Rv surge protector

I recently installed the PI 50amp hard wired unit with remote display in our new 5th wheel. I went with the PI model over the SurgeGuard based solely off extensive researches and reviews. Both are good and capable units. But the customer service with PI is stellar to say the least. They stand behind there products and have 24/7-365 customer service dept. You will be extremely hard pressed to find a negative review involving PI. Unfortunately this isn't always the case with the other brand. That was enough for me.

An EMS, as Progressive Industries call it, is not a surge protector. It does much more. TRC, PI's competitor, calls their similar product Surge Guard but it also does much more than just surge protection. As well, the PI EMS units are not a "system" and would be better called an EMU ("unit"). Confusing!

You can buy just a surge protector to protect against spikes and surges, but why when for a few more $$ you can get far better protection.

Progressive Industries used to have full detailed specs and list of features for their EMS products but they don't seem to have that anymore. There also used to be a side-by-side comparison chart online somewhere but can't find that either. Surge Guard does have detailed specs. The last time I looked at their both product's detailed specs (a year or two ago), PI has a few better tech. specs and features. For ex., PI cuts out at 104 volts while Surge Guard cuts out at 102 volts. PI says if they ever upgrade the computer in their EMS units, they will send you a new one at no charge. PI has far and away the better line of products.

You can get a 30 amp hardwired PI EMS in the low $200 range which is what we paid 3 years ago. Cheap insurance!

PI does sell a special (haha) cable lock for their portable units:

Desert Captain wrote:
Like many here I am a huge fan of the PI EMS.

For those, like myself, who prefer the portable PI EMS it is nice to have a simple analog or digital voltage meter at a convenient location inside the rig. Mine is analog and plugs into any AC outlet and cost less than $15. This enables me to see precisely what the voltage currently is as I engage different AC loads (microwave, water heater, AC etc.}. :C

No question, a portable EMS is probably the best choice for the majority of users since all one has to do is plug it in. :B The downsides are potential theft and the inability to see the display from inside the trailer. Theft can be mitigated by using the included locking ring OR running an extension cable to the campsite power post so you can locate the EMS at the trailer OR for those with electrical knowledge, wiring the portable EMS so it's inside the trailer. I chose to wire my portable TRC EMS inside the camper ...



... but eventually replaced it with a hard wire Progressive EMS which lives under the sofa ...



... with the remote monitor placed where I can easily see it at any time.



That said, I too agree that having an easy to see voltage monitor is a handy tool for anyone and although I do run an EMS I also keep a Kill-a-Watt meter plugged into one of the galley duplex receptacles where I can easily see it at a glance.



More pics are in my gallery. :)

Like many here I am a huge fan of the PI EMS.

For those, like myself, who prefer the portable PI EMS it is nice to have a simple analog or digital voltage meter at a convenient location inside the rig. Mine is analog and plugs into any AC outlet and cost less than $15. This enables me to see precisely what the voltage currently is as I engage different AC loads (microwave, water heater, AC etc.}.

:C

wredman wrote:
Are they prone to break easily? Do you find the input voltage readout handy?

Electronic devices don't "break" but can occasionally fail, though the failure rate due to manufacturing error is extremely low. If anything, an EMS could "fail" in the course of protecting your rig from any one of a number of power source anomalies ... most times it doesn't, it simply disconnects power instantly to the rig or doesn't allow power to the rig in the first place. In the unlikely event the unit is damaged in the process a Progressive unit is covered by a lifetime warranty, with a TRC you'll have no coverage after it's 1 year warranty expires and would have no recourse but to buy another new unit as TRC won't repair it nor will they sell you the parts so you can repair it yourself. :M

Voltage readout handy? Of course it's "handy", otherwise how else would you know what the incoming source voltage may be at any given time? If anything, that's one of the drawbacks of the portable versions as the monitor is part of the unit itself, visible only if you walk to wherever you've located the unit. That's one of several reasons many of us prefer the hard wire version which includes a separate monitor panel which can be mounted anywhere inside the camper where it's easy to see at a glance. It not only displays voltage but cycles through other modes as well, including error codes that will tell you what if any error has occurred.

With my Progressive portable 50 AMP...the readout is neat...varies with the pedestal at the campgrounds, and the only thing I care about is the code: EO. That means everything is OK. One thing you should get used to...is after the unit gets plugged into the pedestal and the RV is plugged into it....it takes about 2 minits to go thru its' diagnostic cycle...you hear a "click" and then power goes to the RV. UNLESS there's a problem, and the codes will tell you what it is. Easy. BTW, I've had mine for around 5 years now.

Never heard of a Progressive "breaking". Even tho it is made to be used outside and in any element, it clearly says "do not submerge in water".

Go with Progressive. IMO, it's better than what CW offers.

Are they prone to break easily? Do you find the input voltage readout handy?

wredman wrote:
assuming I go with the EMS version of either, is there a marketable difference between the PI and TRC products. Camping world has the TRC on sale now.

IAMICHABOD wrote:
One of the many differences is that TRC units are warrantied for 1 year and PI units have a Life Time Warranty the hard wired units are field serviceable if any thing goes wrong.

My experience with a TRC voltage regulator is that the company will not only refuse to repair any of their products once out of warranty but will also refuse to sell replacement parts so one could do the repair themselves. :M I owned an original TRC #34370 EMS / surge protector but sold it in favour of a hard wire Progressive EMS HW-30C with a lifetime warranty. As mentioned, the hard wire versions are field serviceable so all it takes is a phone call to Progressive to identify the problem and parts will be mailed out to you. If your question is whether to choose a TRC or Progressive the answer to me is obvious - Progressive. :B

wredman wrote:
assuming I go with the EMS version of either, is there a marketable difference between the PI and TRC products. Camping world has the TRC on sale now.

One of the many differences is that TRC units are warrantied for 1 year and PI units have a Life Time Warranty the hard wired units are field serviceable if any thing goes wrong.

The external display also has a Bypass switch: This switch is located on the remote panel, and allows the user to bypass the computer circuit in the EMS in the event of computer failure, thus allowing source power into the RV. This does not disable the surge protection portion of the EMS.

assuming I go with the EMS version of either, is there a marketable difference between the PI and TRC products. Camping world has the TRC on sale now.