Progressive Industries Surge Protectors and Honda Generators
carolinakids said
07:19 AM Aug 7, 2016
We installed a hard wired version of the progressive industries 50 amp surge protector and bought a set of Honda 2000's and connected them up and received a code E-2 which is an open ground. Called progressive and they explained the issue. Also directed me to a video clip. So we now have to purchase the Gen. plug from them to get the Honda's to work with the Surge Protector. Is what it is no big deal. Just wanted to let everyone know if you go with this protector and generator combo what to look for. Passing on so you want be surprised.
-- Edited by carolinakids on Sunday 7th of August 2016 07:21:24 AM
igotjam said
08:58 AM Aug 7, 2016
YA....Tried to use a pedestal mounted surge protector with my Honda and got error codes. Just use the Honda without the surge protector now.
CJSX2fromCT said
10:11 AM Aug 7, 2016
Have both and ran into the same issue, I just cut the male end off a heavy gage extension cord and spliced the white and ground together and taped them up... works perfect
carolinakids said
11:50 AM Aug 7, 2016
Thanks CJ, I had a #10 wire and got a plug and rigged it up. My friend you saved me a lot. We are in up State NY and I was going to pay to have a plug sent from Raleigh, NC and overnight it and I can only imagine how much that would have been. Owe ya CJ.
-- Edited by carolinakids on Sunday 7th of August 2016 12:34:48 PM
Bill and Linda said
02:03 PM Aug 8, 2016
For those that might be reading along a few points of information -
First, there is nothing wrong with the Honda generator or the Progressive Industries product. Most portable generators don't have a neutral to ground connection like generators do that are built into the a coach. The Progressive Industries product is doing its job with the portable generator and "protecting" from the lack of this neutral to ground connection. (That's one of the many reasons to have the Progressive Industries full EMS protection product.) The use of the plug connecting neutral to ground - be it from a supplier or home made - is perfectly safe. Actually I recommend using a "plug" and the Progressive Industries true EMS with portable generators to provide surge, voltage and off-frequency protection.
This may seem a little scary to some but it's really is no big deal. Many coaches are now coming with higher quality products like the Progressive Industries EMS already installed. So it may not be possible to totally bypass them. "It depends." If one uses a portable generator having one of these "plugs," providing a neutral to ground connection when using a portable generator is a good idea, IMO.
I did a little presentation on this at the last New Horizons' Rally and a few people went "Oh, is that the only problem." Yep, that's it. One little #10 wire from neutral to ground plugged into the 120 volt outlet on the portable generator and all is well.
Bill
Neil and Connie said
01:42 PM Aug 11, 2016
I made me one of those neutral-ground plugs…and as I recall it doesn't keep the error from happening always. I can't remember precisely…but I think that I had to turn the Progressive off, start the Honda and plug it in, and then turn the Progressive back on to make it happy. Haven't run the generator since the spring though and with CRS it's hard to 'member all the details.
Bill and Linda said
07:53 AM Aug 12, 2016
Neil and Connie wrote:
I made me one of those neutral-ground plugs…and as I recall it doesn't keep the error from happening always. I can't remember precisely…but I think that I had to turn the Progressive off, start the Honda and plug it in, and then turn the Progressive back on to make it happy. Haven't run the generator since the spring though and with CRS it's hard to 'member all the details.
Assuming I'm interpreting you correctly: Most likely the issue is caused by the errors detected as the generator comes up to speed from starting. IF the rig is plugged into the generator and the generator is then started the PI will see all those voltage and frequency errors as the generator comes up to speed and throw an error code as it should. If the generator is at speed, voltage and frequency, etc. OK, and the rig is then plugged into the generator with the grounding plug already inserted, then the PI should be fine.
The reason OEM installed PI EMS don't have a similar problem when a **built in** generator is started is due to a ~15 second time delay in the shore power to generator change over switch and naturally because with built in generators there is a neutral to ground bond already in place.
Simple fix - as Neil implied - start the generator and let it get to speed before plugging in the rig. And make sure you don't turn everything on in the rig at once - especially if it is a big power draw like an air-conditioner. Little portable generators can't handle that high current load all at once.
We installed a hard wired version of the progressive industries 50 amp surge protector and bought a set of Honda 2000's and connected them up and received a code E-2 which is an open ground. Called progressive and they explained the issue. Also directed me to a video clip. So we now have to purchase the Gen. plug from them to get the Honda's to work with the Surge Protector. Is what it is no big deal. Just wanted to let everyone know if you go with this protector and generator combo what to look for. Passing on so you want be surprised.
http://www.progressiveindustries.net/#!Testing-a-Generator-for-a-Floating-Neutral/c1371/55f1aa360cf2de902a82f4da
-- Edited by carolinakids on Sunday 7th of August 2016 07:21:24 AM
Thanks CJ, I had a #10 wire and got a plug and rigged it up. My friend you saved me a lot. We are in up State NY and I was going to pay to have a plug sent from Raleigh, NC and overnight it and I can only imagine how much that would have been. Owe ya CJ.
-- Edited by carolinakids on Sunday 7th of August 2016 12:34:48 PM
For those that might be reading along a few points of information -
First, there is nothing wrong with the Honda generator or the Progressive Industries product. Most portable generators don't have a neutral to ground connection like generators do that are built into the a coach. The Progressive Industries product is doing its job with the portable generator and "protecting" from the lack of this neutral to ground connection. (That's one of the many reasons to have the Progressive Industries full EMS protection product.) The use of the plug connecting neutral to ground - be it from a supplier or home made - is perfectly safe. Actually I recommend using a "plug" and the Progressive Industries true EMS with portable generators to provide surge, voltage and off-frequency protection.
This may seem a little scary to some but it's really is no big deal. Many coaches are now coming with higher quality products like the Progressive Industries EMS already installed. So it may not be possible to totally bypass them. "It depends." If one uses a portable generator having one of these "plugs," providing a neutral to ground connection when using a portable generator is a good idea, IMO.
I did a little presentation on this at the last New Horizons' Rally and a few people went "Oh, is that the only problem." Yep, that's it. One little #10 wire from neutral to ground plugged into the 120 volt outlet on the portable generator and all is well.
Bill
I made me one of those neutral-ground plugs…and as I recall it doesn't keep the error from happening always. I can't remember precisely…but I think that I had to turn the Progressive off, start the Honda and plug it in, and then turn the Progressive back on to make it happy. Haven't run the generator since the spring though and with CRS it's hard to 'member all the details.
Assuming I'm interpreting you correctly: Most likely the issue is caused by the errors detected as the generator comes up to speed from starting. IF the rig is plugged into the generator and the generator is then started the PI will see all those voltage and frequency errors as the generator comes up to speed and throw an error code as it should. If the generator is at speed, voltage and frequency, etc. OK, and the rig is then plugged into the generator with the grounding plug already inserted, then the PI should be fine.
The reason OEM installed PI EMS don't have a similar problem when a **built in** generator is started is due to a ~15 second time delay in the shore power to generator change over switch and naturally because with built in generators there is a neutral to ground bond already in place.
Simple fix - as Neil implied - start the generator and let it get to speed before plugging in the rig. And make sure you don't turn everything on in the rig at once - especially if it is a big power draw like an air-conditioner. Little portable generators can't handle that high current load all at once.
Hope this helps a bit.