Progressive Industries EMS

Howdy!

We been using Progressive EMS for years. Our first was a Hardwire 50amp and saved use on a number of occasions. We purchased a portable 50amp when we got our new 5er. After four years of use the back came off the portable unit. I contacted Progressive filled online to be replaced via lifetime warranty sent pictures of the unit, and proof of purchase just received my new and improved unit in the mail this week.

“Happy Trails”
Chiefneon

SoundGuy wrote:

MDKMDK wrote:
As far as the power restoration delay time, I'm good with 136 seconds. More time to diagnose the problem and react. 15 seconds is a bit short.

SoundGuy wrote:
React to what? If the EMS sees something it doesn't like it simply won't pass power on to the rig regardless of whether delay is 15" to 136" ... you have all the time in the world to decide what to do about it, based on the what the error code is telling you. I mostly leave mine on the shorter 15" setting because we don't often use A/C and therefore don't have frequent need to protect it's compressor and I find the shorter 15" delay much more convenient, especially when I'm working on the trailer and am repeatedly applying and disconnecting power to it. A shorter delay is also more convenient when camping, for obvious reasons.

MDKMDK wrote:
Thanks for the responses, but I was looking more for a review from someone who actually owns one, on the unit's actual performance. How easy they are to read and diagnose issues, how they reacted when faced with a problem, or didn't, when called into action. That sort of thing.

SoundGuy wrote:
I do own a Progressive 30 amp EMS, a hard wire EMS-HW30C which as I mentioned operates exactly the same as the portable version, other than the portable's delay is fixed at 136" because it's a sealed unit. There's really no "diagnosis" per se as the displayed error code will tell you what the error may be and it's previous error code function will tell you what error may have occurred, say while you were away from your camper. What other than that do you want to know?

MDKMDK wrote:
React to what? React to what caused the surge protector to interrupt the power in the first place. Unless you like to sit in your trailer and watch the lights go off and on while your power gets cut and restored every 15 seconds.
I'd like to know what the root cause was, based on the codes passed or stored in the unit. I'd like to know if the power problem that caused the original (and any successive) fault(s) is something in my wiring, at the post, or in the general area of the campground, the likelihood that it was a one time event, or if it's going to persist.
The surge protector tells you what it saw, and what it did about it, not where the problem actually lies, whether it will persist, and what's being done about it.
Or as I suggested, do you just sit in your trailer in the dark waiting for the power to come back on?
I'd also like to know if your PI surge protectors have ever failed to react, and were they ever damaged by a fault event.
You know, useful info.

Obviously no EMS can tell you if a fault causing it to disconnect was caused by at the campsite post or whether it's a campground wide problem or may a regional problem affecting areas beyond the campground, nor obviously can it tell you "what's being done about it". :S Any error code displayed does tell you what the problem was with the incoming source power it saw and therefore why it either refused to connect in the first place or why it later disconnected. Third, no EMS has any control over whatever may happen after it such as "something in my wiring" ... obviously if you want it to monitor your incoming source cable then that cable needs to be in front of the EMS, not after it as normally would be the case in a portable application. Fourth, no the two I've owned have never "failed to react" nor have they ever failed. A significant surge, such as a nearby lighting strike, will most likely destroy the MOVs but they're replaceable, though the portable sealed version must be returned to Progressive for repair, with the hard wire they'll just mail you the parts since it's a field repairable device.

Useful enough? :R

Actually, the info that yours haven't failed is useful. The rest is just reading from the manual. Thanks.

Lantley wrote:
Thanks Sound guy, the restriction on using with an inverter is good to know. I was not aware of that limit.

Progressive has one other use limitation, this disclaimer warning to not use any of their EMS products with a Yamaha EF2000iS genset ... can't say whether this disclaimer still applies to the new V2 of this genset.

SoundGuy wrote:

MDKMDK wrote:
Best Converter has the EMS-PT30X for $233.50. Probably plus shipping. I'm thinking of getting one.
Anyone have any experience pro/con with them?

Not much to think about, other than whether you'd prefer a portable version like the EMS-PT30X or the hard wire EMS-HW30C. Electrically they both serve the same purpose, 'though because the hard wire is considered "field serviceable" you can change delay from the factory preset of 15" to 136", with the portable it's fixed @ 136". If you're in Canada as your profile suggests then ordering from Best Converter may not be your best choice as exchange rate, shipping, and possible import duties could drastically increase that price. :E

Regarding your other discussion about powering your rig with an inverter do note that Progressive warns against plugging any of their EMS units into an inverter. This may affect how you decide to integrate both an inverter and EMS into your unit.

Progressive Industries EMS-PT30X / 50X Installation Instructions

Thanks Sound guy, the restriction on using with an inverter is good to know. I was not aware of that limit.

MDKMDK wrote:
As far as the power restoration delay time, I'm good with 136 seconds. More time to diagnose the problem and react. 15 seconds is a bit short.

SoundGuy wrote:
React to what? If the EMS sees something it doesn't like it simply won't pass power on to the rig regardless of whether delay is 15" to 136" ... you have all the time in the world to decide what to do about it, based on the what the error code is telling you. I mostly leave mine on the shorter 15" setting because we don't often use A/C and therefore don't have frequent need to protect it's compressor and I find the shorter 15" delay much more convenient, especially when I'm working on the trailer and am repeatedly applying and disconnecting power to it. A shorter delay is also more convenient when camping, for obvious reasons.

MDKMDK wrote:
Thanks for the responses, but I was looking more for a review from someone who actually owns one, on the unit's actual performance. How easy they are to read and diagnose issues, how they reacted when faced with a problem, or didn't, when called into action. That sort of thing.

SoundGuy wrote:
I do own a Progressive 30 amp EMS, a hard wire EMS-HW30C which as I mentioned operates exactly the same as the portable version, other than the portable's delay is fixed at 136" because it's a sealed unit. There's really no "diagnosis" per se as the displayed error code will tell you what the error may be and it's previous error code function will tell you what error may have occurred, say while you were away from your camper. What other than that do you want to know?

MDKMDK wrote:
React to what? React to what caused the surge protector to interrupt the power in the first place. Unless you like to sit in your trailer and watch the lights go off and on while your power gets cut and restored every 15 seconds.
I'd like to know what the root cause was, based on the codes passed or stored in the unit. I'd like to know if the power problem that caused the original (and any successive) fault(s) is something in my wiring, at the post, or in the general area of the campground, the likelihood that it was a one time event, or if it's going to persist.
The surge protector tells you what it saw, and what it did about it, not where the problem actually lies, whether it will persist, and what's being done about it.
Or as I suggested, do you just sit in your trailer in the dark waiting for the power to come back on?
I'd also like to know if your PI surge protectors have ever failed to react, and were they ever damaged by a fault event.
You know, useful info.

Obviously no EMS can tell you if a fault causing it to disconnect was caused by at the campsite post or whether it's a campground wide problem or may a regional problem affecting areas beyond the campground, nor obviously can it tell you "what's being done about it". :S Any error code displayed does tell you what the problem was with the incoming source power it saw and therefore why it either refused to connect in the first place or why it later disconnected. Third, no EMS has any control over whatever may happen after it such as "something in my wiring" ... obviously if you want it to monitor your incoming source cable then that cable needs to be in front of the EMS, not after it as normally would be the case in a portable application. Fourth, no the two I've owned have never "failed to react" nor have they ever failed. A significant surge, such as a nearby lighting strike, will most likely destroy the MOVs but they're replaceable, though the portable sealed version must be returned to Progressive for repair, with the hard wire they'll just mail you the parts since it's a field repairable device.

Useful enough? :R

SoundGuy wrote:

MDKMDK wrote:
As far as the power restoration delay time, I'm good with 136 seconds. More time to diagnose the problem and react. 15 seconds is a bit short.

React to what? If the EMS sees something it doesn't like it simply won't pass power on to the rig regardless of whether delay is 15" to 136" ... you have all the time in the world to decide what to do about it, based on the what the error code is telling you. I mostly leave mine on the shorter 15" setting because we don't often use A/C and therefore don't have frequent need to protect it's compressor and I find the shorter 15" delay much more convenient, especially when I'm working on the trailer and am repeatedly applying and disconnecting power to it. A shorter delay is also more convenient when camping, for obvious reasons.

MDKMDK wrote:
Thanks for the responses, but I was looking more for a review from someone who actually owns one, on the unit's actual performance. How easy they are to read and diagnose issues, how they reacted when faced with a problem, or didn't, when called into action. That sort of thing.

I do own a Progressive 30 amp EMS, a hard wire EMS-HW30C which as I mentioned operates exactly the same as the portable version, other than the portable's delay is fixed at 136" because it's a sealed unit. There's really no "diagnosis" per se as the displayed error code will tell you what the error may be and it's previous error code function will tell you what error may have occurred, say while you were away from your camper. What other than that do you want to know?

React to what? React to what caused the surge protector to interrupt the power in the first place. Unless you like to sit in your trailer and watch the lights go off and on while your power gets cut and restored every 15 seconds.
I'd like to know what the root cause was, based on the codes passed or stored in the unit. I'd like to know if the power problem that caused the original (and any successive) fault(s) is something in my wiring, at the post, or in the general area of the campground, the likelihood that it was a one time event, or if it's going to persist.
The surge protector tells you what it saw, and what it did about it, not where the problem actually lies, whether it will persist, and what's being done about it.
Or as I suggested, do you just sit in your trailer in the dark waiting for the power to come back on?
I'd also like to know if your PI surge protectors have ever failed to react, and were they ever damaged by a fault event.
You know, useful info.

prd2hnt wrote:
I was surprised to see the portable units are not UL listed. Wondering the reason. Am I missing something?

Brian

Looks like some of the units are UL and Canada approved and others are not. I suspect the lower cost units are not, most likely they either won't pass the tests or Progressive doesn't want to pay the cost to have the units Listed. There is no national law requiring UL approval but many local fire codes do require such safety approval by UL, ETL, CSA, etc. Most companies will have their products safety approved by one of these agencies just for liability protection. Personally I would not use an unapproved unit unless it was Low voltage (considered low voltage when below 30 volts).

MDKMDK wrote:
As far as the power restoration delay time, I'm good with 136 seconds. More time to diagnose the problem and react. 15 seconds is a bit short.

React to what? If the EMS sees something it doesn't like it simply won't pass power on to the rig regardless of whether delay is 15" to 136" ... you have all the time in the world to decide what to do about it, based on the what the error code is telling you. I mostly leave mine on the shorter 15" setting because we don't often use A/C and therefore don't have frequent need to protect it's compressor and I find the shorter 15" delay much more convenient, especially when I'm working on the trailer and am repeatedly applying and disconnecting power to it. A shorter delay is also more convenient when camping, for obvious reasons.

MDKMDK wrote:
Thanks for the responses, but I was looking more for a review from someone who actually owns one, on the unit's actual performance. How easy they are to read and diagnose issues, how they reacted when faced with a problem, or didn't, when called into action. That sort of thing.

I do own a Progressive 30 amp EMS, a hard wire EMS-HW30C which as I mentioned operates exactly the same as the portable version, other than the portable's delay is fixed at 136" because it's a sealed unit. There's really no "diagnosis" per se as the displayed error code will tell you what the error may be and it's previous error code function will tell you what error may have occurred, say while you were away from your camper. What other than that do you want to know?

ScottG wrote:
I think it's for the same reason a Honda gen isn't UL listed, because the connections aren't wether safe.

Makes sense.

I think it's for the same reason a Honda gen isn't UL listed, because the connections aren't weather safe.