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dwayneb236's avatar
dwayneb236
Explorer
Jul 26, 2016

Check your electric BEFORE unhooking

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.
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  • jjjandrbaker's avatar
    jjjandrbaker
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2016
    I have no idea what any of that technical stuff you posted means. All I do know is, the first thing I do when I get to a site is plug in the electric and get the AC running. That way the camper is cooling down the whole time I'm doing the rest of the set up stuff. Works for me. But, I am envious about all that technical knowledge you have. The only thing I know about it is that it plugs in.
  • bpounds's avatar
    bpounds
    Nomad
    Jul 27, 2016
    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.
  • AmericalVette's avatar
    AmericalVette
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2016
    SoundGuy wrote:
    I've got a Progressive EMS-HW30C wired into our rig so I put together this - 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.


    Excellent, thanks for sharing! I'll be putting one of these together tomorrow.
  • scbwr's avatar
    scbwr
    Explorer II
    Jul 26, 2016
    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!
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2016
    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.

  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Jul 26, 2016
    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.

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