Progressive Industries EMS and generator together?

[Mark N.]

This weekend, I plugged my EMS-PT50C into my Yamaha 2400 IS generator, and plugged my umbilical into the EMS. No power got through the EMS, but there was an error code about an "open ground" situation.
Huh? The generator is working correctly, and everything works fine if I plug the umbilical directly (with adapters) into the generator, bypassing the EMS totally.
What is this all about? Thanks!

[Art-n-Marge]

You might be experiencing what is known as "ground bonding". This is a common problem when using generators since generators don't have a bond.

Hopefully an electrician will be along soon to describe "bonding" or an internet search will explain it, but I'll give it a try so you stop thinking there's a big problem. In a nutshell it's about not having a point in a power supply connection (in this case, your generator) that does not have a connection of neutral to true ground (I think this is called bonding). I'll stop there because I forgot the detailed description and don't want to misinform any worse than I already potentially have.

The chances are high that when connected to shore power, there is a "bonded ground" because electricians know about this and the connection will be properly "bonded", but with a generator you use you must somehow create a bonded condition like creating an adapter or using a different bonded cable for specific generator use. Then make sure whatever you've done (the adapter or modified cable) is not in place when you connect back to shore power. Use the cable that currently works with shore power. I understand double bonding is NOT recommended.

This is one of the things an EMS checks for. It sees the connection as a problem (no bond) therefore will not allow juice to flow. It's best you find a way to fix this so that you can use the EMS since it provides so many benefits.

[twindman]

Search here for bonded. Maybe you will find it. There is a thread that tells how to modify a pigtail connector that fakes a 'bonded' connection or such. It wouldn't cost much to build. on my generator, the dealer walked me thru moving a ground wire or such so it worked. However this prevents me from hooking it up to the house safely, but I don't see doing this soon!

[NCFischers]

Get yourself a male 15 amp plug. Strap the neutral and ground together with a piece of wire. Make sure you use the neutral and not the hot. Plug it into the outlet on the generator and it will fool the EMS.

[offroad71]

Go to www.noshockzone.org it will explains it.