Surge protectors

Hi,

Either go cheap with a $2 unit from a dollar store, or go expensive with the top of the line Progressive Industries unit.

We have the Progressive Industries EMS-PT30C with the following features listed on there site:

http://www.progressiveindustries.net/#!ems-pt30c/c501

The EMS-PT50C listed protect at the same level but is for a 50 Amp. service.

http://www.progressiveindustries.net/#!ems-pt50c/c1ma0


I did notice that the prices have gone up quite a bit over the last year, recommend shopping around but Progressive is rated very high and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

You will find you get more low voltage readings from the EMS unit then a surge or spike in voltage. So the EMS unit is the one you want. Spend the money now instead of replacing elec. motors later because they were running on low voltage.

Curlida wrote:
Hey all,
First let me thank all of you for your good advice and input,it has been a big help for us newbies. Anyway I am looking at surge protectors and would like to know if anyone has experience with a 50 amp smart surge protector made by progressive industries inc. it lists for about $130.00. My wife and I, like many of you are retired and on a fixed income so really don't want to spend $400 or $500 dollars. I read some good reviews on that one and I went to the manfg. Web site and saw they have upgraded it. Manf. # is ssp50 and the upgraded one is ssp50x. If this is not recommended can someone suggest another reasonably priced one. Thanks again.

2016 Montana 3711FL
Chevy Silverado 3500 w/ airbags and B&W companion hitch.

2 days ago, I was drinking my morning cup when my power went off abruptly. This was just about daylight and after 30 minutes or so, I went out to investigate. I observed a few lights on but as it was early the state of the campground power was hard to determine.



I looked in the bay where my Progressive resides. The display was flashing all 8888. I had never seen that or seen it documented. I placed a call to Progressive and left a message. As I hung up from the call, the display changed to flashing an E4 code plus a voltage of 87 on L1 and 84 on L2. This is the 50 amp hard wired EMS unit with remote display.

https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Progressive-EMS-HW50C-RV-Surge-Protector-p/emshw50c.htm



As I waited for a call back, some other campers gathered in the street as campers do when issues arise. Some reported a "brown out" lighting condition and others reported A/C units that were struggling to run or were trying to start but couldn't.

I'm sure that those folks incurred some cumulative damage to their A/C that will shorten it's life.



I got a call back & after describing all conditions to the Progressive tech, he said the 8888 code indicated that the voltage was so low, typically in them85-90 range that the unit couldn't analyze. About this time an employee of the campground came by our little group and told us that a power line had been hit by a lift truck at the marina next door.



Very long story but the moral is, the Progressive protected my coach from any damage occurring from the bad power condition. The great tech support was added moral support.



Good power was restored about an hour later. Some unprotected folks had appliances struggling with damagingly low voltage for a total of nearly 2 hours. A year or two down the line, they will have a failure that they will not realize is directly related to this event & will tell folks that these EMS/Surge protectors are a waste of money.

10 years ago my PI HW50C protected the rig from 160V which is one reason I had the unit. There have been other faults including many low voltage ones.

Yes much more cost than just a surge protector. My unit is in the second rig.

TRC...Surge Guard 1 year warranty (IF TRC agrees)

Progressive Industries...........Lifetime Warranty and GREAT customer service

Simple choice.

Curlida wrote:
Anyway I am looking at surge protectors and would like to know if anyone has experience with a 50 amp smart surge protector made by progressive industries inc. it lists for about $130.00. My wife and I, like many of you are retired and on a fixed income so really don't want to spend $400 or $500 dollars.

Your question alone tells me you're not fully appreciating the significant differences between a simple surge protector and electrical management systems that do that and much more. Line irregularities are much more common than you would think and although like others I never used one for many years I do now and wouldn't now ever plug in without one. Recently I replaced my older version TRC #34730 Surge Guard (which itself saved my bacon on several occasions in the last two years, both camping and with the camper parked here at the house) with a hard wire Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C which in just the last two weeks has shut down power to the trailer on two separate occasions. Sorry, but not investing in a fully featured EMS is IMO akin to cutting back on your prescribed medication because it's "too expensive". You may be retired but you've got a significant amount invested in this new rig of yours - bite the bullet and get an EMS. :)

VOLTAGE CORRECTION DEVICE

VOLTAGE DISCONNECT DEVICE

VOLTAGE SPIKE PROTECTOR

Toss "surge" where it belongs: Into the garbage can.

Or think of it another way: Define the word surge. Does the answer define the subject?

It's the BUZZWORD HYPERBOLE generation!

I don't know where you're getting the $400 to $500 prices as Progressives HW50C (hardwired) can be purchased for as little as $282.10+ shipping and their PT50C (portable) for $303.55+ shipping. They both provide so much more RV protection than the SPC50 or SPC 50x that either one is worth the difference.

Whatever you decide upon do a Google search under the "make model best price" before you order anything.

Dave

dbates wrote:
I don't know where you're getting the $400 to $500 prices as Progressives HW50C (hardwired) can be purchased for as little as $282.10+ shipping and their PT50C (portable) for $303.55+ shipping. They both provide so much more RV protection than the SPC50 or SPC 50x that either one is worth the difference.

Whatever you decide upon do a Google search under the "make model best price" before you order anything.

Dave

X2. Definitely shop for the best price.