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Inverter Problem

Route_66_Travel
Explorer
Explorer
I just purchased a 3500 Watt Inverter Generator to use while dry camping. When connecting it to my Progressive EMS-PT50X Surge Protector I get the code for an Open Ground and the unit will not energize my RV. The instructions for the Inverter say to connect the ground lug to a grounding rod driven into the Earth for proper grounding. This weekend we were parked on blacktop with no way to connect to ground as stated above.

Is there any easy way to remedy this situation? Can I just connect the RV to the Inverter, bypassing the surge protector? Any help is much appreciated!
15 REPLIES 15

Route_66_Travel
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks s for the help guys. I am just going to connect directly to the generator, which I did this morning and everything is working fine. Sorry for the confusion in the title...I am well aware of the differences between an Inverter and an Inverter Generator.

I haven't heard back from Progessive yet. If they do respond I will post their comments here.

Lee

DrewE
Explorer II
Explorer II
3 tons wrote:
Yep, my surge protector was not happy when trying to run the air cond from the Honda 2000i (voltage sag at high altitudes with high ambient temps) so I spliced in a seperate dedicated cord just after the surge protector but before the main panel...

3 tons


You need a switch of some sort to go between the two cords; otherwise, you can have both be live and connected to the circuit at the same time. This has many problems: it's not correct per code, it would lead to a safety issue with a live male connector, and if you ever happened to have the generator and the shore power connected together at the same time you would very likely, at a minimum, destroy the generator...hopefully in a rather sedate manner, but the possibility certainly exists to do so in a very energetic fashion (i.e. parts literally flying off in various directions).

MrWizard
Moderator
Moderator
like everybody is saying
you have a 'bonding' issue with a portable generator
(it just happens to be an inverter type generator)

this is NOT an 'inverter' problem
I can explain it to you.
But I Can Not understand it for you !

....

Connected using T-Mobile Home internet and Visible Phone service
1997 F53 Bounder 36s

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
pianotuna wrote:
I would leave the PT50X unit out of the circuit. The PI folks may not honor the warranty if you connect it to a generator.


Route 66 Traveler wrote:
I have also sent this problem to Progressive to see what they suggest, but you are probably correct in saying it will void the warranty if I use a bonding plug.


Not true - Progressive themselves for awhile even sold their own generator bonding plug.

2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

3_tons
Explorer III
Explorer III
Yep, my surge protector was not happy when trying to run the air cond from the Honda 2000i (voltage sag at high altitudes with high ambient temps) so I spliced in a seperate dedicated cord just after the surge protector but before the main panel...

3 tons

bikendan
Explorer
Explorer
2oldman wrote:
It's extremely unlikely you'd ever need a surge protector with a generator.


x2!
Dan- Firefighter, Retired:C, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur:W, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever(RIP:(), 2014 Ford F150 3.5 EcoboostMax Tow pkg, 2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255 w/4pt Equalizer and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
pianotuna wrote:
I would leave the PT50X unit out of the circuit. The PI folks may not honor the warranty if you connect it to a generator.
That is a disclaimer for the Yamaha EF2000iS only.

http://www.progressiveindustries.net/disclaimer

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
Portable generators do not.. Normally, Connect the ground. THe modified plug above is the solution.
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
It's extremely unlikely you'd ever need a surge protector with a generator.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

Route_66_Travel
Explorer
Explorer
pianotuna wrote:
I would leave the PT50X unit out of the circuit. The PI folks may not honor the warranty if you connect it to a generator.


Thanks for the suggestions! I have also sent this problem to Progressive to see what they suggest, but you are probably correct in saying it will void the warranty if I use a bonding plug.

Sorry for the confusing Thread title. And the EMS surge protector I am using is the portable unit, not hardwired. I also failed to mention that my RV is 50Amps, so I am using a 30 to 50 converter adapter connected to the generator.

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
I would leave the PT50X unit out of the circuit. The PI folks may not honor the warranty if you connect it to a generator.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
DrewE wrote:
Portable generators generally have floating outputs, with the ground not being bonded to neutral. Time2roll said it well; you can either bypass the surge protector with its little switch on the remote (and trust the generator to put out decent power), or else make a bonding plug to also plug into the generator and bond neutral to ground.


Of the two choices I preferred to leave my EMS in the system and simply bonded my EU2000i output with a G-N bonding plug which solves this issue entirely but still allows the EMS to protect the trailer's electrical system.

To the OP - the title of your thread is confusing in that what you're talking about is an inverter generator, not an inverter. If it were in inverter the advice to use a G-N bonding plug wouldn't be so definitive as some inverters specifically warn against bonding, depending on the internal design of the inverter.
2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

DrewE
Explorer II
Explorer II
When the EMS says bad ground, what it really means is that ground is not bonded to neutral. It has no way of determining if the ground (and bonded neutral) are at earth potential or not.

Portable generators generally have floating outputs, with the ground not being bonded to neutral. Time2roll said it well; you can either bypass the surge protector with its little switch on the remote (and trust the generator to put out decent power), or else make a bonding plug to also plug into the generator and bond neutral to ground.