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Powerwatch voltage meter

Just changed the red & green lights on our Powerwatch meter. Green is lit!! Don't think I want to see the red lit (that means wrong polarity)
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #1 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
Just changed the red & green lights on our Powerwatch meter. Green is lit!! Don't think I want to see the red lit (that means wrong polarity)

Green is good, we've seen the red after hooking up to a bad pedestal and noticed the volt meter drop, big time. We almost fried the coach before pulling the plug. Whatever happened, it fried our switching circuit board and took out the 50 amp cable ends. It was then (thanks to this forum) we ordered a EMS and use it at all times!  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #2 –
Can someone explain this? I get that AC power should be wired a certain way but, how can this damage the coach? AC power alternates positive to negative anyway... Right? I too have noticed that my polarity light has been red before. No damage yet. Should I be worried?
JP
98' U295 8.3 Cummins
10KW Power Tech Isuzu 3 cylinder

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Jp –
  Should I be worried?

I don't know "worried" would be correct. "Concerned" would be my vote. When we took our hit, there was a thunderstorm and a power outage after, then the power came on, big time!  "That Smell" is not what makes your day! I'd rather fry a EMS than what happened to us! If I used the gen-set more, I'd have a EMS on that circuit, as well.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Jp –
Can someone explain this? I get that AC power should be wired a certain way but, how can this damage the coach? AC power alternates positive to negative anyway... Right? I too have noticed that my polarity light has been red before. No damage yet. Should I be worried?
There are electrical experts who will see your post an explain better. But reversed polarity will mess things up. That is why newer a/c plugs have one wide spade and one narrow one.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #5 –
The problem with mis-wired power poles is that it can kill you. If you have a Progressive Industies power line surge protector or one like it - it will prevent hooking up to mis-wired posts.  It has worked for us on several occasions.

We were in a Florida State Park several years ago when it refused to connect.  I don't remeber the error code. I called the park office and told them there was an electrical problem.  They said the guy would get down there later in the day.  He was there in five minutes, pulled the box apart and sure enough it was wired wrong.  He fixed it and said electrical problems get fixed quickly.  He said the he had heard the guy in this spot the week before was complaining about getting a tingling feeling when he grabbed the handle when getting into his trailer.  He was the ground!

Progressive Industries EMS-HW50C Hardwire 50 Amp RV Surge Protector -...

120 VAC in your RV

If something is not right turn off the power and unplug. Get the power fixed or move to a different site

Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #6 –
In 40 yrs of Motorhome ownership & use, I've run into one mis-wired power receptical. The Progressive industries thingme (Scottish term) shut me down. Others, and you, may experience more problems.

The PI gizmo also has protected us from attack Zombies & wild elephants.
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #7 –
Thank You All
JP
98' U295 8.3 Cummins
10KW Power Tech Isuzu 3 cylinder

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #8 –
One of the main reasons I like the Progressive Industries power line surge protector is that it protects against low (and high) voltage. I've seen this several times in older parks. Especially on hot days with everyone running their air conditioners.

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #9 –
Having both an autoformer and a progressive power line monitor in series seems to have things about as well covered as possible.

Anyone want to comment?
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #10 –
My comment is we have both a post Progressive from our first months of purchase and now a hardwired unit that protects us from both post and genset.  We still use the portable to check the post.  Combined with the hybrid inverter that provides steady power from battery if needed. 
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P
 

Re: Powerwatch voltage meter

Reply #11 –
I have run into a number of places with electrical problems. Some open ground, some with voltage with wide variances or other problems. A number where the voltage starts out OK (Perhaps low, but OK) and then drops so low that my Progressive Industries surge protector shuts me down.
I was at one location where the owner assured me nothing wrong with the electricity. I elected to not hook up and run generator. He came back in about 1/2 hour and said he checked and there was a problem with the power.
At another site, I tried three different electrical posts, none were correct and so I ran my generator.
Another campground where the surge protector would not allow the 50 Amp to get through, but would let the 30 Amp work.
This, after the campground person checked and said all OK and no-one had ever complained.
I will not hook up without using a surge protector.
Eric & Nancy
1999 36 Ft. U320 WTFE
2016 GMC Terrain