Do I need a Power Surge Protector

[Mrs. CountryGuy]

So, this morning, sitting 17 miles west of East Glacier in a very sweet little park our Progressive EMS shut us down. The campground has very nice and rather new 50 AMP service. No, we do NOT know why it shut us down, just that it did. In ohhh, less than a minute or so, it turned us back on. It is raining here, maybe there was a power bump somewhere up the line?? Simply do not know.

But, the Progressive worked and my frig, telie, monitor for the computer and various other electronics were saved, all work just fine.

Thank you Progressive.

You have my permission to pretend that CountryGuy wrote this, except of course, his posting would have tons more "techy" descriptions.

This comment happily brought to you by Progressive EMS, and all the gear it saved this morning.

[JandC]

A couple months ago I priced some hard wired protectors after reading about the warning on this forum. I found out how expensive they were and I hesitated. While we were traveling I worried every time I plugged my cord in to another campground service. We had Camping World at Madison WI install a hard wired unit. Just like everyone else has said, it just isn't worth trying to save $200 or $300. I didn't want a portable unit because I didn't want another thing to plug in or worry about getting stolen.

[LuckyNichol]

MHS 4771. We picked up the surge protector at Tiara rv, while attending a Moc rally in Indiana. Tasty BBQ by the way. mmmm, may be a road trip and a up-grade at Tiara. We sure like the looks of that 3402. Thanks all.

[mhs4771]

Be careful at Tiara. We were there for the MOC Dinner in 2011 and while looking at the new Montanas we also looked at their newest SOB at the time, and we were hooked.

[Rainer]

1) the Progressive is the way to go. On this adventure we stopped at an RV park attached to a casino in Vicksburg, MS, and the power wouldn't come on when I plugged in my 50 amp cord. The error code indicated "no ground". Got a new site and all was well.

2) I'm currently in northern Wisconsin and the site doesn't have a 50 amp connection, but it does have 30 amp and 20 amp. I have a cord that will allow me to span these, and give me 50 amp. I'd never used it before, but my Progressive unit told me all was well.

Color me BIG fan of Progressive!

[busterwms]

The first thing I do after pulling up to a site is plug in and check my EMS by Progressive. If it let's the power on board then I set up. We have our EMS hard wired next to the control panel located in the bathroom. Easy to check it there. Why would anyone buy something as expensive as these things are and not spend $300 or so for such inexpensive insurance?

[jaybird]

I buckled under the pressure of this blog and bought a 50amp TRC Protector today. Hard to explain to the wife but she'll be happy when we don't have to rewire the entire RV due to a surge. The final nail in the coffin was a story I heard today. A guy plugged in his Brand NEW Big Sky and within 30 seconds his wife was screaming inside. He ran to find the flat screen melting. That would scare anyone into making a $300 investment in their Land yacht!!

[RickW]

The EMS was the very first thing installed on the trailer. It was installed even before we spent our first night in the trailer. When we pull in to a site the electrical is the very first thing we hook up. It is rare to find a bad pedestal but it does happen. We have lost power due to low/high voltage.

I am impressed enough with the EMS that when I wired the truck for shore/generator power I also included a 30amp EMS in it as well.

Also keep in mind that if you get the Progressive EMS you can also get a 2nd remote display for the hardwired units. I have the 1st display inside the trailer next to the charger/inverter display for monitoring. I have purchased the 2nd remote and when it cools off will be installing it in the basement next to the Level-up control panel. This will allow me to verify the power from outside the trailer.

[DQDick]

That's a great idea.

[Icehouse]

about 12 years ago, I witnessed a friend park her brand new $250,000 bus in a campground we all frequented at a site we all had used many times. Moments after she was setup and showing off her new rig, something went bed and she fried the majority of the electrical elements in the rig. Never asked her, but the cost must have been huge to have it rewired. She sold it a few months later because of too many unexplained electrical issues. She is sure it was not bad wiring in the rig as she had used the new rig several times at other campgrounds and at her home with no issues. I always put and EMS in my new rigs before they leave the lot.

[seahunter]

quote:Originally posted by markmontana

I'm really liking the idea of power protection for the RV- are there other brands to compare- before pulling the trigger on the Progressive portable unit?

I would read all the pros and cons of portable versus hard-wired. Two main brands are Progressive Industries and Surge Guard. I have the Progressive hard-wired 50 amp. Has already saved us a couple of times by shutting down the power. As others have said, you want a management system, not just a "surge suppressor".

[twindman]

It seems most people buy a Progressive protecter. Why are they better than the actual 'Surge Guard' brand? Just curious as I have the Surge Guard.

[H. John Kohl]

The Progressive Has or had at time I upgraded a better meter and information system. It displays the following in a scowling window.
HZ
Error code
L1 voltage
L1 current draw
L2 voltage
L2 current draw

It also has a bypass switch which I do not believe was on my old Surge Guard.
It also has 10 error codes for my 50 amp unit:
EO - Normal
E1 - Reverse Polarity
E2 - Open Ground
E3 - line 1 High Voltage
E4 - Line 1 Low Voltage
E5 - Line 2 High Voltage
E6 - Line 2 Low Voltage
E7 - Line Frequency High
E8 - Line Frequency Low
E9 - Data Link Down (to report)
E10 - Replace Surge

[seahunter]

quote:Originally posted by twindman

It seems most people buy a Progressive protecter. Why are they better than the actual 'Surge Guard' brand? Just curious as I have the Surge Guard.

Progressive has very good customer service and have heard many stories on here of them going above and beyond to take care of a customer after the sale.

[seahunter]

quote:Originally posted by seahunter

Sorry sir, I could not resist. Maybe the Progressive is so good just because it looks menacing and scares the bad current away!

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by twindman

It seems most people buy a Progressive protecter. Why are they better than the actual 'Surge Guard' brand? Just curious as I have the Surge Guard.

Personal choice. I've used the Surge Guard in all my rigs and I've just stuck with it. Why change when you know you have something that works?

Orv

[DQDick]

Not a lot of difference. Both do the job. Progressives portable EMS comes with the locking mechanism on it. Surgeguard it's extra. No big deal either way.

[Neil.M]

Well, all you guys convinced me, got my portable Progressive EMS today. New High Country and I want it protected.

[The Oldguard]

quote:Originally posted by twindman

It seems most people buy a Progressive protecter. Why are they better than the actual 'Surge Guard' brand? Just curious as I have the Surge Guard.

Because they have a lifetime Warranty

[DQDick]

quote:Originally posted by Neil.M

Well, all you guys convinced me, got my portable Progressive EMS today. New High Country and I want it protected.

You'll be happy you did. One advantage of the portable you'll need to get used to is that you can check the pedestal before you back in. I don't bother on pull thru's but on back in sites I hook up the Progressive EMS and let it tell me everything is ok before I spend time getting the rig where we want it.