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09-07-2018, 08:12 AM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #22121
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AC soft start and Honda EU2200 generator
Hello all, I just had soft starts installed on both AC units with the intention of having the capability of running one unit at a time with one of my EU 2200 Honda generator, or both units running two EU 2000 Honda generators in parallel. When I try to run one AC using one generator, the AC runs for about 5 minutes and then I get a ground fault error message on my surge protector in my unit (I had previously installed an expensive surge protector that would not only protect my electronics but bring my AC units back up automatically in the event of a power failure). The dealership says that the problem is the fault of the Honda generator, not that it doesn't have enough capacity but something inherent in the generator itself. Has anyone else encountered this?
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09-07-2018, 08:49 AM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ore City Texas
Posts: 1,648
M.O.C. #2224
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I just solved a similar problem yesterday. I have the EU3000i Honda and tried to use it through the Progressive EMS. I got the "ground fault error" immediately and the EMS would not allow power to the trailer.
I found the answer online. The Honda has "floating ground" and the EMS considers this "ground fault error." The answer is to mount a jumper wire between the NEUTRAL and the GROUND prongs in a plug where you can reach the wiring. I used a short piece of small gauge insulated wiring as a jumper in the plug. In my case the wires were GREEN to WHITE. Be very sure to identify properly the NEUTRAL and the GROUND prongs.
This worked immediately and the EMS allowed power to the trailer and my AC ran just fine on generator power.
Another solution, which I did not use, is to buy an ordinary plug (without wiring) and make the same connection within that plug then plug in that modified plug to ANY input on the generator and it will make every output from the generator to be grounded.
I am NOT an electrician, but I viewed several youtube on this subject and had direct suggestions from forum friends. It worked.
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09-07-2018, 09:00 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,522
M.O.C. #18081
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You are experiencing a common issue when using a portable generator with a floating ground and an intelligent EMS. They sell and you can make (YouTube is your friend) a kit that will bond the neutral to the RV’s grounded electrode thereby eliminating the EMS system from detecting the fault.
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09-07-2018, 01:38 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,366
M.O.C. #4831
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Or the other solutions is to bypass the EMS when running on the Honda.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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09-07-2018, 02:02 PM
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#5
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #22121
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Thanks all! I went to the hardware store a bought a plug that allowed access to its inside. I then ran a 12 gauge jumper wire from the Neutral to the Ground and put it back together. All I had access to at the time is my generator so I started it and plugged it into the 110 outlet. The generator runs fine with it plugged in so I'm assuming that it will fix the problem when I plug it into my 5th wheel; I'll test that next week and post an update. Thanks again! PS. I had to educate my RV service people on this fix...they were out of ideas and scratching their heads!
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09-13-2018, 08:15 PM
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#6
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #22121
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Well, y’all, I made a plug to close the ground from my Honda 2200EU. I bought a plug that you can open and added a 12 gauge jump wire between the ground and the neutral. I plugged it into my generator then plugged in my RV to the generator. The soft starts took 125 seconds to build up and then showed 12 amps. I flipped off all of the breakers accept the main and the AC circuit. I them started the AC. It started and ran for about a minute before stopping. My gauge in the unit read ‘open ground’. As a reminder, I’m running an onboard surge protector. Any ideas would be appreciated.
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09-13-2018, 08:19 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,932
M.O.C. #20477
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Recommend you disable your EMS and try again.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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09-13-2018, 08:22 PM
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#8
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #22121
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I don’t know how to do that....do I need to add an inline manual switch?
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09-13-2018, 08:26 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,932
M.O.C. #20477
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Not sure which EMS you have, get the EMS instructions out to determine how to bypass or remove it.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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09-13-2018, 08:28 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,522
M.O.C. #18081
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mchurch314 have you already successfully allowed for 5 AC starts on shore power? This is necessary for the ES to in essence get programmed by learning how much current it can retard. If you have not done that yet I would recommend getting that variable addressed first. The floating ground issue should be fairly easy to rectify. The 125 second delay is a bit of a red herring.
__________________
SOB
2015 Volvo VNL780 D13, iShift, 32k ET air hitch, Idle Free LiFePO4 APU
16.8KWhr LiFePO4, 2.52 kw solar, 10kva Victron split phase
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09-13-2018, 08:53 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita
Posts: 633
M.O.C. #13025
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The neutral ground bond should take care of your problem, my Honda 2000 works fine now with my EMS, so no need to bypass.
__________________
Russ and Linda, So. California
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD, D/A, SRW, SB
2005 2955RL, Pullrite Superglide 16K hitch. Bridgestone Duravis R500 tires. EZ Flex Equilizers with wet bolts.EMS HW50C, Disk brakes
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09-13-2018, 08:56 PM
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#12
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #22121
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I’ve had around 5 shore starts but not many more. Should I just wait to fix it until I’ve had more shore starts? My EMS is an expensive, after market ‘onboard’ version that will auto restart after an outage.
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09-13-2018, 09:01 PM
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#13
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #22121
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That’s what I tried, right? I create a plug that connects the ground and the neutral, and plugged it into my generator 120 volt outlet.
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09-13-2018, 09:06 PM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,366
M.O.C. #4831
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What make and model of EMS do you have?
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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09-13-2018, 09:24 PM
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#15
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #22121
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Not sure....I’ll have to look at my paperwork.
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09-14-2018, 09:40 AM
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#16
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #22121
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Surge guard is the make...still checking on model.
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09-14-2018, 09:44 AM
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#17
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #22121
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Model 35550 by TRC
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09-14-2018, 01:10 PM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,522
M.O.C. #18081
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I don't think that model has a bypass switch like the Progressive. Your bonded plug should still resolve the issue. Short of verifying you have jumpered the correct terminals within one end of your corded connection you may have to physically remove the TRC from the electrical path.
__________________
SOB
2015 Volvo VNL780 D13, iShift, 32k ET air hitch, Idle Free LiFePO4 APU
16.8KWhr LiFePO4, 2.52 kw solar, 10kva Victron split phase
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09-14-2018, 01:29 PM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,366
M.O.C. #4831
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The TRC 35550 does not have a "bypass" feature.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...LhjgWkTcb3UfU6
The Progressive equivalent does have a switch to bypass monitoring incoming voltage (but still protects against a surge). http://file.powerprodllc.com/-/media/inriver/ZX480.pdf
The bonded neutral plug is supposed to do the trick but I know my Splendide washer doesn't like my Honda 2000i with or without the plug.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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09-14-2018, 03:06 PM
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#20
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 81
M.O.C. #22121
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Hmmmm.....I bought another type of plug and jumped the neutral and ground. I'll try new plug tomorrow and report back. I guess worse case is swap out the EMS to progressive. That will really suck!
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