Forum Discussion
pianotuna
Dec 08, 2018Nomad III
The Hughes manual says it has an amber light that comes on to tell if there is a fault in the shore power connection, and the user should not connect the power. It doesn't say what the fault may be. The units protect against surge. They correct voltage by 10% if it sags to below 115 volts.
Thoughts about using both:
Order. If the ems comes "first" (shore power-->--ems-->hughes-->rv) then low voltage will not be corrected, defeating the purpose of the Hughes.
If the Hughes comes first (shore power-->hughes-->ems-->RV) Now the ems is essentially useless and would only disconnect on a bad neutral or incorrect polarity. But then there is that nice amber light on the Hughes--does it prevent connection on over voltage? Or is it a polarity checker?
Perhaps someone who owns one could let us know, as the manual does not give details.
I see very little reason to use the ems in series with the Hughes--because the only time it makes sense is if it is later in the chain--after the Hughes has already massaged the power.
I do not use a Hughes, preferring the much better three layers of boost and one of buck from the Sola Basic. There is also the ecowise (spelling) unit that keeps voltage dead on 120. I do have better surge than the current crop of ems units as an add on to the Sola Basic. It doesn't hurt that the Sola Basic is about 2/5'ths the price of the Hughes--and less than the top of the line ems units. (the surge only are going to protect from almost nothing and are a waste of money)
The lowest shore input voltage I've seen is 97 volts which the Sola corrected. The Hughes would probably not get me to my comfort voltage of 108. I've moved the "trigger" voltage up by 2 volts from 110 to 112.
I still believe, that even with an ems, that it behooves an RV'er to check voltage under load before plugging in, as well as polarity. It is easy to do. If you are in a 30 amp RV that more or less obviates the need for an ems. Do monitor voltage.
I did burn one connection this year--because I plugged into a borrowed cord that was faulty. As it happens it was the input for the Sola Basic. Voltage was maintained even with the plug frying itself.
I do place the Sola basic near the RV and then run a shore power cord to the Sola. I do limit my input to 24 amps using the Magnum hybrid inverter/charger.
Thoughts about using both:
Order. If the ems comes "first" (shore power-->--ems-->hughes-->rv) then low voltage will not be corrected, defeating the purpose of the Hughes.
If the Hughes comes first (shore power-->hughes-->ems-->RV) Now the ems is essentially useless and would only disconnect on a bad neutral or incorrect polarity. But then there is that nice amber light on the Hughes--does it prevent connection on over voltage? Or is it a polarity checker?
Perhaps someone who owns one could let us know, as the manual does not give details.
I see very little reason to use the ems in series with the Hughes--because the only time it makes sense is if it is later in the chain--after the Hughes has already massaged the power.
I do not use a Hughes, preferring the much better three layers of boost and one of buck from the Sola Basic. There is also the ecowise (spelling) unit that keeps voltage dead on 120. I do have better surge than the current crop of ems units as an add on to the Sola Basic. It doesn't hurt that the Sola Basic is about 2/5'ths the price of the Hughes--and less than the top of the line ems units. (the surge only are going to protect from almost nothing and are a waste of money)
The lowest shore input voltage I've seen is 97 volts which the Sola corrected. The Hughes would probably not get me to my comfort voltage of 108. I've moved the "trigger" voltage up by 2 volts from 110 to 112.
I still believe, that even with an ems, that it behooves an RV'er to check voltage under load before plugging in, as well as polarity. It is easy to do. If you are in a 30 amp RV that more or less obviates the need for an ems. Do monitor voltage.
I did burn one connection this year--because I plugged into a borrowed cord that was faulty. As it happens it was the input for the Sola Basic. Voltage was maintained even with the plug frying itself.
I do place the Sola basic near the RV and then run a shore power cord to the Sola. I do limit my input to 24 amps using the Magnum hybrid inverter/charger.
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