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PandK

Greenville, SC

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Posted: 10/19/09 09:09pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I decided to install a Progressive EMS after reading on RV.net about fried electrical systems. Yesterday while at our favorite COE park the EMS shut down the electric. Checking the EMS remote meter showed the two legs with 165 and 75 volts. Was hard to believe since we had been plugged in for two days with no problems. I got my meter to check out the park’s box and found 40 volts between the ground and neutral (should have read zero). Reported problem to park maintenance and moved to another site (tested the box before plugging in). Maintenance looked at the electrical distribution and put a notice on it saying “correcting bond between neutral and ground” meaning there truly was an electrical issue and the EMS saved our electrical system. We also heard that two others in the same camping loop had problems - one lost their converter and the other lost electric to their refrigerator. I am now definitely a believer in having an EMS and figure it just paid for itself.


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Dynasty40

Northern California

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Posted: 10/19/09 09:20pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Outstanding save! That's what I call a "defining moment". ...Dennis


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AZPops

Southwest

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Posted: 10/19/09 09:37pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Great story, thanks for sharing. This is why my EMS is always between the power source and the Eagle.

Pops

* This post was edited 10/20/09 01:46am by AZPops *


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arctodus

Kansas

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Posted: 10/19/09 09:39pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

What is an EMS?


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riggarob

Farmington, NH

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Posted: 10/19/09 09:41pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

You're right Dennis. I installed one the minute I bot the new pusher. After reading the stories on this site, I decided it was the only way to go. One thing though. If I use my 2 Honda 2000i's in parallel, I have to shut the surge protector off, it doesn't recognise 30 amps. No problem though, 'cause I know MY 30 amp supply is sound. Robbie


Dynasty40 wrote:

Outstanding save! That's what I call a "defining moment". ...Dennis


* This post was edited 10/19/09 09:51pm by riggarob *


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PandK

Greenville, SC

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Posted: 10/19/09 09:44pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Here's what we have and a description of what the Electric Management System (EMS) does. It is installed between the outside source of electric and the AC distribution panel in you unit. It protects your unit from excessively high or low voltage problems.

Progressive EMS

SunflyerA

Andover, Minnesota USA

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Posted: 10/19/09 10:32pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

arctodus wrote:

What is an EMS?


Energy management system....refered to on this thread could also be known as a surge guard.

EMS also refers to an in house system of managing your electrical system so you don't continue to trip breakers from over loading them.


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Golden_HVAC

Fulltime, CA, USA

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Posted: 10/20/09 12:50am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Hi,

This should be a rare problem, but as you see, it can happen. My guess is the ground wire broke at the main transformer, or electric meter to this loop of the campground.

The heating element can go bad when exposed to 160 volts. It can cause 40% more amperage to go through the heater, so it might use 5 amps instead of 3, and instead of 360 watts at 3 amps and 120 volts, it might be 800 watts at 160 volts and 5 amps. Lets hope that the refrigerator shut off before the ammonia line gets to hot and cracks, possibly leaking out flammable and stinky ammonia mixture.

Good Luck,

Fred.

Retiredblade

Western, Pa

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Posted: 10/20/09 04:29am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

These work also: www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/hard-wired-surge-guard/2480 last winter the same this happened at our camp ground and my neighbor had one and he came over to me and said "shut your electric off!" I did. The power surged way over what is safe. They called Florida power and they had been working on the lines and set the transformer to high. They came out right away and reset it. They are worth having.


Sam USCG


UltraKen

Ohio

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Posted: 10/20/09 05:13am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

riggarob wrote:

You're right Dennis. I installed one the minute I bot the new pusher. After reading the stories on this site, I decided it was the only way to go. One thing though. If I use my 2 Honda 2000i's in parallel, I have to shut the surge protector off, it doesn't recognise 30 amps. No problem though, 'cause I know MY 30 amp supply is sound. Robbie


Dynasty40 wrote:

Outstanding save! That's what I call a "defining moment". ...Dennis


This has been discussed elsewhere. The problem is that the EMS doesn't see a ground on the portable generator.


UltraKen
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