I have an open neutral as indicated by my surge protector. I have checked my recepticles with a tester and verified. I have used a multimeter and found the problem seems to be coming from my converter. It is wired into a breaker with half of my recepticles and they read open neutral and all breakers read 100 v. The wires were tied together with a wire nut and when I disconnect the converter power all of my recepticles work fine and all breakers read 118v. I also have 12v at the converter. I guess my question is where do I connect the converter or is the converter going bad? Please help, I am moving in full time soon. Thanks Oh, the system is 30 amp

Normally a surge protector (ie EMS) detects incoming AC from the pedestal and an open neutral is a pedestal or wiring problem to the EMS. So not understanding how a down stream inverter is involved when the EMS says open neutral?Some inverters have an internal automatic transfer switch (ATS) and pass incoming AC to the output when the inverter is off. When the inverter is on the inverter (from 12V) produces AC output and bonds the ground and neutral. This could be your problem. With the inverter on what is the 12V DC value at the inverter input terminals as measured with a digital voltmeter when the output is 100VAC?

I'm a noob to rving. I think it may be a converter. I will edit my post.

You are mixing up a converter with an inverter!A converter changes 120AC power to 12-volt DC.An inverter changes 12_volts DC to 120-volt AC power.Your surge protector is telling you that the power between the rig and shore power source has an open neutral.Are you sing an adapter? Are you connecting to 30, 50 or 15/20 shore power?

So I had an electrician come out and test the pedestal and the cord and all works as it should. When the converter is disconnected the surge protector reads good and everything in the camper works fine and all breakers read good. I have 30 amp plugged in straight with no adapter.

There are also combined charger/inverters, and these units also require AC input. Converter is also a slang term for charger or battery charger.Maybe this helps:Pedestal>EMS>CB Panel>charger/inverter>some outlets and other variations.Normally a "surge protector" ie EMS indicating open ground is before the inverter and hence can cause down stream issues.

Open neutral | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

enblethen
Nomad
Sep 11, 2022
You are mixing up a converter with an inverter!
A converter changes 120AC power to 12-volt DC.
An inverter changes 12_volts DC to 120-volt AC power.
Your surge protector is telling you that the power between the rig and shore power source has an open neutral.
Are you sing an adapter?
Are you connecting to 30, 50 or 15/20 shore power?
Skyhow1
Explorer
Sep 11, 2022
I'm a noob to rving. I think it may be a converter. I will edit my post.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Sep 11, 2022
Normally a surge protector (ie EMS) detects incoming AC from the pedestal and an open neutral is a pedestal or wiring problem to the EMS. So not understanding how a down stream inverter is involved when the EMS says open neutral?

Some inverters have an internal automatic transfer switch (ATS) and pass incoming AC to the output when the inverter is off. When the inverter is on the inverter (from 12V) produces AC output and bonds the ground and neutral. This could be your problem.

With the inverter on what is the 12V DC value at the inverter input terminals as measured with a digital voltmeter when the output is 100VAC?

Forum Discussion

Open neutral

13 Replies

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Open Neutral on new 2023 Keystone Sprinter

Open Ground

Neutral lines reversed

Open Title Purchase

Border opening?