gennie not providing power to coach

[Jim_McGarvie]

We checked into an RV park yesterday and discovered the power pedestal was inoperative. Electricians were called and have been working on it this afternoon. They thought they had it fixed and asked me to go inside and check it. I did, and our Energy Management System (EMS) was indicating 50 amp service available, but our AC voltmeter plugged into an outlet initially indicated 115-120 volts but immediately dropped to zero.

They gave up and called the local power company, but when I started the gennie to charge the batteries again I discovered the gennie was no longer providing power to the coach. I’ve reset its breakers and the main breakers but no joy. I’m afraid the electricians’ experiment with the low voltage might have fried the EMS or something.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Jim
2002 Monaco Knight 30PBD

[BFL13]

Confirm the inverter works off battery while checking to see what's wrong. Can you by-pass the EMS so the gen power can get through? apparently some EMS sets can be by-passed. (with the gen there would be little threat of a surge like with shore power)

[Planning]

Jim McGarvie wrote:

In addition to the other suggestions, if you are using a Progressive Industries EMS, you might have an unbonded neutral on your generator and the EMS will not allow power into the coach in that situation.

Thanks for the reply. No, it is an Intellitec EMS. Interestingly, turns out the original problem with the pedestal (and two others) was an unbounded neutral. That has been fixed but we can't use the pedestal or the generator due to the damage incurred, probably to the EMS.

Jim

Replace your EMS with one that protects against open neutral, for example the Progressive EMS-HW50C

https://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems-hw50c

[enblethen]

File a claim through the park against the utility for damages!

[Jim_McGarvie]

In addition to the other suggestions, if you are using a Progressive Industries EMS, you might have an unbonded neutral on your generator and the EMS will not allow power into the coach in that situation.

Thanks for the reply. No, it is an Intellitec EMS. Interestingly, turns out the original problem with the pedestal (and two others) was an unbounded neutral. That has been fixed but we can't use the pedestal or the generator due to the damage incurred, probably to the EMS.

Jim

[Jim_McGarvie]

enblethen wrote:
Are you disconnected from the shore power?
Remove shore power from pedestal. The transfer switch could be seeing power to hold it in shore powr and not allowing to go to genset.
Pedestal back to the sservice point is responsibility of the park. If it was the power utility problem, you would not be the only one effected.
Sounds like an open neutral in park system.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I disconnected from shore power.

In this case, three sites were affected, and it turned out to be the responsibility of the power company. They fixed it, but too late to prevent the damage to the coach electrical system.

Jim

[Jim_McGarvie]

BFL13 wrote:
Are you using an inverter/charger and if so what model? The 120v pass-through of the inverter part might need some sort of reset.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, it is a Heart Freedom 458 series, 1500 watt. I know it has an AC pass-through (transfer switch), but see nothing on the panel or in the manual about resetting it.

Jim

[Sam_Spade]

enblethen wrote:
The transfer switch could be seeing power to hold it in shore powr and not allowing to go to genset.

AND....if you don't have a "transfer switch", did you remember to move the power cord FROM the pedestal TO the outlet for the generator ?? Yes, I've done that before. :R

[Planning]

Jim McGarvie wrote:


Any ideas?

In addition to the other suggestions, if you are using a Progressive Industries EMS, you might have an unbonded neutral on your generator and the EMS will not allow power into the coach in that situation.

Read here for more information

[enblethen]

Are you disconnected from the shore power?
Remove shore power from pedestal. The transfer switch could be seeing power to hold it in shore powr and not allowing to go to genset.
Pedestal back to the sservice point is responsibility of the park. If it was the power utility problem, you would not be the only one effected.
Sounds like an open neutral in park system.

[BFL13]

Are you using an inverter/charger and if so what model? The 120v pass-through of the inverter part might need some sort of reset.