Progressive Industries EMS-HW50C and Yamaha Gennies

[jeepman71]

I have a 2014 Wildcat that I installed an EMS-HW50C surge protector last June. I have two Yamaha EF2000 generators that I have used to run this rig on. Now with the EMS it goes into an E9 code and when I hit the bypass button the EMS just chatters like the contacts can't decide to open or close. I talked to Donald at Progressive Industries and he is telling me the generators are dropping voltage to a point they can't keep the contacts closed. I checked the generators and they both read 60 hertz and 126 on one and 127 volts on the other. I asked him how far they had to drop to get to the point of not keeping the contacts closed. He said they had to drop to 75 or 80 volts. REALLY!!. My question is has anybody had issues with this?

Jim

[Ripley711]

I too have a hard wire Progressive Industries unit in my 2018 Rockwood 8299BS fifth wheel. I have 2 Honda 2000 watt generators that run the unit. For these to run with the Progressive Ind unit I had to use a grounding plug in both of the receptacles of the generators.

[jeepman71]

Thanks for the reply Ripley. Can you expand on the grounded plug. My Yamaha's use a jumper between them that has a hot, neutral and a ground lug on each generator that tie them together with a 30 amp plug. If I use one generator I use a 50 amp to 30 amp to 20 amp and this is plugged into the outlet on the Yamaha. The individual at Progressive did comment about a floating neutral but didn't offer any "fix".

[Ripley711]

Jim,

The fix was pretty easy. Here is a link explaining why it happens and how to correct it. Generator Ground-Neutral Bonding | No~Shock~Zone

My Honda's hook together exactly as yours do. Before I start them I plug the neutral/ground plug into the 110 receptacle on each generator. I never have an issue. If I forget, the Prog Ind unit will not engage and let power to the coach. Plug it in and all issues fixed.

Darryl

[jeepman71]

Outstanding. Thanks Daryl I will look at this and see what I can make of it.

[jeepman71]

Darryl, I see in the article that it looks like they are using a "dummy" plug in one of the 20 amp receptacle outlets. Do you have to have one in each generator or just one of the two? If you are using just one generator you still plug the DN plug in one receptacle and your load in the other?

I appreciate the information Darryl. Progressive was surprisingly unhelpful on this issue.

Jim

[Ripley711]

Originally Posted by jeepman71

Darryl, I see in the article that it looks like they are using a "dummy" plug in one of the 20 amp receptacle outlets. Do you have to have one in each generator or just one of the two? If you are using just one generator you still plug the DN plug in one receptacle and your load in the other?

I appreciate the information Darryl. Progressive was surprisingly unhelpful on this issue.

Jim

Jim,

I bought 1 dummy plug and then made the other, real easy to do (Home Depot is your friend). Each generator will need to have the dummy plug in one of the 20 amp receptacles. And yes if only 1 generator is used, the dummy plug is used.

Darryl

[gpaw56]

Thanks Ripley. I too have hardwired Progressive and had the same issue when using generator. Making dummy plug now.... [emoji3]

[houstonstroker]

it seems that most inverter style generators do not bond the ground and neutral. Not a problem when plugging into your home or RV pedestal. The EMS sees it as an open ground or neutral and shuts down. The grounding plug solves this issue by bonding the ground and neutral.

[jeepman71]

I did speak with Anthony at Progressive about the grounding plug. He says because my EMS is giving a code E9 which is DATA LINK DOWN this plug will not help. Before when I got this code they sent me a replacement remote data link. I am going to try the plug this weekend and will post my findings. I have alot of respect for Anthony's knowledge but have a feeling he is hung up on the code the EMS-PT50 does not have an E9 code, what would it show?. Mike Sokol has commented several times to use the plug on a Yamaha generator. Time will tell.

Jim

[gpaw56]

Normal reading should be E0

I also got an E9 error when I first plugged trailer up to inverter generator. It also tripped GFCI in bathroom. Put EMS in bypass, reset breaker and worked fine.

Hooked back up to shore power with EMS in normal setting and all worked fine, no E9. I too thought I fried something when I got E9 "data link" error. Probably tripped GFCI due to the grounding issue, and caused the E9. Got the plug rigged but haven't tried yet.

[gpaw56]

Ok just ran generator on trailer with dummy plug and all is working well, EMS im normal mode and E0 on display. Got the 13.5 ac going in bedroom. I have the 3500w Predator but I would assume inverter generators would be the same as far as grounding.

[jeepman71]

Mine won't bypass. I get a loud clicking from the EMS. This is with one or two Yamaha generators.

[jeepman71]

Ok final results. I hooked the two Yamaha IF2000 together with the jumper, created one plug to bond the neutral and ground, plugged in the fifth wheel and it gives me an E1 neutral/hot reversed. Bonded the second generator and tried again, still get an E1. Remove one generator from the system and get a clean reading of E0. Problem is one generator can't run the fifth wheel. Now for decisions.

[gpaw56]

Originally Posted by jeepman71

Ok final results. I hooked the two Yamaha IF2000 together with the jumper, created one plug to bond the neutral and ground, plugged in the fifth wheel and it gives me an E1 neutral/hot reversed. Bonded the second generator and tried again, still get an E1. Remove one generator from the system and get a clean reading of E0. Problem is one generator can't run the fifth wheel. Now for decisions.

Just out of curiosity, did you try the second bonded generator by itself to see if it works?

[HONDAMAN174]

Check your parallel cables. Make sure they are connected left and right. I had a problem similar. Had one bonding plug and thought I needed two. Turns out had cables connected wrong on one unit

[jeepman71]

Thanks for the reply. I did check the cables. I tried bonding one generator and checked the plug, It showed that is was wired correct with both gennies connected. I tried with both gennies bonded but the EMS read it as reversed hot/neutral. Either gennie would work with the bonded plug individual but not in parallel. Anthony at Prgressive did comment that the Yamaha and Champion both had an issue when parallel. I hate to admit he was correct.... On the Yamaha at least.

[RubyDually]

PI Warranty disclaimer

Funny that PI's tech support didn't mention this link???

Could this be the issue?

[jeepman71]

If you want to use a generator it could be.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by RubyDually

PI Warranty disclaimer

Funny that PI's tech support didn't mention this link???

Wow. Glad I bought a Honda, but it wasn't for that reason. I just wanted to have an authorized service location nearby, and only the one available was Honda.