Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

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Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

March 08, 2018, 05:49:46 pm

My 50 amp portable Progressive unit is fried. I didn't pay for it so no receipt... it came with my coach.

What are your thoughts on hard wired vs. portable?

Thanks all!

Jeff

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #1 – March 08, 2018, 05:58:21 pm

We were going to replace our portable with a hard wired unit, BUT after helping a friend remove his hard wired unit after it got killed we had a change of heart. We now have a back up portable unit incase our primary takes a hit.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #2 – March 08, 2018, 06:11:07 pm

May not be overly expensive to pay to rebuild the PMS?

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #3 – March 08, 2018, 06:58:08 pm

First of all do not buy the Surge Protector models. Only buy the EMS over/under voltage Protector.

Portable is easy to remove if not working. And easier to return for repair if needed (and there is a receipt).

$450 Portable sits there, chained up or not, advertising to some people "take me home with you".

Portable may not be used at every stop, for the next 10 years, every time, with reasons like: only here for one night, raining, bad neighborhood, lazy.

Portable does not have the very handy inside display showing volts & amps for each leg.

Portable can not protect from dangerous generator voltage anomalies.

Hardwired is on duty 24/7 with no disadvantage, other than learning how to remove a cable and add a new stiff cable. And run a small telephone type wire for remote display. Hardwire also is a little lower in price.

I am not convinced that the portable will maintain its water-proof-ness forever.

I will add that a portable EMS can be kept out of sight locked up...
Use a shore cable extension terminated with a regular 50 female outlet. Place the female end inside the bay compartment. Plug in portable EMS and then coach plug into EMS, all within the weather protected locked compartment. This is what we do when we use our Autoformer. We have a short 50-amp range pigtail with a female SmartPlug that plugs into our coach 50-amp inlet, that we use between Autoformer and coach.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #4 – March 09, 2018, 09:40:28 am

Found out that our transfer box is also surge guard. But I run a portable on the pedastal that is ems. I also carry big garbage can liner that I can throw over it to protect from rain. Kansas style frog choker rain. Once storm is over, then remove. Most of the portables handle a light rain. But not frog chokers variety.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #5 – March 09, 2018, 10:03:55 am

Hardwired saved me from bad regulator on generator.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #6 – March 09, 2018, 10:09:12 am

Jeff, if you can see a place to install inside that is what I would suggest. Ours is in the space at the foot of the bed. Snug fit but much easier with the very flexible type SOO wire. There was some discussion earlier about ampacity of this wire, worth reading. I like having the line voltage and current draw on the inside display and being abke to see any errors or indications of a good connection on the wet bay display.

Outside or inside as Barry suggests, it is still one more piece (or more) to hookup, keep track of and not lose.

Roger

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #7 – March 09, 2018, 11:47:22 am

After a near meltdown because of a bad pedestal, I got the Progressive EMS exterior. The reason was when we took the hit, it not only fried both ends of our cable, but trashed the female connection in the wet bay, so I'd rather be protected from the pedestal itself. Going on four years of full-time use, no problems. In heavy rain, I do tape a plastic sack over it.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #8 – March 09, 2018, 12:05:02 pm

Hi Jeff,

Do you know what fried your 50 amp portable Progressive unit? Overall condition of unit? (Maybe someone will know if these devices have a life span). As in, comparison between lifespan for hardwired vs portable.

We installed the hardwired indoor unit. Located in basement storage compartment to protect coach from both shore-power and generator anomalies. (Even though generator issues are much less likely). We utilized the existing coach wiring, there was just enough cable available. Technically an easy install, but can be physically difficult. Stiff heavy gauge wiring going into a small unit and mounted in a cramped basement space. Wish they had made the box containing the guts a little bigger. I cheated and had it done for me by a friend with electrical experience.

We mounted the monitor right above the shoreline reel so we know without going into the coach what the power status is.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #9 – March 09, 2018, 12:48:39 pm

I have used the Progressive's 50 Amp Portable for many years. If I have had a problem with it they have replaced it.
Several times it has saved me from bad electrical or low voltage.
If heavy rain expected I do, as other suggest, and put a plastic bag over to protect it.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #10 – March 09, 2018, 03:34:28 pm

Thanks all. I'm not sure what happened to it. No warning lights and normal readings but no power comi;g out.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #11 – March 09, 2018, 07:40:40 pm

Jeff- over 10 years full time and after some expensive electrical issues by not using anything, I know use Progressive Portable EMS 50 amp. I also have the Progressive surge protection model that I sometime use in tight spaces.

Good luck

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #12 – March 09, 2018, 07:42:24 pm

Thanks all. I ordered their new 50amp portable EMS.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #13 – March 09, 2018, 07:55:59 pm

Just a FYI, I replace my existing ATS with an Progressive Dynamics ATS with DC coils for cross phase, surge or low voltage protection. The replacement board is less $100 if ever needed and it also protect you from a crazy generator.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #14 – March 10, 2018, 12:17:22 am

I have come to realize that our EMS at the pedestal, inside before transfer switch or after transfer switch, are all good places.
Each location has some advantage over the others and some disadvantages. Some installed more than one EMS to counter disadvantages.
I would love to learn the different ways being used to secure the portable EMS... Is it chain, cable, lock-box or other methods? What kind of display shows on the new style portable. Does it show amps, volts & cycles?

Thanks

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #15 – March 10, 2018, 07:31:24 am

Barry/Cindy, here is the info on the new unit: Amazon.com: Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X Portable RV Surge Protector -...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #16 – March 10, 2018, 10:55:30 am

Barry,
It appears to show the same information as prior units.
Here is more information on Progressive's website.
Display:
Continuously scrolls all the AC power information, including voltage, current, frequency, error codes and previous errors. Each reading is displayed for two (2) seconds.
There is more information on their site.
Progressive Industries, Inc. | Rv Surge Protection

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #17 – March 10, 2018, 11:19:32 am

Seems stupid to steal a EMS, but there are "stupid crooks"! Progressive makes a chain/rubber (like a bike lock) cable.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #18 – March 10, 2018, 12:13:40 pm

Go through what you have to go through to hard wire it. Done! Probably will never touch it again. Mine was still in there working nine years after installation.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #19 – March 10, 2018, 03:23:35 pm

Thanks for the portable's display info.
For those that only want to use a portable EMS, are there any clever securing ideas other than the obvious cable or chain? Does the cable's metal tag seem good enough for securing a cable to?

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #20 – March 10, 2018, 04:03:17 pm

Like you, I have worried about theft (possibly needlessly if covered by insurance), I've always cable tied my portable $250 King portable satellite dish to keep it away from mischief, knowing it was a bolt cutter away from disapearing.

My future Progressive Industry EMS will be kept in and hooked up in the wet bay.

I must admit something here. I was thrown off by the use of the trademarked EMS. The reason was over twenty years ago Bounder had an energy management system, EMS, in their rv wall thermostat for the furnace and A/C that switched power from one roof A/C compressor to the other, automatically back and forth, so you could effectively sometimes cool the rv just using 30 amps.

I know the "times they are a changin" since I never use to hear of theft from customers. Now it seems common place for the 50 amp cords to disappear (sometimes cut off with a bolt cutter at the rv) and for dingy tow hitches to disappear.

Re: Need a new EMS Surge Protector, hard wired or portable?

Reply #21 – March 10, 2018, 04:45:32 pm

Problem I see is the pedestal. Usually nothing to lock it to there. To get around that I take a short piece of chain and use a padlock to make the loop around the pedestal nice and tight, then run cable from EMS thru that. Chain can't ride up pedestal past the electrical box. All you can do is make it more difficult. Serious thief is going to have tools and will get it. Just trying to dissuade the opportunist walk by person. Of course anyone cruising thru the park with tools will attract my immediate attention. Biggest deterrent for things like this is people paying attention to what's going on around them. Too many folks oblivious to their surrounding's and wandering around in "Condition Green " all the time. Being aware of what's going on around you can help avoid a lot of bad things. Apologize for getting off topic and pontificating here.

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