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Topic: Progessive EMS HW30C (Read 241 times) previous topic - next topic
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Progessive EMS HW30C
We are in an RV park in Colorado. Temps yesterday were in the low 90's. The day before it was apparent that the power had cut off sometime while we were out. The display on the EMS indicated there had been a low voltage problem.

I checked the display several times during the day and found it frequently displaying 104 or 105 volts with the AC running and more than once saw 107 without the AC running. We mentioned it to the park manager and were told no one else had reported a problem. I realize that no one would if they don't have an EMS.

I have a digital voltmeter but can never get it to read from the outlets for some reason. My neighbor has one as well and today we checked some outlets. With the AC running I was reading 104 or 105. Checking two different outlets with the meter we got 110 and 111, a six point difference. I should add that I have never had a low voltage problem with the generator.

We have the original power cord on which I have previously replaced the pedestal plug so it is relatively new. Could there be a problem with the wiring in the cord? Do they wear out over time?
Re: Progessive EMS HW30C
Reply #1 –
Jim,

"I have a digital voltmeter but can never get it to read from the outlets for some reason. My neighbor has one as well and today we checked some outlets. With the AC running I was reading 104 or 105. Checking two different outlets with the meter we got 110 and 111, a six point difference. I should add that I have never had a low voltage problem with the generator."

I assume you mean you were reading 104 or 105 with the AC on and 110 or 111 with it off.  I suggest you check the voltage at the pedestal with nothing plugged into it. See what the voltage is there.  If it's low, go one step further and measure the voltage at another pedestal in the park to see if it's low as well.  This will tell you whether it's just yours or is a problem with the service coming into the park. If just yours, the breaker could be bad, or loose connections at the breaker or receptacle.

If the voltage is normal at the pedestal, then it's time to wonder about the cord or connections in the RV.  Cords don't wear out, but could be damaged, and plugs do wear out.  There could be a bad connection at one of the plugs causing a voltage drop.  Visually inspect the cord, and check both ends to see if they are warmer than normal (or hot).  Either could indicate a bad connection.  Does your plug fit firmly into the receptacle at the pedestal, or is it loose?  A worn out receptacle that won't hold the plug securely can cause a significant voltage drop.

Your meter could have a bad lead, a blown fuse, or the battery could be low?  Does it measure DC voltage?  Does the display come on, and if so, any indication of battery condition?  Any inexpensive digital voltmeter from a big box store is plenty accurate for reading voltage at the pedestal or in the RV or other occasional uses. 

I hope this is helpful!

Bill
2003 -- 23' FL
Re: Progessive EMS HW30C
Reply #2 –
Adding to Bill's comments, if you are in a park with multiple RV's all hooked up to electric and AC's running, that could pull the voltage down in the entire park.  Just one more thing to consider when troubleshooting...

Try this test - check voltage at the pedestal, with no load.  Connect your power wire, and with everything turned off in the RV, check the voltage in the breaker box.  Then check the power at an outlet.  They should all read very nearly the same.  If you have a significant difference in the readings, the connections and wire between those differing readings becomes suspect.  Now, apply a load.  Check the various points again.  If the voltage did not drop with no load but did drop with a load, you have a problem in your system.  If the voltage is relatively uniform from the pedestal to the outlets, with a load on the system, the problem is before or in the pedestal, not in your stuff.

Ken F in WY.
'08 MB
Re: Progessive EMS HW30C
Reply #3 –
Thanks, Bill and Ken. We are leaving the park tomorrow. I am going to see what happens at the next park we go to.

I have to pick up a reliable multimeter before I can do any of this. I posted a separate question asking for recommendations. If either of you has a suggestion let me know.

Bill, you understood what I was trying to say. When the AC was on the remote readout for the EMS was reading 104 or 105 v. Outlets in the rig were reading 110 or 111 with my neighbor's multimeter.

I can add that my neighbor went to his motorhome and tested an outlet and got 119. He tested the 15amp outlet on the pedestal and got 119. He didn't test his 30amp outlet and we didn't check my pedestal.

The male plug on my cord is pretty new. The female plug is the original Marinco.

Jim
Re: Progessive EMS HW30C
Reply #4 –
"I can add that my neighbor went to his motor home and tested an outlet and got 119. He tested the 15 amp outlet on the pedestal and got 119. He didn't test his 30 amp outlet and we didn't check my pedestal."

Jim,

Though you didn't measure the voltage at your pedestal, you haven't mentioned a problem before, and, you've recently replaced the plug end on your cord, so, without more information, I suspect a problem with the pedestal at your particular site.  The potential (voltage) at the pedestal will be the same regardless of whether it is measured at the 15 amp or 30 amp receptacle, (the source is the same). 

I could be, as I have been many times before, wrong, but I think you will find that at your next stop all will be well. 

I have been following the parallel thread regarding a reliable digital meter.  I'm going to stick with my suggestion that an inexpensive meter from a big box store like Lowe's or Home Depot for example will be all one should need.  In my profession, I have accumulated several Fluke meters, including the 87 I got brand new when I went to work for my current (now part time) employer 22 years ago (it's never been serviced other than getting calibrated once a year), so certainly an excellent choice, but even an inexpensive meter made in some far away land is likely to be all you'll need for the occasional ac or dc measurement in the RV. 

Bill
2003 -- 23' FL
 
Re: Progessive EMS HW30C
Reply #5 –
Bill, how do you account for the difference between what our EMS was reading vs the reading we got from outlets in our rig at the same time? The outlets were reading 6 volts higher than the EMS. If the EMS is misreading the incoming voltage then it's going to cut off power into the rig when it shouldn't.

I will grant you that our neighbor was getting readings of 119 when we were seeing 111 at outlets in both rigs so something is probably wrong with the pedestal.

I didn't mention that I called Progressive yesterday and spoke with tech support and know less than I did before I called. He questioned the brand of multimeter being used and that the problem could be with the pedestal breaker, our cord, the wiring coming into rig, etc. He was prepared to help but said I would need to take the top off the EMS and he would help me test wiring with the meter. Unfortunately, I didn't have access to my neighbor's meter at that point and the EMS is in a tight location.

While we have had this happen before it hasn't happened often. Maybe there is no problem but the discrepancy between what the rig outlets were reading vs the EMS seems odd.