the generator could amount 
to a localized field that the activity of the generator makes, 
presumably based on the field of the generator windings.

Am I understanding this correctly?
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