Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-18-2019, 02:15 AM   #1
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: VA
Posts: 988
Default Tripplite Clicking Intermittently, 120 power On and Off

I hooked up 120v power to my 2006 Roadtrek 210P. The Tripplite RV750ULHW inverter/charger started clicking on and off. It would stay on for a moment or a few seconds then cut off. It did this for about 5 minutes before I disconnected the 120. Reconnected 120v power and it did the same thing. I had a fan hooked to one outlet and it would occasionally cycle on and off while the inverter/charger was clicking on and off. The Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C Electrical Management System (PI EMS) showed code E0, 121v, 0A. But occasionally the EMS-HW30C display showed OFF, which seemed odd.

I then disconnected 120v and turned the PI EMS switch to off. Reconnected 120v, the PI EMS showed OFF. The inverter/charger still clicked on and off.

I then disconnected 120v. Then I switched the PI EMS on and reconnected 120v. The inverter/charger clicked on and off again for a minute or so. The PI EMS still showed E0, 121v, 0A, but if did not show OFF like it had earlier. Then all of a sudden the inverter/charger stayed on with no more clicking. The PI EMS showed E0, 117v, 7A. The inverter/charger was now charging the battery. I checked again after an hour and all was operating fine.

I am puzzled as to what had failed intermittently: the inverter/charger or the PI EMS. Or could a flaky transfer switch cause this behavior? This concerns me as we are going on a big trip in a month and don’t want a failure on the road.

Any ideas what happened or what to check?
peteco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 03:36 AM   #2
Platinum Member
 
rowiebowie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,632
Default

I've never had your problem.

The only time I've heard any clicking by my Tripp Lite RV750ULHW is when my power source (generator) was cutting out while running my roof ac. Then, I believe it was cutting charger power momentarily to allow all generator output to go to running the ac. I had nothing else plugged in to the outlets and don't think the Tripp Lite was doing anything but it'd job.
rowiebowie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 03:58 AM   #3
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 11,893
Default

It sounds kind of like the automatic transfer switch was not locking in so the EMS and the Tripplite weren't seeing clean power.


The Tripplite also looks at the battery to make sure it is in the circuit and with adequate voltage and capacity to take amperage and will kick out if it doesn't like what it sees.


The really odd part is why it fixed itself somehow.
booster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 04:16 AM   #4
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: VA
Posts: 988
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by booster View Post
It sounds kind of like the automatic transfer switch was not locking in so the EMS and the Tripplite weren't seeing clean power.


The Tripplite also looks at the battery to make sure it is in the circuit and with adequate voltage and capacity to take amperage and will kick out if it doesn't like what it sees.


The really odd part is why it fixed itself somehow.
I suspect the transfer switch too. Maybe (hopefully) a loose connection. I had been in the electrical compartment earlier and had pushed on some wires before this happened. The transfer box is wedged in tightly and I may need to remove the Tripplite to get to it.
peteco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 04:42 AM   #5
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: western New York State
Posts: 218
Default

Hi Pete,

Is the Industries EMS-HW30C Electrical Management System (PI EMS) wired in before or after the transfer switch? (hopefully after)

I'm having trouble seeing the transfer switch as the problem as they are normally (non-activated) in the shore power position, and it needs to see voltage from the generator to flip.

I suspect a problem with the TrippLite.

Regards, Dick
dicktill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 10:32 AM   #6
Platinum Member
 
markopolo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 8,828
Default

I don't have any of Pete's equipment but experienced intermittent power getting to the coach circuits. It appeared to be happening at the inverter/charger because of noises there but the problem was actually at the campsite 30A outlet. The wiring behind that campsite outlet had a poor connection. Power would pass through when a moderate to heavy load was present but was intermittent when only light loads were present.

I switched to the 50A outlet on the post and the issue disappeared. That confirmed that all was well within my coach.

My guess was that more resistance / more heat with the higher loads temporarily improved the connection behind the 30A outlet. A campground staff member installed a new 30A outlet and the problem was fixed.

I throw this out there as just another thing to check during the troubleshooting.
markopolo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 10:41 AM   #7
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: VA
Posts: 988
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by dicktill View Post
Hi Pete,

Is the Industries EMS-HW30C Electrical Management System (PI EMS) wired in before or after the transfer switch? (hopefully after)

I'm having trouble seeing the transfer switch as the problem as they are normally (non-activated) in the shore power position, and it needs to see voltage from the generator to flip.

I suspect a problem with the TrippLite.

Regards, Dick
The PI EMS is before the transfer switch. I see now from some other information I have just read, and your comment, that it should be after so the system is protected from both generator and transfer switch issues.

Regarding the Tripplite, I had pushed on some wires to it so I need to check those connections as well.
peteco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 12:37 PM   #8
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 11,893
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by peteco View Post
The PI EMS is before the transfer switch. I see now from some other information I have just read, and your comment, that it should be after so the system is protected from both generator and transfer switch issues.

Regarding the Tripplite, I had pushed on some wires to it so I need to check those connections as well.

With the transfer switch after the power protection, and the protector showing mostly good power. It does limit the areas to look. IIRC. our Tripplite just had a 110v cord and plug for 110v, plus and minus for 12v and the CAT5 remote inverter switch connection so not a lot of places to check.



When I removed our transfer switch when doing the Magnum swap in a few years ago, I found that the connections for it to be quite loose, with a couple of them showing heat damage. I don't know if they were never properly tightened originally or if they worked loose. We never saw any issues with power, though. Ours protector was also before the transfer switch.
booster is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT. The time now is 04:33 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.