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Progressive Industries drops out...

I have a PE 50 hard-wired to the 12K generator output only and find it drops out apparently with with overload or high or low voltage.  It shows normal voltages on my monitors then simply quits after a minute or two with heavy loading, Generator itself stays running regardless with no generator breakers or panel circuit breakers ever shutting off. On bypass setting it does not have this problem. It has been doing this since installed.
My portable PE -50 at the pedestal does not have this problem with the same loading.

Has anybody else noticed something like this?  Maybe I simply have a bad PE device. Any ideas for me because it is a pain to unwire it to send back for testing?

Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Progressive Industries drops out...

Reply #1
Problem might be with the generator.  When you heavy load a generator the RPM can drop which cause the generator to drop from the 60HZ, and/or there could be a low voltage.

When was the last time you changed the fuel filter?
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Progressive Industries drops out...

Reply #2
What is a PE 50?

Regards

Klaus
The world is not interested in the storms you encountered, but whether or not you brought in the ship.
Raul Armesto

2003 U 320 4020 Unit 6145


Re: Progressive Industries drops out...

Reply #4
Sorry you are having the problem, which is likely triggered by gen volts.  Generators handle high loads differently than pedestal power, and can momentarily slow down, affecting frequency & voltages.

While the EMS could be the fault of being too sensitive, the gen may not be running on all fours and not able to keep up with immediate high loads. We also try to manage coach loading by turning off a high-amp heating device before turning on another, like toaster, microwave, etc.

Progressive Industries sells EMS with built-in meter.  The 'other' PI EMS that has a remote display which can be more helpful.

When our gen voltage regulator was intermittently failing with high voltages, every time EMS relay would open to protect the coach, the remote display in kitchen showed the ~170 high voltage rating.

The remote panel immediately shows why the EMS triggered and what the gen reading is.

I never understood why they sell the model with built-in display. Remote also has a bypass switch to keep electricity flowing when there is fault detected, handy when the fault is minor.

Re: Progressive Industries drops out...

Reply #5
Unfortunately I haven't had very good results with any of the progressive products. I'm on my second wired in 50 amp model.
After a while I gave up and went with to Hughes with Bluetooth.
Pretty much the same problems with that I've had to replace them once, both the plug-in model as well as to hardwired model. I also have their Auto former that I installed under the front of the bed. This allows me to plug it in when I really need it and unplug it when I don't. Currently it's not plugged in. Last year up in the Northeast I had numerous problems with low voltage in many RV parks as well as state parks. Keeping it hidden keeps it safe.
Bob
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Progressive Industries drops out...

Reply #6
I am sorry for your problem, I hope you post once you find the issue.  Often products get blamed, when it is something else causing it's failure.  I have known personally over 30 people with the same Progressive EMS as yours, and none have had this problem you are experiencing.  With only your generator in front of the Progressive unit, for me, that would make the generator or associated wiring suspect.

I have my Progressive EMS unit wired after my auto transfer switch as forum members recomendd to me with no issues.  (See my link below)  This was with the Progressive mounted after the auto transfer switch to protect me from low and high voltage from both shore and generator.  I also wanted to protect all in front of the Progressive unit so I also use the Hughes portable unit on the post.  This combination has worked flawlessly, and this included a stay of three months with low voltage triggering once a week.  (Note to Bob, My low voltage encounters were also in the Pacific Northwest.)

If I was you, I would replace your hard wired Progressive EMS with a hard wired Hughes unit, and then resell the Progressive unit after getting it back from them.  This might be your lowest cost solution.  In any case you will enjoy the Bluetooth phone application which will show you the time and data of failure.  The auto cut off and auto reset features of the Hughes EMS was so useful when the park tried everything to find the cause of their occasional low voltage, that even included the power company replacing their transformer with a larger capacity unit.  I kept updating the park owner with the time of each low voltage issue at his request, until he finally bought his own Hughes EMS to us for his own data.  The auto cutoff and auto reset worked flawlessly as it was designed for me in that park's stress test.

My install
Install Progressive Industries EMS-LCHW50
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Progressive Industries drops out...

Reply #7
Mine is wired as per Jack Lewis post. It has caught a bad voltage regulator in generator that would work fine for a while and then voltage jumped to 160! It also caught a missing ground on my son's garage and refused to let the power through. I have the remote monitor. It's also caught some low voltage in a campsite.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.