![Reply](/forums/images/crv/buttons/reply.gif) |
|
09-09-2014, 06:41 AM
|
#1
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
|
Surge protector
Removed our surge protector - Progressive Industries Model EMS-HW50C with remote display. Was having too many problems when I ran my generator. The vendor did not have any suggestions for correcting the problem.
So I'll sell the one I removed and purchase a "pole mount" unit.
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 06:48 AM
|
#2
|
Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,172
|
I have to ask---
What problems were you having? Was it due to the brand of generator?
I have run our generator for years and never had an issue.
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 06:53 AM
|
#3
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: , RI
Posts: 1,164
|
Bob since you had to splice in the surge protector what did you do to reconnect to the panel? Junction box?
Secondly what generator are you using?
__________________
Al Laura (Lily & Breeze Portie Girls)
2011 F250 6.7 PS Tuxedo Black 4x4
11 305SKP- TPMS- RideRite air bags
Reese 16K Slider Wet Bolts
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 07:31 AM
|
#4
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lloyd
I have to ask---
What problems were you having? Was it due to the brand of generator?
I have run our generator for years and never had an issue.
|
Yamaha generator (4000 watt) - the voltage dip when starting the AC made the surge protector relay chatter and I was worried about damaging the unit.
I thought it was a generator issue so I had it checked out at the Yamaha dealer and he did not find any problems with the generator.
I have a volt meter in the RV so I can monitor the generator voltage.
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 07:43 AM
|
#5
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by socoguy
Bob since you had to splice in the surge protector what did you do to reconnect to the panel? Junction box?
Secondly what generator are you using?
|
Yamaha generator - Yamaha YG4000D
The original cable to my electrical panel was had allot of length to it. I never cut it when I installed the surge protector. I had purchased cable from Lowe's to connect the output of the surge protector to the electrical panel.
All I had to do was remove the input (original RV power cable) to the surge protector, disconnect the output from the surge protector to the electrical panel, reconnect the original input cable to the electrical panel. Then remove the surge protector froom the spot where I installed it. Took me less time to remove then install.
Will probably purchase a Progressive Industries Portable 50 AMP Electrical Management System, EMS-PT50C. Tweetys RV seems to have the best price ($314.80). A similar SurgeGuard model - 34750-001-LCD is a little more ($351.54). The Progessive model has the lifetime warranty too.
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 07:56 AM
|
#6
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2,776
|
Bob
Some portable generators power, or the electricity that they produce fluctuates more than others.... ![Embarrassment](https://www.crossroadsowners.com/forums/images/smilies/redface.gif) I think that your generator is not producing a PURE enough stream of electricity to stay within the parameters of the surge protector....
For example GENERAC GENERATORS... ![Popcorn](https://www.crossroadsowners.com/forums/images/smilies/popcorn.gif) When recently talking to a GENERAC company rep. for advise on a portable for electric outages, for my home. I was told that their XP line of portable generators was a better choice for use with electronics. Since almost everything in our house is controled with electronics, refrigerator, washing machine, computers, phones, clocks etc,etc.. The rep. advised me to buy the XP series, instead of GP, or XG series, because XP produced the purest stream of electric. The rep. also said that all the other series would power up the house, but with extended use COULD NEGATIVELY effect the electronics... ![Ermm](https://www.crossroadsowners.com/forums/images/smilies/ermm.gif)
So I am thinking that your generator, while it is good enough to supply power to your camper, it is NOT good enough to pass the surge protector's requirements... ![Facepalm](https://www.crossroadsowners.com/forums/images/smilies/facepalm.gif) After all that is what it's function is... ![Socool](https://www.crossroadsowners.com/forums/images/smilies/socool.gif) With that being said see if you could borrow someone's portable surge protector to see if it does the same thing ....IMHO
__________________
Rosie & Tommy
Coatesville Pa.
2017 Ford F350 Lariat Power Stoke DW
2022 Alliance Avenue 32RLS
In God We Trust
A proud member of the one percent...Semper Fi
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 08:25 AM
|
#7
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
|
sleepyT - basically that is what the folks at progressive told me. Surge protector is doing it job - your generator voltage regulation is what is causing the problems.
I only use the generator a couple times a year when I go to the races. Also - it is an emergency backup for the home - mainly to run the sump pump.
It was in the 90's at the race track this weekend and I wanted to run the Ac so I removed the unit before I went to the races. The generator voltage output was actually higher when loaded Vs unloaded - 116 loaded and Vs 107 volts un-loaded. The frequency has not been the problem - only voltage.
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 08:36 AM
|
#8
|
Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: florida
Posts: 190
|
Mine chatters when A/C starts not all the time just once in awhile, then kicks in fine. I will sometimes turn off the Surge Protector when running the A/C off generator.
__________________
2012 Ram 2500 CTD
2011 305skp fifthwheel
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 09:15 AM
|
#9
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,012
|
I wondered about what happened if you put it in bypass, still chatter?
If buying the Progressive unit go to
http://www.lawrencerv.com/products.asp?cat=13
They are listed on Progressive's website as a recommended dealer and the current price is $311 w/free shipping. I used them and it took 3 days to get it.
__________________
Clif and Millie
Ozzie (half a dog tall & 2 dogs long)
Mabank, TX
2009 Ford Lariat F350 SRW CC Diesel
2013 Cruiser CF305SK Patriot Edition
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 09:19 AM
|
#10
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW, TexUS
Posts: 1,032
|
Had heard a while back that genny's and surge protectors don't get along so I went with portable 50 amp too...
__________________
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 09:33 AM
|
#11
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,012
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnboytoo
Had heard a while back that genny's and surge protectors don't get along so I went with portable 50 amp too...
|
From what I understand it's the grounding issue, very few people properly ground their generator and the PI unit senses this. PI recommends if you have problem put it in bypass mode.
I have the Yamaha EF4500 and it runs my trailer just fine but I haven't tried it since installing the surge protector. I'll find out the first of next month when I use it.
__________________
Clif and Millie
Ozzie (half a dog tall & 2 dogs long)
Mabank, TX
2009 Ford Lariat F350 SRW CC Diesel
2013 Cruiser CF305SK Patriot Edition
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 10:08 AM
|
#12
|
Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: florida
Posts: 190
|
The trailers ground is not like a house ground. If you just plug your trailer into the generator, the hard wired surge protector will show a fault every time. You have to bond the ground and neutral together. I did this inside generator adapter plug and no more faults.
__________________
2012 Ram 2500 CTD
2011 305skp fifthwheel
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 10:18 AM
|
#13
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 688
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoe2728
The trailers ground is not like a house ground. If you just plug your trailer into the generator, the hard wired surge protector will show a fault every time. You have to bond the ground and neutral together. I did this inside generator adapter plug and no more faults.
|
X2. I unbonded ground and neutral on my generator for home use, then built this little plug for RV use
http://www.noshockzone.org/generator...utral-bonding/
__________________
![](/attachments/signaturepics/sigpic4069_8.gif)
Jason & Wendy
2014 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L PSD
2015 Keystone Montana 3711FL
B&W Patriot 16K Fifth Wheel Hitch
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 10:37 AM
|
#14
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoe2728
Mine chatters when A/C starts not all the time just once in awhile, then kicks in fine. I will sometimes turn off the Surge Protector when running the A/C off generator.
|
Chattering was "read bad" - even with the surge protector turned off.
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 10:40 AM
|
#15
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnboytoo
Had heard a while back that genny's and surge protectors don't get along so I went with portable 50 amp too...
|
Thought I would take the change with the hard wired unit - worked OK with the generator until I tried to use the AC - about 3 months after I installed it is when I tried to used the generator and AC.
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 10:43 AM
|
#16
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by avvidclif
From what I understand it's the grounding issue, very few people properly ground their generator and the PI unit senses this. PI recommends if you have problem put it in bypass mode.
I have the Yamaha EF4500 and it runs my trailer just fine but I haven't tried it since installing the surge protector. I'll find out the first of next month when I use it.
|
Even in BYPASS the relay chattered. The progressive rep. indicated that people with Yamaha generators had had are more issues than those with Honda generators.
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 10:43 AM
|
#17
|
Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,172
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cw3jason
|
Nice read. Thanks Jason.
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 10:46 AM
|
#18
|
Full Time Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 874
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoe2728
The trailers ground is not like a house ground. If you just plug your trailer into the generator, the hard wired surge protector will show a fault every time. You have to bond the ground and neutral together. I did this inside generator adapter plug and no more faults.
|
Mine never showed a ground fault - only low voltage fault codes. Was going to try the ground and neutral bond but decided to remove it an go with a portable unit.
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 12:19 PM
|
#19
|
Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: PA
Posts: 190
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cw3jason
|
Yes excellent read. I think I will grab the Kindle book RV Electrical Safety
__________________
~Mike & Kim~
NW Pennsylvania
![](/attachments/signaturepics/sigpic4856_4.gif)
2014 Rockwood Windjammer 3008W Diamond
2012 Toyota Tundra, 5.7L
|
|
|
09-09-2014, 03:50 PM
|
#20
|
Family Vacation Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: florida
Posts: 190
|
I was dry camping next to a guy that also dry camping but couldn't get power to his 5th wheel. He was hooking his portable progressive surg. protector up to his generator and it would not let power through. Asked him if he had bonded the grd and neutral together, he wasn't sure what I was talking about. Generator hooked up directly would work. He didn't want to run it that way and use the surg. prot. Tried to explain to him how to make a plug but he wasn't sure about it. I was going to make him one, but then thought better about it. I did my own and feel confident in my work but if something was to happen, it goes from thanks for helping to you burnt up my trailer. Next day he went to home depot and came back with a 10 foot grounding rod and pounding it in the ground, someone had told him that would work. He ended up running generator without the surge protector.
__________________
2012 Ram 2500 CTD
2011 305skp fifthwheel
|
|
|
![Reply](/forums/images/crv/buttons/reply.gif) |
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|