PI EMS getting a workout

[DieselDrax]

Been staying at the KOA near Lake Placid, NY and last week came back twice to discover the power had been cut to the trailer with an E4 code (voltage below 104v).

Today there’s been an influx of new arrivals and it was pretty warm. The EMS has cut power 4 times this afternoon due to low voltage from all the people running A/C.

This is the first time the EMS has kicked in since buying it over a year ago and staying at multiple parks around the US. I guess it’s doing its job. Just annoying.

[houstonstroker]

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

Been staying at the KOA near Lake Placid, NY and last week came back twice to discover the power had been cut to the trailer with an E4 code (voltage below 104v).

Today there’s been an influx of new arrivals and it was pretty warm. The EMS has cut power 4 times this afternoon due to low voltage from all the people running A/C.

This is the first time the EMS has kicked in since buying it over a year ago and staying at multiple parks around the US. I guess it’s doing its job. Just annoying.

I just left a park in Oklahoma. 117 on one leg 100 on the second. They moved us.

[HangDiver]

Mine got a work out this past April while at a campground in Florida. They work!

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by houstonstroker

I just left a park in Oklahoma. 117 on one leg 100 on the second. They moved us.

This seems to really be a supply vs demand issue. With a mostly-empty park the EMS reads 120v. As more folks hook up it drops more and more.

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

Been staying at the KOA near Lake Placid, NY and last week came back twice to discover the power had been cut to the trailer with an E4 code (voltage below 104v).

Today there’s been an influx of new arrivals and it was pretty warm. The EMS has cut power 4 times this afternoon due to low voltage from all the people running A/C.

This is the first time the EMS has kicked in since buying it over a year ago and staying at multiple parks around the US. I guess it’s doing its job. Just annoying.

Had this happen at the Kentucky Hors e park. If you are a 30 amp trailer and have a 50-30 dog bone, try the 50 amp service. It may not be as heavily used. Worked for me in Kentucky...

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

Had this happen at the Kentucky Hors e park. If you are a 30 amp trailer and have a 50-30 dog bone, try the 50 amp service. It may not be as heavily used. Worked for me in Kentucky...

Only 30 amp at this site. Not a big deal, this is our last night here (been here a week and this is the only time it’s been a problem while we’ve been in the trailer). I do have a 50 -> 30 dogbone so if we have 50A available and have issues then I’ll give that a shot.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by houstonstroker

I just left a park in Oklahoma. 117 on one leg 100 on the second. They moved us.

Which park if you don't mind saying? I'm going to an Okie park in a couple of weeks.

[houstonstroker]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

Which park if you don't mind saying? I'm going to an Okie park in a couple of weeks.

It was one in Guthrie. The electrician was there the day before.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by houstonstroker

It was one in Guthrie. The electrician was there the day before.

Thanks. I'm not going that far.


My PI EMS shut my system down MANY times at West Burns Run COE park on Lake Texoma. I had 138v AC at the pedestal. They sent campers home and closed the park - had high water up in a power distribution unit.

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dan

Thanks. I'm not going that far.


My PI EMS shut my system down MANY times at West Burns Run COE park on Lake Texoma. I had 138v AC at the pedestal. They sent campers home and closed the park - had high water up in a power distribution unit.

Hmmmm. Kinda looks like sometimes they help.

[houstonstroker]

Originally Posted by Iwannacamp

Hmmmm. Kinda looks like sometimes they help.

There are people on here all the time that never use one, never will and never had a problem. To me it's cheap insurance.

[CGK]

X2 on the cheap insurance. There are a lot of electronics in these new TTs (and RVs in general) - only takes one surge or brown-out to potentially cost $ thousands in damage.

[pmsherman]

I've had a surge protector since we purchased the rig in 2011. Last August, I finally changed to a full EMS because I now have an inverter that will supply pure sine wave power to all of the Georgetown's outlets when the EMS cuts off shore power. This is necessary to guarantee continued operation of my dialysis machine which runs on AC power only.


Installation of the inverter did involve rewiring the outlets and running a new AC power line from the breaker box to the inverter. Most of this wiring was already installed from the dealer's installation of a MSW inverter when we purchased to rig. It also has limited the total power available at the outlets to 1kw, a bit less than was available from the 15A circuit breaker. Since the largest load from all of the outlets, combined, is under 750W, this isn't a problem.



Phil

[myredracer]

Our EMS (30 amps) shuts us down on low voltage automatically maybe 3 or 4 times a season at most.

I installed a permanently mounted small LED panel voltmeter on the wall and keep an eye on voltage. No point in waiting for your EMS to shut you down and if it's on the low side when we first plug into the pedestal, I pull out our Hughes autoformer. Bought it used and has been a great investment.

The EMS has shut us down on open neutral and open ground a number of times. Even had an open ground two CGs in a row last year.

No way would I go camping without an EMS, but we're Thousand Trails members and most of their CGs are old. If you frequent high-end RV parks, casinos and some gov't CGs, you may never need an EMS.

[Bwood BBQ]

We've been lucky this week. The campground is almost at capaciy. Lowest I've seen is 114 on it. Now tomorrow maybe different but we're heading out! I'm surprised that I'm the only one with an EMS.

[bob213]

An autoformer before the EMS gives you the boost for low power and the protection as well. With the combo we are rarely shut down for under power. We were shut down on several occassions for over power on our last 6000 mile trip. (not due to the autoformer boost)

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by houstonstroker

There are people on here all the time that never use one, never will and never had a problem. To me it's cheap insurance.

Yep I'm one' do not own one probably never will........... Never had a problem......... 35 plus years of camping.

Don't lock doors .............

Not too crazy about insurance either

[MCTroy]

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

Had this happen at the Kentucky Hors e park. If you are a 30 amp trailer and have a 50-30 dog bone, try the 50 amp service. It may not be as heavily used. Worked for me in Kentucky...

That will work only if the campground ran the right wiring to the 50 amp plug. Our summer site has a 50 amp plug but it isn't hot. The wiring isn't heavy enough to run 50 amp! Our EMS is busy too.

[nayther]

I invested in a 50 amp EMS when I got the new trailer due to all the electronics, the old 2007 didn't have a lot so never saw the need.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by bob213

An autoformer before the EMS gives you the boost for low power and the protection as well. With the combo we are rarely shut down for under power. We were shut down on several occassions for over power on our last 6000 mile trip. (not due to the autoformer boost)

I use the same combination. However, watch the over-voltage with the AutoFormer. I ultimately had to send mine back to Hughes to get it fixed because mine WAS always boosting, even on good voltage. The EMS would catch it at 133v or whatever its cutoff is.

They had me put a voltmeter onto the campground pedestal and then on the output of the AutoFormer. No issues returning it, though I did have to pay for shipping.

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

Been staying at the KOA near Lake Placid, NY and last week came back twice to discover the power had been cut to the trailer with an E4 code (voltage below 104v).

Today there’s been an influx of new arrivals and it was pretty warm. The EMS has cut power 4 times this afternoon due to low voltage from all the people running A/C.

This is the first time the EMS has kicked in since buying it over a year ago and staying at multiple parks around the US. I guess it’s doing its job. Just annoying.

Once you get frustrated enough, you'll end up with an AutoFormer. We were good for a long time until one particular stay when we couldn't run anything without voltage sagging when any single high use appliance would kick on.

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

Had this happen at the Kentucky Hors e park. If you are a 30 amp trailer and have a 50-30 dog bone, try the 50 amp service. It may not be as heavily used. Worked for me in Kentucky...

Sometimes the 50amp dogbone picks the opposite leg. Like someone else said, it's not uncommon to see normal voltage (117v) on L1 and low voltage (104) on L2. Using the dog bone, you can sometimes get lucky that it picks the good leg.

I was at a park where the 30amp plug alternated L1 vs. L2 on each site down the row. I adapted down to 30amps but my spot still showed low voltage. I ended up plugging into the spot behind me (after getting approval from the campground). Of course, they didn't bag the box, so I had a confusing discussion with someone who pulled in late one night.