Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: ncaabbfan on November 01, 2010, 01:05:13 pm
Title: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: ncaabbfan on November 01, 2010, 01:05:13 pm
Yesterday, I went over to our MH to start up the engine and the diesel genset to run them to keep them limbered up and the batteries up.
While there, I did some checking concerning the electrical supply items discussed in a previous message string. I found the following two items plugged into outlets above the connector for shore power.
1. ACE Automated Engineering AC Power Line Monitor 2. Volt-A-Chek II meter
3. In addition, I found a portable TRC Surge Guard stored with power adapter plugs. (It is not in the utility bay.) I presume it is a surge protector and is to be connected in the incoming power circuit. Is this correct?
Is anyone familiar with any of these 3 items?
If so, what has been your experience with them?
Does the AC Power Line Monitor adequately monitor the incoming power to perform the same functions as the Progressive Electric Management System? If it does not monitor the incoming power, what is it's function?
Thank you very much.
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: Michelle on November 01, 2010, 02:20:15 pm
Morris,
The AC Power Line Monitor is likely just a monitor, not an active device that would cut power if it detects a problem. It might have lights/alarm to let you know of a concern, but since it's just plugged into an outlet, it can't affect the power coming into the coach.
If the TRC Surge Guard is a model 34750 that looks like this:
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trci.net%2Fumbraco%2FImageGen.ashx%3Fimage%3D%2Fmedia%2F23115%2F34750.jpg%26amp%3Bheight%3D400%26amp%3BCompression%3D100%26amp%3Bconstrain%3D1&hash=7780ac302c1f096381ab42fd64c938e8" rel="cached" data-hash="7780ac302c1f096381ab42fd64c938e8" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.trci.net/umbraco/ImageGen.ashx?image=/media/23115/34750.jpg&height=400&Compression=100&constrain=1)
with the line 1, line 2, time delay, and caution LEDs, then it serves a very similar purpose to the Progressive EMS. It will not pass high or low or miswired power. We have used a Surge Guard for 10 years, first a 30 amp for our class C and now a 50 amp for the FT. It has saved us from low power, miswire, and phantom voltage on ground issues. We will not plug in without it. Here are the details:
If we were shopping for a new one, we'd buy the Progressive EMS since its specs are a little better than the TRC, but both work well and I wouldn't spend the money a Progressive if I already had (and do) a working TRC.
Michelle
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: ncaabbfan on November 01, 2010, 02:51:50 pm
The AC Power Line Monitor is likely just a monitor, not an active device that would cut power if it detects a problem. It might have lights/alarm to let you know of a concern, but since it's just plugged into an outlet, it can't affect the power coming into the coach.
If the TRC Surge Guard is a model 34750 with the line 1, line 2, time delay, and caution LEDs, then it serves a very similar purpose to the Progressive EMS. It will not pass high or low or miswired power. We have used a Surge Guard for 10 years, first a 30 amp for our class C and now a 50 amp for the FT. It has saved us from low power, miswire, and phantom voltage on ground issues. We will not plug in without it. Here are the details:
If we were shopping for a new one, we'd buy the Progressive EMS since its specs are a little better than the TRC, but both work well and I wouldn't spend the money a Progressive if I already had (and do) a working TRC.
Michelle
Thank you very much. As soon as I go back to the MH, I will check the model number and any other information on the label. (The MH is in winter storage right now and is not immediately available.) As soon as I can get more information on it, I will post it.
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: Eric Rudolph on November 01, 2010, 03:58:30 pm
One advantage to the Progressive EMS, if you get the right model, is that it will tell you how many volts, and amps per leg. It also will check the cycles per second. It will also tell you why it shut it down, if it does so for low, high, wiring or other reasons. once correct power comes back it will check and let power back through again. The "how many amps per leg" is useful if you are on less than 50 amp power as we are often.
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: George Stoltz on November 01, 2010, 04:05:53 pm
I agree with Eric & Nancy,
When on 30 amp service it is really, really helpful to know how many amps you are drawing and how far away you are from that point where you trip the circuit breaker.
The Progressive EMS also comes with a remote (hard wired) readout meter that can be placed within about 5 feet of the actual surge protector.
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: amos.harrison on November 01, 2010, 04:59:05 pm
Morris,
Just some comment you didn't ask for. You said that you were "exercising the engine and generator". I hope you meant taking the coach out on the road for 10 to 20 miles, and running the genset under load, like running an A/C unit. You shouldn't run either if you aren't prepared to bring them up to full operating temperature. If you're not, you're causing needless wear on both engines.
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: Kent Speers on November 01, 2010, 06:43:43 pm
Good point Amos. That's one of the things I didn't know about diesels when I first became a Foretraveler.
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: George Stoltz on November 01, 2010, 07:04:11 pm
Kent,
Check you PM
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: Neal Pillsbury on November 01, 2010, 11:51:07 pm
Morris, I hardwired a Progressive Industries EMS 50 amp, with two remote meters, several years ago (because our vintage U270's have no FT installed protective device). Make sure that you use your TRC Surge Guard or a device like the PI EMS whenever you are hooked up to shore power. I have been very pleased with the performance of our PI EMS device and have posted information about it a few times on the forum. Eric gave a good summary of the functions of the EMS. Here is a link to one of my posts that may help you further understand the functions it performs: http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=9844.msg44508#msg44508 (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=9844.msg44508#msg44508) The remote meters come with 25 feet of hookup (telephone) signal-transmission cord, but the PI owner assured me that up to 50 feet is not a problem. Best wishes, Neal
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: Dick S on November 03, 2010, 04:41:44 pm
Is the Intermatic 1G1240R Surge Protector already in our FT adequate protection?
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: Raymond Jordan on November 03, 2010, 04:54:26 pm
Hi Morris, I have a Progressive Industries portable EMS 50. I bought the unit used from John Lang. John was the moderator on the yahoo Foretravel forums for many years. So the unit bites the dust a few years later. I called Progressive. I told them what happened. The unit had no warranty at this time. They said send it in, they might be able to fix it. Less than a week goes by and I receive a brand new unit from Progressive. There were NO charges, ;D :o ;D none. That's backing your product, and service beyond belief.
Title: Re: Meters in utility bay and portable surge guard
Post by: ncaabbfan on November 03, 2010, 05:10:26 pm
Hi Morris, I have a Progressive Industries portable EMS 50. I bought the unit used from John Lang. John was the moderator on the yahoo Foretravel forums for many years. So the unit bites the dust a few years later. I called Progressive. I told them what happened. The unit had no warranty at this time. They said send it in, they might be able to fix it. Less than a week goes by and I receive a brand new unit from Progressive. There were NO charges, ;D :o ;D none. That's backing your product, and service beyond belief.
That is a wonderful testimonial for Progressive Industries. Not many companies would do that. Thank you very much.