3-Phase Generator Frame Ground

electric-machinethree phase

I have a couple of basic questions on three phase generator connections. I am trying to connect a three phase machine (datasheet) as a generator to a three phase load on a breadboard, as shown:

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

The physical generator has 4 wires coming out of it; three are for the phases A, B and C, while the fourth one is for frame ground. My questions are:

(1) Should the frame ground wire be connected anywhere on the breadboard?

(2) What is the purpose of frame ground?

Thank you.

Best Answer

It looks like you are using a 24VDC brushless DC motor as a generator, to stand in for a three-phase generator in some bench-top experiments.

If you are working with less than 50 volts, you should be able to operate this motor 'un grounded' without any safety concerns.

Regardless, best practice would be to earth the generator's "frame ground wire". Your electronics lab should have earth bars running around all the benches for this purpose.