Last night a big thunderstorm came through our campground (Milton Fl.) with lots of lightning. The power went out several times which required turning off the ACs. What would happen if I started the generator while the shore power was off to run the ACs and then shore power comes back on? Does the generator still keep the load or does it switch back to shore power? I couldn't go out side to turn off the shore power breaker.
Which source is primary in this case?
OE is for the generator to be primary-- meaning if the generator is running, it will supply all your 120 VAC. That does not insure that that is how yours is wired if someone replaced the ATS.
Safest when an electrical storm is imminent, DISCONNECT shore power at the pedestal. Some just turn off the CG breaker, but lightening can come down the neutral and ground wires as well.
Yup, happened to us in Prescott, AZ last year during a "monsoon". Did a CB+ worth of damage. We have a EMS now, but I still follow Brett's suggestion! ^.^d
In many cases EMS's offer a FALSE sense of protection against lightening strikes.
None will thwart a near-by lightening strike. Just too many joules of energy to dissipate.
Great information and safety advise. I will test it when we get back home to make sure it is OE operational. Hopefully, storms like that will be few are far between.
thx
AND, if you take a hit and fry the EMS, that is usually not a warranty situation. :'(
I think we will find that if our Progressive Industries EMS is blown for ANY reason and in ANY time they will replace or repair at no cost to us.
They have great customer service.
Not the same for other EMS manufacturers including the one sold by Camping World.
We used our first EMS unit for several years before it took one hit too many and quit. I shipped it($$$) to Progressive Ind. and I was told it was out of warranty(or too old) and could not be repaired/refurbished. We were without one for several months and I was VERY nervous, so we bought another (SurgeGuard brand,on sale) at a New Store Opening of a Camping World near Spokane, WA. Fast forward 1 year and 11 mos .... we are in the campground at Buckley AFB in Denver when a sudden and dramatic storm blows through. The sky became dark enough that I was impressed, I shut off the AC units, took the visiting grandkids and went to the laundry room for shelter. Mr Wonderful stayed in the coach, oblivious to danger. There was a bit of wind, some short burst of rain, and then all the power went out. ALL the power went out ... the entire base was shut down! At the end of the day, we learned that the sub-station a few miles south of the base had taken a hit from a small tornado! In the campground, we were one of 2 rigs that had been protected by our surge protection units. Everyone else had blown refrigerators, TVs, computers ... you name it. Our SurgeGuard was fried, by the way. We went to the local Camping World, they pulled up the almost 2 yr old receipt, and we walked out with a replacement! I use it religiously. Worth every nickel.
I don't know how we skated for so many years (30amp vs. 50amp?), but I'm sure pleased to have a Progressive EMS, especially around "monsoon country"! ^.^d Thanks for the responses. M
Hi Jeff and Carol,
I have a Progressive EMS and have had it quit. It was repaired free of charge. Now when really severe weather is nearby I unplug from the pedestal, including the cable connections. Better safe than sorry.
Did it "quit" because of a hit, or?