Intellitec Smart Energy Management System (a.k.a. Load Shedding System)
In response to the many questions I receive about the Intellitec Smart Energy Management System (a.k.a. Load Shedding System), the following simplification is provided:
© This system is available for either 50 Amp Service or 30 Amp Service RVs. It is designed to prevent ‘tripping’ the circuit breaker at the pedestal/post if the RV user inadvertently turns on too much electrical equipment – meaning the total amp draw will be greater than the rated level of the post’s circuit breaker.
The Intellitec 50 Amp Smart EMS™ recognizes when electrical power is being supplied to the RV. Through its diagnostic programming, it can determine if the incoming power is 50 Amp power, 30 Amp power, or Generator power. If the incoming power is from a 20 Amp source, the RV user must identify this lower power level by pressing the ‘30/20 Amp Select’ switch on the display panel. The system cannot discern the difference between 30 Amp and 20 Amp power!
(The 30 Amp Smart EMS™ operates the same as the 50 Amp system, but only deals with 30Amp, Generator, or 20 Amp power.)
30 Amp Panel above -- 50 Amp Panel below
When functioning at 30 Amp (or lower) power, the system controls the ‘On/Off’ operation for a maximum of six electrical loads. These loads are typically “heavy” loads (high amp draw) and their cumulative amp draw will trip the post’s breaker. Typical loads (in the order of lowest to highest priority) are the Electric Element in the Water Heater, the Rear Air Conditioner, possibly a Washer/ Dryer, and the Front Air Conditioner. (Other appliances may be attached to the system in larger RVs. However, the Microwave is controlled by the Inverter, if you have one.)
The system is also programmed with the ability to “memorize” the amp draw of each electrical load (appliance) attached to it. The system "memorizes" and stores the amp draw for each controlled load only when it is 'shed' (turned off by the system). It subtracts the new total amp draw of the RV from the original total amp draw - the difference is the amp draw of the shed load.
The system continuously monitors the total amp draw. If it gets too high, the lowest priority appliance will be shed (turned off). If the amp draw continues to be too high (or goes higher), the next lowest priority load(s) will be shed until the total amp draw is below the power limit of 30 or 20 Amps. This means that, no matter what order you turn appliances on, the Water Heater will always be shed first, then the Rear Air Conditioner, etc. The Front Air Conditioner is the last load to be shed. This is all done in the interest of protecting the RV from excessive amp draw.
When a load is shed, the appropriate ‘Power Status’ light on the display panel may blink for the first two minutes. This indicates a time delay to protect an air conditioner’s compressor. Once the time delay is completed, and there is enough power available to operate the load, the light will turn on and the appliance will be restarted. If there isn’t enough power available, the light will turn off and the appliance will remain off until adequate power is available.
When plugged into a lower level power supply or running the generator, the RV’s total amp draw is displayed in a two digit ‘Load Meter’ window on the display panel. It behooves each RV user to check the existing amp draw before turning on more equipment.
NOTE: The load shedding capability on a 50 Amp Smart EMS™ is automatically deactivated (turned off) if 50 Amp power is being supplied to the RV. Remember: Load shedding only occurs if a 50 Amp system is “dogged” (adapted) down to a lower power source (30 Amp or 20 Amp), or operating on Generator power. This means, when the RV is attached to a 50 Amp power source, the 50 Amp ‘Service Type’ light on the display panel will be lit, as will all of the ‘Power Status’ lights (all loads able to operate), however, the ‘Load Meter’ will be blank. Because the load shedding is deactivated, there is no need for the system to monitor the total amp draw and does not do so. So, my friends, when you are plugged into a 50 Amp power source, a blank ‘Load Meter’ does not mean the system is broken, but, instead, is working as designed!
For those desiring more technical detail, I recommend reading the Intellitec Manual very carefully. If you don't have one for your system, they are available at www.intellitec.com.
Comment: Obviously, the only electrical protection that the Intellitec systems provides is load shedding to prevent the RV user from ‘tripping’ a breaker at the post. Contrary to popular, but mistaken belief, the system does NOT provide any protection from Accidental 240 volts, High or Low Voltage, High or Low Frequency (cycles), Open Ground, Open Neutral, or Reverse Polarity. (Topics for other blog postings.)
Dale Lee Sumner
RVIA Master Certified RV Service Technician
Mobile RV Medic, Inc.
© This system is available for either 50 Amp Service or 30 Amp Service RVs. It is designed to prevent ‘tripping’ the circuit breaker at the pedestal/post if the RV user inadvertently turns on too much electrical equipment – meaning the total amp draw will be greater than the rated level of the post’s circuit breaker.
The Intellitec 50 Amp Smart EMS™ recognizes when electrical power is being supplied to the RV. Through its diagnostic programming, it can determine if the incoming power is 50 Amp power, 30 Amp power, or Generator power. If the incoming power is from a 20 Amp source, the RV user must identify this lower power level by pressing the ‘30/20 Amp Select’ switch on the display panel. The system cannot discern the difference between 30 Amp and 20 Amp power!
(The 30 Amp Smart EMS™ operates the same as the 50 Amp system, but only deals with 30Amp, Generator, or 20 Amp power.)
30 Amp Panel above -- 50 Amp Panel below
When functioning at 30 Amp (or lower) power, the system controls the ‘On/Off’ operation for a maximum of six electrical loads. These loads are typically “heavy” loads (high amp draw) and their cumulative amp draw will trip the post’s breaker. Typical loads (in the order of lowest to highest priority) are the Electric Element in the Water Heater, the Rear Air Conditioner, possibly a Washer/ Dryer, and the Front Air Conditioner. (Other appliances may be attached to the system in larger RVs. However, the Microwave is controlled by the Inverter, if you have one.)
The system is also programmed with the ability to “memorize” the amp draw of each electrical load (appliance) attached to it. The system "memorizes" and stores the amp draw for each controlled load only when it is 'shed' (turned off by the system). It subtracts the new total amp draw of the RV from the original total amp draw - the difference is the amp draw of the shed load.
The system continuously monitors the total amp draw. If it gets too high, the lowest priority appliance will be shed (turned off). If the amp draw continues to be too high (or goes higher), the next lowest priority load(s) will be shed until the total amp draw is below the power limit of 30 or 20 Amps. This means that, no matter what order you turn appliances on, the Water Heater will always be shed first, then the Rear Air Conditioner, etc. The Front Air Conditioner is the last load to be shed. This is all done in the interest of protecting the RV from excessive amp draw.
When a load is shed, the appropriate ‘Power Status’ light on the display panel may blink for the first two minutes. This indicates a time delay to protect an air conditioner’s compressor. Once the time delay is completed, and there is enough power available to operate the load, the light will turn on and the appliance will be restarted. If there isn’t enough power available, the light will turn off and the appliance will remain off until adequate power is available.
When plugged into a lower level power supply or running the generator, the RV’s total amp draw is displayed in a two digit ‘Load Meter’ window on the display panel. It behooves each RV user to check the existing amp draw before turning on more equipment.
NOTE: The load shedding capability on a 50 Amp Smart EMS™ is automatically deactivated (turned off) if 50 Amp power is being supplied to the RV. Remember: Load shedding only occurs if a 50 Amp system is “dogged” (adapted) down to a lower power source (30 Amp or 20 Amp), or operating on Generator power. This means, when the RV is attached to a 50 Amp power source, the 50 Amp ‘Service Type’ light on the display panel will be lit, as will all of the ‘Power Status’ lights (all loads able to operate), however, the ‘Load Meter’ will be blank. Because the load shedding is deactivated, there is no need for the system to monitor the total amp draw and does not do so. So, my friends, when you are plugged into a 50 Amp power source, a blank ‘Load Meter’ does not mean the system is broken, but, instead, is working as designed!
For those desiring more technical detail, I recommend reading the Intellitec Manual very carefully. If you don't have one for your system, they are available at www.intellitec.com.
Comment: Obviously, the only electrical protection that the Intellitec systems provides is load shedding to prevent the RV user from ‘tripping’ a breaker at the post. Contrary to popular, but mistaken belief, the system does NOT provide any protection from Accidental 240 volts, High or Low Voltage, High or Low Frequency (cycles), Open Ground, Open Neutral, or Reverse Polarity. (Topics for other blog postings.)
Dale Lee Sumner
RVIA Master Certified RV Service Technician
Mobile RV Medic, Inc.
