Surge protector "clunk"..no 120

[Gliddenwoods]

Advice sought.
The surge protector "clunks" when trailer plug in and we can not get 120 from the park. The error code is E 0; "normal".
Running batteries system OK.
Any thoughts on what is wrong and how to correct?
Thanks.

[Frank C]

What else is showing on the Progressive display besides the E0 (normal, no error) message?  Is it showing a voltage, frequency (the H Hertz number), and amp value (the A number)? 
 

[mossemi]

Is your GFCI outlet tripped?

Mossey

[Gliddenwoods]

I plugged in a "watch dog" post surge protector and got a "E-5" which means "Line & Neutral Reverse"

If I turn off (bypass) the Oliver surge protector and not use the Watch Dog surge protector with this post will I cause damage?

[Gliddenwoods]

Frank C...Progressive display same as yours.

Mossey....no

[Gliddenwoods]

Frank C...correction was 121, not 125.

[Frank C]

13 minutes ago, Gliddenwoods said:

Frank C...correction was 121, not 125.

The voltage number will vary a bit depending on the shore power. Normal AC shore/household power voltage is usually in the range of 110 to 125 volts.  AC shore power frequency (the H value) is usually controlled very tightly by power companies and should always read 60 Hertz, so the shore power voltage and frequency are not the problem.  It’s odd that the Progressive unit in your trailer is showing E0 (normal/no errors) but your external surge protector at the post is showing a reversed line-neutral problem with the shore power.   That reversed line (hot) and neutral wire error should be showing an E1 error on the Progressive display.

[mossemi]

What type of power outlets does your pole offer?  I assume you are plugged into a 30 amp outlet.  Do you have any adapters for your 30 amp power cord that would allow you to connect to a 15 amp or a 50 amp outlet?  If so, try your portable surge protector in those outlets.  Can you verify any nearby outlets that are correctly wired?  Did you just arrive at this location?  Was everything working at the last location?  Can you move to a different spot in the campground?  I know that’s a lot of questions, I’m just trying to qualify your issue.  In other words, is it an Ollie problem or is it the power pole you are connected to?

Mossey

[Steph and Dud B]

This isn't your first time ever connecting to shore power is it? You're not using any sort of adapter on your shoreline cord are you? I would NOT bypass the Oliver Progressive unit without further study. If you know how to correctly use a multimeter, I'd check the campground pedestal connection first. If you don't know how, find someone who can and see if the pedestal is wired correctly.

[Steph and Dud B]

[Gliddenwoods]

Responses:

*Oliver worked fine at previous campgrounds.

*Used adapter on 15 amp outlet and surge protector showed same error. So it's the post...?

[ScubaRx]

6 hours ago, Steph and Dud B said:

... I would NOT bypass the Oliver Progressive unit without further study. If you know how to correctly use a multimeter, I'd check the campground pedestal connection first. If you don't know how, find someone who can and see if the pedestal is wired correctly.

I agree, and would ask the campground to allow you to move to another site to at least try another power post. If electricity will pass at a different site, you can assume your "watch dog" gave you good info although I would have expected the EMS to have thrown an E-1 code, certainly not E-0.

[bugeyedriver]

I never plug The Wonder Egg into a campground power pole without checking it with an external surge protector first, to check for electrical anomalies.  Over the years, I've found several reverse polarity or no-ground situations.  These can result in damage to your electrical devices or a shock hazard to yourself. I always contact the park manager and either have it repaired on the spot or I move to another location. (and check again, of course)

One of my long time camping friends had $800 electrical damage to his Bigfoot trailer due to a faulty outlet. I will aways remember the night I watched an Airstream arrive in camp and the owner immediately connected directly to the box without testing the pole first.  The sparks that flew out of the box were spectacular!

Don't be him . . . check the pole and trust your readings.

[thompsonkd]

Pete

What type of external surge protector do you use? And, are there other recommendations from others for a small,  inexpensive device to check poles?

Thanks

David

[Rivernerd]

18 minutes ago, thompsonkd said:

are there other recommendations from others for a small,  inexpensive device to check poles?

Below is a link to a $34 unit that will check post wiring and provide some surge protection.  When added to the high-quality internal surge protector already installed in the Oliver, this should be adequate:

https://www.amazon.com/Protector-EyGde-Indicator-Protection-Extension/dp/B09HR15F2Y/ref=asc_df_B09HR15F2Y/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=563658249300&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7940290766815897406&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029558&hvtargid=pla-1642769687496&th=1

[Gliddenwoods]

UPDATE

We now have power.

The belief is that the 8 inches of wet Arizona snow the day before we arrived forced moisture into the Park pole outlet causing the surge protectors to signal reverse polarity.

However not sure why the internal Oliver surge protector (why working by not allowing power in) did not give me an error code.

 

 

[ScubaRx]

1 hour ago, Gliddenwoods said:

UPDATE

We now have power.

The belief is that the 8 inches of wet Arizona snow the day before we arrived forced moisture into the Park pole outlet causing the surge protectors to signal reverse polarity.

However not sure why the internal Oliver surge protector (why working by not allowing power in) did not give me an error code.

 

 

You need to contact Progressive Industries and relate all you details to them. Something doesn’t seem correct here and I would not want you to find out the hard way that your unit is not working properly. 
 

Do you need technical support? 

Check out our troubleshooting page or contact technical service directly 

(Phone: 1-800-307-6702 press 2)

[mossemi]

21 hours ago, thompsonkd said:

 are there other recommendations from others for a small,  inexpensive device to check poles?

Thanks

David

I carry a multi meter for all types of troubleshooting.  These 3 items are my go to tools for testing any new power pole we connect to which may have 15A, 30A or 50A service.

Mossey

[Steph and Dud B]

4 hours ago, thompsonkd said:

recommendations from others for a small,  inexpensive device to check poles?

There's this: CARMTEK RV Circuit Analyzer 30 Amp - RV Circuit Tester with Smart Diagnostic Chart and Indicator Lights - ETL Listed 30 Amp Circuit Analyzer for RV https://a.co/d/ifQ07Ip

For $7 more, you can get it with a surge suppressor built in.

[thompsonkd]

All great responses. Thanks. Seems prudent to test the power source before plugging in!
David

[Geronimo John]

Steph and Dud

Steph and Dud B:  Great visual.  Thank for posting.  For OTT's it is spot on.  However, 

The reason it is great for OTT's is that there are only very limited circumstances wher the Ground to Neutral voltage is zero.  When working on industrial or even home A/C units, I have been surprised by having up to 50 volts delta between them.  Trust me, that hurts.... and had I been grounded, it likely would have been the last thing to hurt me.  

Point is:  PLEASE never ASS-U-ME that handling a neutral or ground wire on anything has zero potential voltage.  Treat them all as hot until you put your volt meter on all three nodes.

Safety John  (AKA GJ)

 

[mossemi]

15 hours ago, thompsonkd said:

Seems prudent to test the power source before plugging in!

👏👏👏👏

Couldn’t have said it any better myself!

Mossey

[bugeyedriver]

21 hours ago, thompsonkd said:

Pete

What type of external surge protector do you use? And, are there other recommendations from others for a small,  inexpensive device to check poles?

Thanks

David

It's not so important exactly which device you use. As you've gathered it is more important to be in the habit of ALWAYS checking prior to plugging in your trailer. There are numerous devices available, from the tiny little yellow plug with three lights on the end that only checks the electrical connections to more complex surge protectors with indicator lights for detected problems and an internal surge protector.  The latter sort will give you a double surge protection - one at the pole and the one internal to your Oliver.  

Also, you should follow the advice from ScubaRx and  contact Progressive Industries about your unit, to confirm it is well or not.

 

[Carl Hansen]

On 3/4/2023 at 6:55 AM, bugeyedriver said:

It's not so important exactly which device you use. As you've gathered it is more important to be in the habit of ALWAYS checking prior to plugging in your trailer. There are numerous devices available, from the tiny little yellow plug with three lights on the end that only checks the electrical connections to more complex surge protectors with indicator lights for detected problems and an internal surge protector.  The latter sort will give you a double surge protection - one at the pole and the one internal to your Oliver.  

Also, you should follow the advice from ScubaRx and  contact Progressive Industries about your unit, to confirm it is well or not.

 

Are there many of you that use double surge protection - one at the pole and the internal Oliver EMS?  We are making a very long trip back to the east coast later this summer and I am considering using the 30 amp Power Watchdog at the pole to complement the Oliver EMS.  Is this too much?  We are going to be staying at a wide variety of campgrounds.  I would hate to damage the Oliver's electronics.  Redundancy here always seems to be a good strategy.

Thoughts?

Carl

[Galway Girl]

If you want to double surge suppress Progressive makes this 30A supressor unit that you would plug onto the pedestal first, then 30 amp into that unit.

 

 

 

If you want to test, and also have a backup suppressor you can buy both 30 A units for $38 on Amazon.

 

I simply leave these on the power cord when I put things away as I tear down at a site.

 

Craig