This past week we were in Oklahoma camping at Foss Lake State Park. Pulled into our spot and began doing our thing with unloading and such. I have installed a PI EMS-LCHW50 in the unit so I wasn't worried about any electric issues as I was protected. What I forgot to do first though was check for any error codes. I just plugged in and began doing other things. After all done, I went in to turn on air for the dogs. Well the thermostat was throwing up an error code and wouldn't turn on. I finally got a brain and went to check my PI readout and it said I had an E2 code. This was an open ground and the PI shutdown so I wouldn't do any damage.Was glad for it and did learn me a lesson. Check electric before unhooking and leveling and running out slides and all that other good stuff. We loaded back up and moved next door, checking electric before doing anything else. Don't know what this could have done to our system without the PI but nice to have it and not worry about it.

By the way, the sand bass fishing was great there.

Been there!Done that!Got the T-Shirt.Good reminder.

dwayneb236 wrote:Check electric before unhooking and leveling and running out slides and all that other good stuff.Good point. All too often we 'assume' everything is working properly.Also,checking the water is probably a good idea before you hook up.Thanks for posting.

I've got a Progressive EMS-HW30C wired into our rig so I put together this handy dongle so I can check the campsite service as soon as we arrive and I don't waste my time pulling out cable and hooking up to service that's in error.

Since getting our Progressive portable unit, it's the first thing we do once we get to a camp site. It's a good habit to have!

Check your electric BEFORE unhooking | Good Sam Community

dwayneb236
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
bpounds wrote:
dwayneb236 wrote:
After all done, I went in to turn on air for the dogs. Well the thermostat was throwing up an error code and wouldn't turn on. I finally got a brain and went to check my PI readout and it said I had an E2 code. This was an open ground and the PI shutdown so I wouldn't do any damage.
snip
Don't know what this could have done to our system without the PI but nice to have it and not worry about it.

Flip side of that coin is, that an open ground on the pedestal would not have harmed your rig, and your AC would have worked fine. Just as if you were on a generator. Your rig does not need a ground, just a hot and a neutral. The ground prevents someone getting shocked at the pedestal.

Yeah I know nothing about electricity so I just didn't want to take any chances. Now I know but I would still have moved as the EMS wouldn't allow me to use the air unless I bypassed it and that would just leave me open to surges and all that other nasty stuff I don't understand at all and am probably wrong about most of it.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2016
DW edicts that getting the air conditioner on pronto is priority one, so checking the pedestal is the first thing I do. My power cord is long enough that I can do some minor leveling while plugged in.

And that is even though I have a PI EMS-HW30C.
westend
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
dwayneb236 wrote:
bpounds wrote:
dwayneb236 wrote:
After all done, I went in to turn on air for the dogs. Well the thermostat was throwing up an error code and wouldn't turn on. I finally got a brain and went to check my PI readout and it said I had an E2 code. This was an open ground and the PI shutdown so I wouldn't do any damage.
snip
Don't know what this could have done to our system without the PI but nice to have it and not worry about it.

Flip side of that coin is, that an open ground on the pedestal would not have harmed your rig, and your AC would have worked fine. Just as if you were on a generator. Your rig does not need a ground, just a hot and a neutral. The ground prevents someone getting shocked at the pedestal.

Yeah I know nothing about electricity so I just didn't want to take any chances. Now I know but I would still have moved as the EMS wouldn't allow me to use the air unless I bypassed it and that would just leave me open to surges and all that other nasty stuff I don't understand at all and am probably wrong about most of it.

Bottom line----believe your EMS. Without a ground, if there is any stray voltage, it may energize all the steel and aluminum in the trailer. This is especially bad for pets as a dog or cat has much more vulnerability for electrocution. Old Fido may step on the steel entry steps and that may be his last step.
dwayneb236
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
Well the slides actually weren't out yet but I was in the process of leveling as I had just unhitched and level before the slides are out. The wife takes care of stuff on the other side of the camper and told me the ac would not come on so I went to investigate. Did have the sewer and water connected as well. The spot we moved was right next door so no repacking to do, just hitch and go. Still annoying.
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2016
Even though I have a hard wired PI EMS HW 30 I always check with my home made pedestal checker,cheap but it works.

Saves me the hassel of dragging everything out.

I also use my 50amp to 30amp adapter to check the 50amp side. Sometimes I like them better as the are in better shape.
stripit
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
I always use my Power Pal before I start to unpack anything, first thing I do is plug it in and listen to it tell me everything is fine, or not. Power Pal
myredracer
Explorer II
Jul 27, 2016
Old-Biscuit wrote:

Except that 'open ground' at power pedestal could result in a 'hot skin' condition on RV. That can be very dangerous to the RVr

Absolutely. In fact, it can be deadly and has killed in the past.

Our PI EMS showed we had an open ground at a CG last year and I notified the office. They sent over their general purpose handyman/electrician who used his voltmeter and declared it perfectly fine and that it should be fine because he had just replaced the receptacle (30 amps) a few days ago. I have a serious problem with non-electricians working on CG wiring but it happens all over. The next time it happens, I might write to the state chief electrical inspector.
dwayneb236
Explorer
Jul 27, 2016
Oh yeah, Just an FYI I did report it to a campground worker. He said he'd contact his boss about it. He was a nice enough guy but seemed a bit confused when I said it was an open ground. But I was confused too so we had something in common.

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