PowerLine 2004 EMS Problems

Tuney-GA · 12-07-2009, 07:51 PM

The PowerLine 2004 EMS in my '07 Meridian is having a problem. All of the Power Status LED's are out, but all the AC Equipment in the MH is functioning normally. The coach is plugged into 50 AMP AC. The Service Type LED is on.
If I start the Generator, the Service Type LED changes to Gen Set, and the power AC Line Amps Load Meter shows 73 AMPS. Don't understand how that can be without any blown CB's.

emiddleb · 12-07-2009, 08:29 PM

Had a similar issue with mine on my '04 Vectra, may or may not help you.

I removed the plate and carefully removed the EMS panel from the main panel on the wall. The back side of the circuit board had a multi-wire small cable that had worked it's way loose from the ?4? pins. Simply plugging the cable back fixed the issue with my lights not working.

You might give it a try.

RRGuy · 12-07-2009, 09:49 PM

I also have simular problems. The "amps" read "garbage" and meaningless dispay. Sometimes I unplug and replug shore power restors normal readings. Sometimes gentlely pressing on display restores it. I have not tried removing the plate. I will try that next time it goes haywire.

It seems to be worse when on 30 amp or set to 20 amp. Sometimes generator operating fixes it and sometimes makes it worse. As Tuney sail the power distribution always seems to be OK.

John Abbott
2004 39' Journey

Tuney-GA · 12-08-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRGuy

I also have simular problems. The "amps" read "garbage" and meaningless dispay. Sometimes I unplug and replug shore power restors normal readings. Sometimes gentlely pressing on display restores it. I have not tried removing the plate. I will try that next time it goes haywire.

It seems to be worse when on 30 amp or set to 20 amp. Sometimes generator operating fixes it and sometimes makes it worse. As Tuney sail the power distribution always seems to be OK.

John Abbott
2004 39' Journey

Shutdown 50 AMP shore power. Waited 60 seconds and ran the Generator. The EMS registered the gen set, turned on all power status indicators and registered an accurate load on the load meter. Ran the gen set long enough to warm up engine, and recharge house batteries. Checked Refrigerator, turned on water heater saw the power draw increase. Everything OK!

Shutdown Gen Set and reconnected 50 AMP shore power. Service type 50 AMP LED turns on. Power Status LED's do not light, Load Meter is off. Systems are all working.

I'm reluctant to take down the whole power panel to check the connections. Seems to me that before I do that, I'm going to want to turn off shore power, and disconnect the batteries.

MrTransistor · 12-08-2009, 09:46 PM

That sounds right to me. With 50 Amp. service, there is no way for the Powerline to measure the current and there is no need for the service lights to indicate anything since the 50 Amp. service is more than is needed to power anything and everything on the coach all at once.

With Generator, 20 Amp., or 30 Amp., the power is always single phase and all current passes through the neutral conductor (not so with 50 Amp.) This has a sense coil around it on the Powerline control circuit board and is ‘A to D’ converted for display on the panel. The logic on the board senses if the current exceeds the selected source and starts shutting down loads trying to bring the total current back below the selected value. As each item is turned off, the current reduction for that item is stored for reference in turning the loads back on. If you press and hold the ‘30/20 AMP SELECT’ button on the panel, the indicator will switch to display the stored current for each item. Repeated presses cycle down the list. It will be ‘0’ for any item that was off when the Powerline was trying to shed loads.

I hope yours was wired correctly from the factory. The 04 Horizon was not and had the #2 compressor and the Fan Speed reversed. I spent a couple of days re-engineering the system to correct this problem. At least it works properly now.

Roadking · 12-10-2009, 12:09 PM

Tunney: I have the Powerline EMS, however I don't know if it's a "2004" or not. Anyway, when plugged into 50amps the four power shedding indicator lights on my EMS are ON as I type this...and they always have been when connected to 50 amp shore power.

The only time my indicator lights were off is when the 12 volt supply to the EMS control board located in the main 110VAC breaker panel was lost due to a loose connection at the EMS control board. In this mode I still had 110VAC power to the load shedding circuits, but no indicator lights.

RRGuy · 12-10-2009, 02:27 PM

Mine is the same as yours Roadking. I think it is suppose to be that way. I wonder what would happen if tried to max out or go over the 50 amps using the 110 receptacles? I am not going to try.

Lights should start going out if connected to only 30 or 20 amp and using an increased power load. I can not remember the order things drop off line but they do.

John Abbott, 2004 Journey 39'

Bob and Vicki · 12-10-2009, 07:09 PM

Our 2006 Meridian had a similar problem. We replaced the circuit board in the panel under the bed and all is well.

Good Luck

2006 Meridian 36G

W8RLM · 12-10-2009, 09:41 PM

I had similar problems. Intellitec has replaced some of the surface mount resistors with larger wattage resistors on the board with the terminal strip.

They also mounted two capacitors on the other board that had been separately mounted and glued to the board.

I think that they knew that they had a problem. The new boards are labeled 2008. I'd push them for a new controller assembly.

W8RLM - Bob