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JimWoods · 07-18-2022, 08:05 AM

My surge guard gave me conflicting messages. I started my generator up and I got a open neutral shut down message. Then I restarted it and got a reverse polarity,shut down immediately message. Does anyone have any insight to what may be going on?
If there is a better forum for this feel free to suggest where I should move it.
Thanks.
Jim

powerboatr · 07-18-2022, 08:08 AM

i would turn off all power and check the grounds and all connections in the transfer switch and the surge guard unit. i have found with my built in surge guard its very sensitive to loose wires or corrosion on the points of contact for the wires and will say NO to allowing power through

also check your main breakers for loose or corroded wires

ALL POWER SHUT OFF for safety

JimWoods · 07-18-2022, 08:32 AM

Will try.
Thanks.

Old Scout · 07-18-2022, 03:30 PM

Also check the residential-style gray, plastic junction box on the ceiling of the generator bay [follow power cable from genset]. The OEM wire nuts WRV used in that box are a known issue--especially the neutral leg. If still wire nuts, suggest swapping them our out for bolt-style brass/copper connectors.

DrDaveMA · 07-19-2022, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimWoods

My surge guard gave me conflicting messages. I started my generator up and I got a open neutral shut down message. Then I restarted it and got a reverse polarity,shut down immediately message. Does anyone have any insight to what may be going on?

If there is a better forum for this feel free to suggest where I should move it.

Thanks.

Jim

Is your surge guard installed after the ATS, they normally are installed on the shore power cable only. If your surge guard is installed between the pedestal and your ATS I would suspect the ATS is not working properly. It is an old style relay and the contacts can get burned/ stuck.

twinboat · 07-19-2022, 04:58 AM

Did you let the generator run for the 30 to 45 seconds the ATS needs to switch to generator mode.

That's where the neutral to ground bonding happens while on generator power.

JimWoods · 07-19-2022, 07:30 AM

So I start the generator up and it runs for maybe 2 minutes before it switches to gen power even though I'm hooked up to the pedastal. It appears that the surge guard is in the Ats. I think the problem is resolved. I had a generator specialist look at it and found loose connections as was suggested. I did go through and snug them up but he got a lot more than I did.
Jim