For 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-amp receptacle outlets built into a 15-kW or smaller portable generator, these receptacles shall ___.

For 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-amp receptacle outlets built into a 15-kW or smaller portable generator, these receptacles shall ___.

• A. be GFCI protected integral to the generator or receptacle
• B. not be available for use when the 125/250-volt locking-type receptacle is in use
• C. either a or b
• D. neither a nor b

Answer: (C)

The main idea is safety for portable generators: the 125V outlets on a small portable generator must have a reliable protection against ground faults or be made unavailable when another high-current receptacle is in use. The code allows two ways to meet this safety goal. First, those 125V receptacles can have GFCI protection built into the receptacle or generator, which automatically cuts power if a ground fault is detected. Alternatively, you can design the setup so that the 125V outlets aren’t usable whenever the 125/250V locking-type receptacle is in use, preventing any user from energizing unprotected outlets during a connection to a higher-voltage or transfer-type circuit. Since either approach satisfies the safety requirement, the correct understanding is that these receptacles shall be either GFCI protected or not be available when the locking-type receptacle is in use.

The main idea is safety for portable generators: the 125V outlets on a small portable generator must have a reliable protection against ground faults or be made unavailable when another high-current receptacle is in use. The code allows two ways to meet this safety goal. First, those 125V receptacles can have GFCI protection built into the receptacle or generator, which automatically cuts power if a ground fault is detected. Alternatively, you can design the setup so that the 125V outlets aren’t usable whenever the 125/250V locking-type receptacle is in use, preventing any user from energizing unprotected outlets during a connection to a higher-voltage or transfer-type circuit. Since either approach satisfies the safety requirement, the correct understanding is that these receptacles shall be either GFCI protected or not be available when the locking-type receptacle is in use.