It’s a Houghton a/c from Rec Pro. The soft start is built into the unit. Upon startup, I can use my app to watch the amp and watt draw. It’s not pulling more than 1500 watts. Actually only about 1200. It never pulls more than 14.4amps.
I called Champion support, and they are the ones who told me it was due to the floating neutral. The a/c is connected through a 15 amp breaker. I never have a problem with the popping the breaker.
At Home Depot right now buying a tester, like you showed on your video.
You can’t actual detect inrush current with a standard meter or power line monitor. That’s because the compressor inrush current spike is less than 1/4 of a second. You need a meter with an Inrush Current setting. Here’s how it works: https://rvelectricity.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-hrdl-high-rate-data-logger
I just tested my Champion Generator and my friends Westinghouse. Both are floating neutral. I used the tester on my 120 volt a/c outlets in my van (which receives power from the 12v batteries going through the Viktron 2000 watt inverter/charger. The can system is NOT floating. I’m now assuming the Viktron is bonded.
I did that. That’s why I was at HD, buying the tester. Both generators are floating. I placed the tester into my van outlet, which is how I know the van is bonded. The Westinghouse (with less running watts) works on my van. The Champion (with more running watts) doesn’t.
I have 2 questions. First, I have a van conversion using Battle Born batteries and Viktron components. All the neutral wires go to one bus bar and the ground wires to a separate bar. I’m assuming this system is a “floating neutral”. I have Champion generators, that according to Champion are floating. I don’t have a problem running anything in my van, except the a/c. Generator supplies 3500 running watts. A/C max draw is 1500 watts. The generator goes into a/c overload when the a/c compressor kicks on. The a/c does have a soft start built in.
Question 1
If I use your ground bonding plug, does that bond the entire generator? I plug into my shore power via the 30 amp outlet.
Question 2
I’m using my friends Westinghouse 4500 watt generator which is also floating, but it works perfectly fine????
Not all generators are created equal, and I've never tested a Champion generator for inrush current capability. And some A/C compressors draw as much as 80 amperes of inrush current. What brand and type of soft starter do you have on your A/C? I don't think the floating neutral has anything to do with this.
And yes, a single bonding plug "bonds" all outputs of your generator. So that's easy enough to try.
I have a 3 light outlet tester (ideal 61-051) and when testing my floating neutral generator it does not detect open neutral or open ground. a frame to neutral continuity test shows no continuity. How do you explain this?
Hi Mike, I have 2 questions. 1, I have a Champion 4000 non inverter Gen. Is it bonded? How can I tell? 2, I have a GD Momentum 376TH. It has an Onan 5500 Gen. Is that bonded? Thanks
There’s a video in this article showing you how to test for floating neutral using a 3-light outlet tester.
It’s a Houghton a/c from Rec Pro. The soft start is built into the unit. Upon startup, I can use my app to watch the amp and watt draw. It’s not pulling more than 1500 watts. Actually only about 1200. It never pulls more than 14.4amps.
I called Champion support, and they are the ones who told me it was due to the floating neutral. The a/c is connected through a 15 amp breaker. I never have a problem with the popping the breaker.
At Home Depot right now buying a tester, like you showed on your video.
You can’t actual detect inrush current with a standard meter or power line monitor. That’s because the compressor inrush current spike is less than 1/4 of a second. You need a meter with an Inrush Current setting. Here’s how it works: https://rvelectricity.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-hrdl-high-rate-data-logger
Well the interesting thing is…
I just tested my Champion Generator and my friends Westinghouse. Both are floating neutral. I used the tester on my 120 volt a/c outlets in my van (which receives power from the 12v batteries going through the Viktron 2000 watt inverter/charger. The can system is NOT floating. I’m now assuming the Viktron is bonded.
You know you can test to see if a generator is bounded or floating neutral with a basic 3-light outlet tester.
I did that. That’s why I was at HD, buying the tester. Both generators are floating. I placed the tester into my van outlet, which is how I know the van is bonded. The Westinghouse (with less running watts) works on my van. The Champion (with more running watts) doesn’t.
I have 2 questions. First, I have a van conversion using Battle Born batteries and Viktron components. All the neutral wires go to one bus bar and the ground wires to a separate bar. I’m assuming this system is a “floating neutral”. I have Champion generators, that according to Champion are floating. I don’t have a problem running anything in my van, except the a/c. Generator supplies 3500 running watts. A/C max draw is 1500 watts. The generator goes into a/c overload when the a/c compressor kicks on. The a/c does have a soft start built in.
Question 1
If I use your ground bonding plug, does that bond the entire generator? I plug into my shore power via the 30 amp outlet.
Question 2
I’m using my friends Westinghouse 4500 watt generator which is also floating, but it works perfectly fine????
Not all generators are created equal, and I've never tested a Champion generator for inrush current capability. And some A/C compressors draw as much as 80 amperes of inrush current. What brand and type of soft starter do you have on your A/C? I don't think the floating neutral has anything to do with this.
And yes, a single bonding plug "bonds" all outputs of your generator. So that's easy enough to try.
I have a 3 light outlet tester (ideal 61-051) and when testing my floating neutral generator it does not detect open neutral or open ground. a frame to neutral continuity test shows no continuity. How do you explain this?
That’s really interesting. When you say “no continuity” can you get an actual resistance in ohms for the generator Neutral to Ground? I have a theory…
Hi Mike, I have 2 questions. 1, I have a Champion 4000 non inverter Gen. Is it bonded? How can I tell? 2, I have a GD Momentum 376TH. It has an Onan 5500 Gen. Is that bonded? Thanks