Neutral-ground bonding plug
Southwire Neutral-Ground Bonding Plug for Generators
A three-prong plug with its neutral and ground joined inside: pushed into a spare 120 V outlet on a floating-neutral generator, it bonds the generator for standalone use on cords.
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Best for
A floating-neutral generator run on cords, when an RV surge protector reports open ground or an EV charger refuses to start
Specifications
| Plug | NEMA 5-15P — 3-prong, for a 15 A, 120 V receptacle on the generator panel |
|---|---|
| Function | Joins neutral to ground while inserted — a temporary neutral-ground bond |
| For | Generators designed with a floating neutral only — check the generator's manual |
| Part number | Southwire 44400 (Surge Guard RV line) |
Specifications as published by Southwire. Confirm against the current spec sheet before buying — manufacturers revise models without renaming them.
What's good
- Clears the "open ground" fault RV surge protectors show on a floating-neutral generator
- No tools and no rewiring inside the generator — pull it out and the generator is floating again
- A 5-15 plug also fits a 20 A (5-20) T-slot outlet
What's not
- Never leave it in when the generator feeds a house through an interlock kit or a transfer switch that doesn't switch the neutral — the house's service bond is already in the circuit, and the plug adds a second one
- Pointless on a generator that is already bonded — check the manual, or test neutral-to-frame continuity with a meter
- Ties up one 120 V outlet while it's in
- Southwire's catalog gives the function and fit only — no listing or warranty is stated
Our verdict
A generator floated for the house inlet is right for the house and wrong for the camper: the RV's surge protector looks for a neutral-ground bond, finds none and refuses power. This plug settles it without opening the generator — in for standalone cord use, out before the generator goes back on the house. The second step is the one that matters, so keep it in the cord bag, not in the outlet.
Compare with the alternatives
- Kidde COBD10 Carbon Monoxide Alarm — every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, before generator season
- Kidde 30CUD10-V Smoke + CO Alarm — hallways outside bedrooms, where a smoke alarm and a co alarm are both needed
- Southwire 12/3 SJTW 50 ft Outdoor Extension Cord (2588SW0002) — running a fridge, freezer or space heater from a portable generator at a safe distance
- Reliance Controls Pro/Tran 10-Circuit Transfer Switch Kit (31410CRK / 310CRK) — portable generators up to 7,500 running watts with an l14-30 outlet
- Reliance Controls PB30 Power Inlet Box (30 A, L14-30) — interlock-kit and transfer-switch installs fed by a portable generator's l14-30 outlet
- WEN PC3025 30-Amp Generator Power Cord, 25 ft (L14-30P to L14-30R) — connecting an l14-30 generator to a house inlet from 20 feet or more away
- STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer, 16 oz (22207) — gasoline generators and stored fuel cans that sit for months between outages