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CPO_Retired · 07-22-2013, 10:58 AM

I own a Progressive Industries SSP-50 Smart Surge Protector and have not had any trouble with the unit. It has on several occasions warned me of faulty CG power. Recently we visited a CG and the -50 showed an Open Neutral on Line 2 only. I checked several pedestals on either side of our assigned spot all showed the same fault. I attached a pigtail to my -50 to check the 30 amp plugs on several pedestals and received the same indication of a Open Neutral on line 2 only.

I checked the 50 amp outlet at the pedestal with a digital volt/ohm meter and had 120 volts on both hot legs and 0 volts on the ground and neutral legs. Of course the CG manager insisted that no one else has complained and no one has had a problem. I took a chance and we went ahead and stayed the night without any electrical problems. I did not run my AC during our stay.

What could be the cause of an Open Neutral on just Line 2?

What harm to my RV can be caused by this fault?

Any advise I can give the CG manager to correct this problem?

FYI this CG is a nice overnight place and situated a days drive from my home location so I would like to stay there in the future but I am slways concerned of bad power indications.

Big Bear Local · 07-22-2013, 12:33 PM

You have two hot leads and one neutral and one ground. I don't see why it would show an open neutral on just one hot line. You either have a neutral or you don't.

Route 66 · 07-22-2013, 12:39 PM

I suggest giving Progressive a call for their opinion.

geno39 · 07-22-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66

I suggest giving Progressive a call for their opinion.

X2! Sounds as if your surge protector is faulty. If you have 120 volts to neutral on each leg, then there would be no open neutral at the CG.

CPO_Retired · 07-22-2013, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66

I suggest giving Progressive a call for their opinion.

I did contact them and received a non-answer to my questions. They did offer to test my -50 but I don't think the problem is the -50 since I have only seen this fault at just this one CG.

wa8yxm · 07-23-2013, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campingman

You have two hot leads and one neutral and one ground. I don't see why it would show an open neutral on just one hot line. You either have a neutral or you don't.

Ditto on that.

Here is the issue... 120/240 volt (50 amp) Service uses a center tapped transformer to supply the power

now... Think of a teeter totter

Two people of exactly the same weight sit on the ends and it's balanced.

But if someone else joins one of them that end goes down hard (and the other end goes up

But if we put some sort of device to lock it in place (We now have a plank instead of a teeter totter) the two ends do not move.

Well. that Locking device... Is the neutral lead.

Observations when I had an open neutral on the S&B.

When the A/C kicked in one leg went down and I mean DOWN like 80 volts or less.

The other 150 volts or more

Neither is good.

milasman · 07-23-2013, 06:09 PM

What?

wa8yxm · 07-24-2013, 08:33 AM

50 amp service is 240 volts divided... If you have a good working neutral that division is at the 120 volt point, so both sides see 120 volts. PERIOD.

But if the neutral is open and one leg is loaded heavier than the other, the division point moves and like the unbalanced teeter totter, the heavier loaded side the voltage drops. while the lighter loaded side it goes up, way up. in some cases.

Both conditions (low and high) are bad.

milasman · 07-24-2013, 08:43 AM

If the neutral is open, then no 120v period. You would only have 240v available and thats it.

milasman · 07-24-2013, 06:34 PM

I say again, if the neutral is open, then no 120v PERIOD. Doesn't matter what teeter-totter you are on either.

Dr4Film · 07-24-2013, 06:46 PM

I totally agree with Milasman.

When you have an open neutral situation, that means there is no neutral to balance the load and you then end up with whats left, 240 VAC and a ground.

When that happens you have 240 VAC entering your coach and burning up everything it can get to whether it's turned on or not.

Not a good day when that happens and usually ends up to be VERY expensive too.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

milasman · 07-24-2013, 07:45 PM

I am no expert, just an Electrian by trade:.)

geno39 · 07-25-2013, 05:56 AM

CPO Retired,

You never stated in your original post as to what the line to line voltage was. Was it 208 volts, 240 volts or what? As for testing the 30 amp receptacles, you would get an open neutral indication on line 2 as there is no line 2 on a 30 amp circuit just line 1.

wa8yxm · 07-25-2013, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milasman

I say again, if the neutral is open, then no 120v PERIOD. Doesn't matter what teeter-totter you are on either.

Where as I know how to divide voltages by assorted means.. But the problem is the load has to be perfectly balanced. If one side is "heavier" the division does not work properly.

The bottom line however is this: Open neutral is BAD! Big time BAD.