Forum Discussion

Sandy___Shirley's avatar
Dec 07, 2020

Which EMS Surge Protector

Just got our RV back from the repair shop! We had a 5th wheel for 10 years then changed to a motorhome 5 years ago. We had our first electrical failure in October. The Surge, or whatever, fried our inverter and the circuit board that ran the heat in our bedroom. The cost was over $1,000, but only cost us the $100 deductible on our insurance.

We made our first post on this on 10/6/20 and have been doing a lot of research since then. One possibility was the hardwired Progressive EMS-HW50C. Then we started thinking about the post mounted EMS-PT50X so that we could check out the campground wiring before pulling out the extension cords.

After further research we have added the Southwire 34951 to the list.

As we understand it, the Progressive units have been around for about 10 years, so there are a lot of posts about them. The Southwire 34950 has been around only 2 or 3 years, so far less posts, and the 34951 is the new upgrade that includes a remote Bluetooth monitor.

There is a TechnoRV article that does a good job of comparing the two units:
Do you need an rv surge protector

If we understand our research so far, both post units are about the same, Southwire costs a little more, Progressive take about 2 minutes to analyze the power while Southwire can do it in 10 seconds.

A big question to the group is: TechnoRV gives their gold star to the Southwire unit, does anyone know if the two companies are in any way related?

And of course; what are your opinions of the two units? Progressive EMS-PT50X vs Southwire 34950/34951

15 Replies

  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    We made our first post on this on 10/6/20 and have been doing a lot of research since then. One possibility was the hardwired Progressive EMS-HW50C. Then we started thinking about the post mounted EMS-PT50X so that we could check out the campground wiring before pulling out the extension cords.

    After further research we have added the Southwire 34951 to the list.


    First they both have been around longer than 10 years.. Not sure how long but at least 15 (When Got my RV) both were out long before that.

    For most of those years Progressive Industries had the best (Limited lifetime) warranty and TRC (not then Southwire) 1 year.

    When Southwire bought TRC they went Limited lifetie

    Hard wired or Portable
    Hard wired you never forget it and it's outta sight outta mind for the sticky finger crowd. Though I've never heard of one walking off. Still much harder to walk off with a hard wired...

    The Southwire/TRC hard wired is easier to install.. But not that much easier

    I used one. still have it in fact. no longer have the RV (For reasons complex I converted it to a plug in model but that was due to how or rather where I installed it the plug/outlet needed already existed)

    Oh as for checking the park power before you connect.. IF park power is not "Up to spec" the hard wired won't connect you.
  • Far more damage is caused by low voltage than surges. I'd go to the fully featured Hughes autoformer with surge protection.
  • ORbiker wrote:
    I installed the hardwired Progressive EMS-HW50C in our 5th wheel. It analyzes the power coming in about 20 to 30 seconds.
    If the power is not correct in some way it will not let it pass.
    If for some reason the monitor went bad, there is a switch on the remote to let the power bypass the unit.
    So far ( 3 years ) it works correctly and seems to be a great product. KEN


    US too. 3 years trouble free.
  • I installed the hardwired Progressive EMS-HW50C in our 5th wheel. It analyzes the power coming in about 20 to 30 seconds.
    If the power is not correct in some way it will not let it pass.
    If for some reason the monitor went bad, there is a switch on the remote to let the power bypass the unit.
    So far ( 3 years ) it works correctly and seems to be a great product. KEN

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