Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

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Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

June 17, 2019, 04:22:13 pm

First time using the pedestal at a long term campground we just arrived at. I'm paying the electric company direct. I called the electric company and they told me there is power to the pole. They say the circuit breaker box is the campground responsibility. I have not contacted the campground owner yet.

Could there be anything in the RV that would cause this error E2, and a possible test.

Thanks
Ed

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #1 – June 17, 2019, 04:58:15 pm

Problem is before your coach if the progressive is seeing the problem.

What it is showing you is that the ground is not grounded. Thus any stray electricity could make the skin of your coach energized. My first thought was their is a problem in the box somewhere.

As I was typing this I remember talking to a campground owner that was next to the coast. about a problem he had. He has someone come and tell him that when they touched their camper they got shocked. Owner told them that all of his equipment was good and problem must be in his camper. Owner went down to the site and stated checking. He saw that he had a voltage from the ground to earth. He followed this back to the main service and saw the same problem there. He called the power company what he was seeing. The person that answered did not understand what he was saying and transferred him to an engineer. After he told the engineer what he was seeing he told the owner he would dispatch a crew right away. Turned out the salt spray on the power poles was causing the voltage from the high line to bleed to the ground line.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #2 – June 17, 2019, 05:07:55 pm

Quote from: turbojack – June 17, 2019, 04:58:15 pm

Problem is before your coach if the progressive is seeing the problem.

What it is showing you is that the ground is not grounded. Thus any stray electricity could make the skin of your coach energized. My first thought was their is a problem in the box somewhere.

Thanks Turbo

So, nothing to check on the coach, but the danger is still there if I were to get power from the pedestal? Right now running the generator and the Progressive EMS does not show anything just a blank screen. This is normal? I thought I remember some of us had the genny run thru the EMS also?

DON'T USE SHORE POWER, Correct?

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #3 – June 17, 2019, 05:30:55 pm

Can you take your progressive and plug into someone else pole and verify the problem is not your progressive?

Will the progressive not turn on power to your coach?

If you have not contacted the campground owner to have him send over a qualified person/electrician to check out you should.

If you have a volt meter and are capable of doing this you should get the following voltages for everything to be correct. If you are not sure what you are doing then do NOT check the voltages. It would be possible to kill yourself if not doing it correctly.

1. Voltage between both outside blades 230-245 volts
2. Voltage between either outside blade 115-128 volts
3. Voltage between the center blade and round or U opening should be 0 (zero)
4. Voltage between round or U opening and either outside blade should be the same as #2 above.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #4 – June 17, 2019, 05:34:08 pm

Quote from: Lance Camper – June 17, 2019, 05:07:55 pm

Thanks Turbo

So, nothing to check on the coach, but the danger is still there if I were to get power from the pedestal? Right now running the generator and the Progressive EMS does not show anything just a blank screen. This is normal? I thought I remember some of us had the genny run thru the EMS also?

DON'T USE SHORE POWER, Correct?

Are you using the portable EMS or one build in the coach?. If portable one then not in coach (that was the one I use and was thinking that is what you were checking) If one in the coach it could be any place before the ems, pole, cord, plug or

I would not use shore power until you confirm everything is right.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #5 – June 17, 2019, 05:43:35 pm

Hope this helps! progressiveind | Troubleshooting
Scroll down to the list.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #6 – June 17, 2019, 05:51:32 pm

Quote from: turbojack – June 17, 2019, 05:30:55 pm

Can you take your progressive and plug into someone else pole and verify the problem is not your progressive?

Will the progressive not turn on power to your coach?

If you have not contacted the campground owner to have him send over a qualified person/electrician to check out you should.

My EMS is under the bed

1 No, It's more of a mobile home park, power is shut off by utility if no one is on the site.

2 No power to the coach. If connected to shore power leg #2 is showing 123v 0 amps 60hz, E2, PE2 in that order. If connected to genny the EMS screen is blank, but I have power.

3 Left message with park owner, waiting for return call.

Thanks Turbo, I'm very concerned about electric shock from what I have read.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #7 – June 17, 2019, 07:37:45 pm

I had same message on my Progressive at a State Park in Ohio when I was plugged into the 50 amp plug at pedestal. I moved to the 30 amp plug, everything worked fine. I reported this to campground office, they sent one of the host over who told me this happened a lot. He said it was due to ants getting into the pedestal box? Their solution was to move me to a different site.
If you have the option, try switching to a different plug

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #8 – June 17, 2019, 07:42:11 pm

Why not do your own test at campground outlet? Meter hot to ground.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #9 – June 17, 2019, 07:45:34 pm

A suggestion: old pedestals can destroy a coach; we came close!

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #10 – June 17, 2019, 08:09:06 pm

If your EMS is under your bed then it could be from the EMS back over to the power pedestal.
First check the power at pedestal as stated above by turbojack. If that checks out then the problem could be your plug. Or anywhere between your plug and the EMS. Most probably your plug though. Are any of the blades blackened? Or loose?
I had a neutral blade on my plug break off and caused my built-in EMS to shut down power on no neutral.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #11 – June 17, 2019, 08:17:34 pm

That's what I like about our portable EMS: it's like a really sexy VOM. It takes a little bit of time doing it's test, but you then know, at least, what condition the pedestal is in!

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #12 – June 17, 2019, 09:03:24 pm

Can anyone tell me if the generator passes thru the EMS. I'm running the genny now and the EMS screen is blank. I have two automatic transfer switches, if that helps. The old ATS 100, no longer available.

There is a check list on the Beamalarm web site using a multimeter. It's in the 50 Amp Outlet Tester folder. I'm going to test tomorrow. It looks like Turbojack's suggestion. The owner has not got back to me yet.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #13 – June 17, 2019, 09:08:15 pm

Quote from: cdm – June 17, 2019, 07:37:45 pm

I had same message on my Progressive at a State Park in Ohio when I was plugged into the 50 amp plug at pedestal. I moved to the 30 amp plug, everything worked fine.

Thanks I did try the 30 amp and got the same results. Does that narrow it down?

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #14 – June 17, 2019, 09:30:30 pm

Ours is mounted beneath the bed too. I'm far less technically gifted than others here but here's what I know. We've had an internal 50 amp unit in our previous 5th wheel and our FT from day 1.

1. We trust the unit 100% and will NOT use power that doesn't pass thru the EMS.
2. Ours is wired to protect both the pedestal AND the genny. Ours recently caught an overvoltage fault from the genny that led to the need to replace a component in the genny
3. Progressive technical support is quick and good. Call them with questions.

Others more technically gifted than us will weigh in on wiring to protect both pedestal and genny but I would get to the bottom of this so your confidence in the system is absolute.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #15 – June 17, 2019, 09:32:58 pm

I was thinking your ems was portable, so if it is in the coach it could be anywhere from the pole to your ems. Ie power pole, plug that connects to power pole, plug part that plugs in at coach, or connector at the coach (if you have that setup), or connection going to the ems.

What does your plug look like? Are all of the blades straight, not discolored, or have rough spots on the blades?

Did everything work right at the last campsite you were at?

Does your power cord have a plug on the end that you plug in and twist on the coach? If so have you turned it to the right to make sure it is tight. If just plugged in and not twisted it could be the cause of your problem.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #16 – June 17, 2019, 10:00:19 pm

Quote from: Lance Camper – June 17, 2019, 09:08:15 pm

Thanks I did try the 30 amp and got the same results. Does that narrow it down?

Not necessarily, did you plug in an adapter to your 50 amp plug?
It would be best to follow the logic, make sure the power pedestal has correct voltage. Then check your plug & the blades. Then if you still have the problem, move towards the transfer switch (if after EMS), checking all of the terminals for broken wires and loose screws. Then check EMS for terminals & loose screws, etc.
If you're not comfortable using a Volt meter you should get someone to show you how. It should be your basic troubleshooting tool for anything electric.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #17 – June 17, 2019, 10:06:16 pm

Quote from: turbojack – June 17, 2019, 09:32:58 pm

I was thinking your ems was portable, so if it is in the coach it could be anywhere from the pole to your ems. Ie power pole, plug that connects to power pole, plug part that plugs in at coach, or connector at the coach (if you have that setup), or connection going to the ems.

What does your plug look like? Are all of the blades straight, not discolored, or have rough spots on the blades?

Did everything work right at the last campsite you were at?

Does your power cord have a plug on the end that you plug in and twist on the coach? If so have you turned it to the right to make sure it is tight. If just plugged in and not twisted it could be the cause of your problem.

Plug seems fine. I'll check it again in the morning. Last time we were hooked up was a week ago Tuesday in Murphy NC. Everything worked fine. Spent last week on the Blue Ridge parkway, no hook ups. We have a reel for our cord.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #18 – June 17, 2019, 10:12:48 pm

Quote from: folivier – June 17, 2019, 10:00:19 pm

Not necessarily, did you plug in an adapter to your 50 amp plug?
It would be best to follow the logic, make sure the power pedestal has correct voltage. Then check your plug & the blades. Then if you still have the problem, move towards the transfer switch (if after EMS), checking all of the terminals for broken wires and loose screws. Then check EMS for terminals & loose screws, etc.
If you're not comfortable using a Volt meter you should get someone to show you how. It should be your basic troubleshooting tool for anything electric.

I have a dongle. 50a female to a 30a male. Used it to plug in to the 30a receptacle at the pole. I'm going to test the pole tomorrow using a multimeter. I don't think I'll get into the ATS or EMS, above my pay grade.

Thanks Ed

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #19 – June 17, 2019, 10:15:52 pm

We did plug my wife's hair dryer into the 15a receptacle and it turned on. I always thought that was entirely separate from the 30 and 50. ??

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #20 – June 17, 2019, 10:56:36 pm

Electric reels have a weak link that does not exist with coaches without reels.

Reels use four spring loaded brushes against four slip rings. Brushes can be a resistive weak link, and if slip ring is rotated when amps are being drawn, the brush / ring contact can arc and pit. And if moved with high amps, the reel can be irreversibly damaged.

Also, over time spring, brushes can break or wear down with normal use. If one brush fails, that part of the circuit, (hot, hot, neutral, ground) may not work.

BTW, even very small rotations under power can damage the reel. This includes someone stepping on shore cable triggering a little movement of the reel.

Electric reels are desirable, popular, convenient and add a complexity.

If the campground outlet checks out ok, test connections at transfer switch to be sure your (in-between) reel is not the problem.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #21 – June 17, 2019, 10:58:38 pm

Quote from: Lance Camper – June 17, 2019, 10:15:52 pm

We did plug my wife's hair dryer into the 15a receptacle and it turned on. I always thought that was entirely separate from the 30 and 50. ??

15A on the pole? Yes it has separate breaker. I am betting that that plug might also have the missing ground

My coach has a built in EMS and I also have the portable one. After being in a class for Entregra owners and they went thru things that they have seen go wrong they suggested that everyone gets a portable one. I purchased mine the next day.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #22 – June 17, 2019, 11:10:33 pm

When looking at the plug on your 50 amp cable, do they all feel tight when wiggled? Or does one feel looser than the others?
If so that might be a broken connection inside the plug.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #23 – June 18, 2019, 08:13:33 am

I just did a test on the pedestal. The pedestal has an open ground on one of the outside blades. My meter reads 110-125 volts on one leg, but 0 volts on the other. This is what gave me an E2 error? Owner showed up this morning, just as I was starting the test. He will contact the electrician.

Quote from: turbojack – June 17, 2019, 05:30:55 pm

If you have a volt meter and are capable of doing this you should get the following voltages for everything to be correct. If you are not sure what you are doing then do NOT check the voltages. It would be possible to kill yourself if not doing it correctly.

4. Voltage between round or U opening and either outside blade should be the same as #2 above.

Re: Open Ground Error "E2" on Progressive Energy EMS

Reply #24 – June 18, 2019, 03:59:24 pm

Let us know what happened, we're ALL in the same boat. At least you did not take out the ATS and almost trash the gen set, like happened to us!

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