Forum Discussion

JohnG4706's avatar
JohnG4706
Explorer
Oct 15, 2015

Champion 73536i 2000w Inverter Generator

I have the Champion 73536i 2000w Inverter Generator and hooked it up to my Puma 23FB trailer to recharge my 12v battery. I also have the PI 30 Amp surge protector with the digital readout that I hardwired,

I was getting an E 2 message indicating an open ground. I plugged in a 3-light tester directly to the 73536i and got the same reading. None of the 120v outlets were working inside the TT and the battery wasn't charging.

I looked in the Owner's Manual (didn't find anything) and called their 800 help line.

The tech said to "bond" a wire...basically connect a short wire from the silver/neutral screw of the outlet to the green/yellow wire (the generator ground)....the outlet neutral looks like a "T".

Is that right? Sounds like a shortcut, like cutting the ground post off the plug end to get it to fit into an old fashioned two slot outlet without a ground. I'm not an electrician, but have rewired my house, done my share of homeowner electrical work including using rigid conduit and try to do everything per the book.

Is this a common problem? Comments appreciated.

Thanks.
  • rockylarson's avatar
    rockylarson
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2015
    It sounds like your PI is protecting you from what it thinks is bad shore power. But, you are not using shore power, you are using a generator. My plug in power tester shows an open ground on my inside outlets when I use my onboard generator but not when using shore power. I can't speak to their solution but I think if you can bypass the PI it should work OK. Others will chime in with the details but it has something to do with the difference in grounding RVs and stick/bricks.
    Good Luck.
  • Lantley's avatar
    Lantley
    Nomad
    Oct 15, 2015
    THere was just a post about this related to a Progressive industries surge suppressor. The fix given will work.
    Essentially the surge is designed to be used with CG power. Using it with a genset will generate an error message.
  • hbillsmith's avatar
    hbillsmith
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2015
    I built the G-N plug as shown in the picture on noshockzone.com using a 3-prong plug from Lowes and a 1.5 inch piece of 12gage wire. Cost about $3.00. You plug it in to one of the 110 outlets, doesn't matter which one. You can plug your tester in the other one and confirm no error. After that your Champion will work fine. Just leave the G-N plugged in. I have a Campion and a PI EMS also.
  • Mike_Sokol's avatar
    Mike_Sokol
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2015
    hbillsmith wrote:
    I built the G-N plug as shown in the picture on noshockzone.com using a 3-prong plug from Lowes and a 1.5 inch piece of 12gage wire. Cost about $3.00. You plug it in to one of the 110 outlets, doesn't matter which one. You can plug your tester in the other one and confirm no error. After that your Champion will work fine. Just leave the G-N plugged in. I have a Campion and a PI EMS also.

    I'm Mike Sokol from the No~Shock~Zone. Thanks for posting a link to my article about generator neutral bonding. I designed this simple fix a few years ago, and have received hundreds of emails about it being used successfully. Here's a link to my video showing how to test your generator to see if it has a floating or bonded neutral. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-bTLdMjuqUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-bTLdMjuqU


    Mike Sokol
  • Samsonsworld's avatar
    Samsonsworld
    Explorer
    Oct 21, 2015
    JohnG4706 wrote:
    I have the Champion 73536i 2000w Inverter Generator and hooked it up to my Puma 23FB trailer to recharge my 12v battery. I also have the PI 30 Amp surge protector with the digital readout that I hardwired,

    I was getting an E 2 message indicating an open ground. I plugged in a 3-light tester directly to the 73536i and got the same reading. None of the 120v outlets were working inside the TT and the battery wasn't charging.

    I looked in the Owner's Manual (didn't find anything) and called their 800 help line.

    The tech said to "bond" a wire...basically connect a short wire from the silver/neutral screw of the outlet to the green/yellow wire (the generator ground)....the outlet neutral looks like a "T".

    Is that right? Sounds like a shortcut, like cutting the ground post off the plug end to get it to fit into an old fashioned two slot outlet without a ground. I'm not an electrician, but have rewired my house, done my share of homeowner electrical work including using rigid conduit and try to do everything per the book.

    Is this a common problem? Comments appreciated.

    Thanks.


    IDK. My CPE 73578i worked with my 2014 Puma trailer perfectly. I'd lose the surge protector.

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