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04-20-2018, 12:23 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Orland
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #18679
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Mount location for Progressive EMS-LCHW50 in a 3130RE
I am weighing the options of the portable vs hardwired EMS. Functionally they are the same. Both have displays that provide error codes and operation data. The issue for me is if I want to install the hardwired unit where can I locate it so that the display can be seen by just opening a door or cover without the requirement of tools.
I have searched the forum for suggestions. One was to put it behind the removable panel in the storage compartment -- not easily accessible for routine checks. Not a good option.
I assume that the power supply lead from the external connection goes directly to the breaker panel. On our 3130RE, the breaker panel is on the side of a two-door cabinet. Opening the doors of the cabinet reveal a 2-shelf interior with the bottom shelf volume paneled off across both doors. I assume that the breaker panel is not deep and in requirement of that entire space. I am wondering if I could locate the hardwired brick in this area in the door opening farthest from the breaker panel. Installation here would require some wood working that I am perfectly capable to do.
The question is whether there is some other location that provides visual access without major modifications.
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04-20-2018, 01:22 PM
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#2
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Orland
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #18679
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Remote vs local display
I could consider the EMS-HW50C hardwired unit with the remote display. The remote display option would simplify the wood working issue.
The question remains is whether the plenum space behind the breaker panel is a good place to install the main EMS unit. It is possible or more likely a jungle of unbundled wiring to all of the field devices. I don't want to attempt to slide out the breaker panel if it is ill-advised. Doing something that appears to be simple can sometimes result in "oh s***, now I have done it" moments. My engineering background has grounded me in asking questions from those with actual experience.
Is there another location between the exterior power connection and the breaker panel that I can intercept the supply power lead? Inside the endcap cabinetry maybe?
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04-20-2018, 03:04 PM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Taylor Ridge
Posts: 224
M.O.C. #18049
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I have a 3950BR and I removed the basement wall wired the hardwired Progressive Industries EMS there. Then ran the remote up to the control panel cabinet. I can watch the readout when operating slides ect.
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04-20-2018, 03:25 PM
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#4
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Orland
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #18679
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Junction box needed?
Thanks for getting back on my inquiry.
Did you have to add a junction box so that you could extend the supply lead to that location? In my Montana the breaker panel is a couple of feet closer to the rear than the space behind the basement panel. Assuming that Keystone did not provide extra lead length, I anticipate that I will require a splice at a junction box added to behind the breaker panel in the plenum to give me the extra distance.
BTW, the location behind the basement panel would work on my unit too.
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04-20-2018, 03:32 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Auburn
Posts: 879
M.O.C. #18474
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Behind and under the converter would be one place. The bundle of wires will not hurt anything as long as there is now raw spot of kinking of the wires. But as stated, go a little bit further up under the stairs and towards the basement wall.
__________________
2020 Montana 3790RD Legacy EditionOnan, TST TPMS, TrailAir pin, Discs,
2013 F350 DRW 4x4 CC LBViair 10007, Ride-Rites, Westin HDx, 12k Smittybilt
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04-20-2018, 04:00 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 894
M.O.C. #14417
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I mounted mine right behind the breaker panel. I removed the wire that runs into the panel and hooked that to the EMS. Then bought 4 ft of wire to run from the EMS to the panel.
Using the remote their is no reason to ever remove the breaker panel again unless something goes wrong with the EMS which is unlikely.
__________________
Lenny and Ros
2012 Montana 3400RL,680 Watts Solar,4xT-105 Trojans,GP-ISW2000-12 Inverter,Trimetric 2020, EMSHW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 3500 LTZ Duramax 4x4 CC Dually, Banks Speed Brake
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04-20-2018, 04:12 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 1000 oaks
Posts: 953
M.O.C. #19630
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Ok, I have the one that is attached on the end of the power cable at the pedestal.
I was concerned about what happens when the unit is tripped or has a burnout if installed inside. With mine I can just remove it from the cable and plug in at my next campground.
If the inside mount unit gets fried how do you get power for the rest of your trip? Is there a bypass built-in?
__________________
2011 2955RL Gen-Y Executive Kingpin
2022 GMC 2500HD Duramax/Alison
4X4 Crew Cab/Standard bed.
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04-20-2018, 04:15 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 894
M.O.C. #14417
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Yes there is a bypass. You turn it off or on at the remote.
__________________
Lenny and Ros
2012 Montana 3400RL,680 Watts Solar,4xT-105 Trojans,GP-ISW2000-12 Inverter,Trimetric 2020, EMSHW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 3500 LTZ Duramax 4x4 CC Dually, Banks Speed Brake
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04-20-2018, 04:45 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,659
M.O.C. #9969
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If you have an on-board genny or are pre-wired for one, a good place is on the back wall of the battery/hydraulic pump area right next to the Generator transfer switch.
If not a guess it's back to the breaker distribution panel.
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
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04-20-2018, 06:49 PM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Taylor Ridge
Posts: 224
M.O.C. #18049
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I had enough slack in mine, it doesn't take much. If you don't have enough do as LennyK said, your EMS will act as your junction box.
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04-21-2018, 05:32 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenny K
I mounted mine right behind the breaker panel. I removed the wire that runs into the panel and hooked that to the EMS. Then bought 4 ft of wire to run from the EMS to the panel.
Using the remote their is no reason to ever remove the breaker panel again unless something goes wrong with the EMS which is unlikely.
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I did it this way on 3 different Montanas with no problem. I had enough excess wire to cut some off and use as pigtail then route remote wire to wherever you want it.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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04-21-2018, 05:33 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Ours is near the converter and behind the basement wall. I bought a length of correct conductor wire to go to the breaker from Lowe's while running the original which was plenty long enough directly to the input side of surge protector. I also bought some correct size wire nuts, tie wired to the cable in a plastic bag for that unlikely day that it fails and can do an emergency direct hookup
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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04-21-2018, 05:37 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave W
Ours is near the converter and behind the basement wall. I bought a length of correct conductor wire to go to the breaker from Lowe's while running the original which was plenty long enough directly to the input side of surge protector. I also bought some correct size wire nuts, tie wired to the cable in a plastic bag for that unlikely day that it fails and can do an emergency direct hookup
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Actually there is a switch on the remote that bypasses the EMS in the event of a failure. No need to disconnect wire.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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04-21-2018, 07:18 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime
Actually there is a switch on the remote that bypasses the EMS in the event of a failure. No need to disconnect wire.
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I guess I need to reread the instructions. Oh well, the wire nuts are still there just in case. Thanks
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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04-27-2018, 04:55 PM
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#15
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Orland
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #18679
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Okay, I have installed a Progressive EMS-HW50C
Just finished installing the unit in my 5th wheel. Appears to be working as it should. Time will provide an assessment of its reliability on the road.
I like the remote display and the information provided on the display. The display continuously sequences: Line 1 voltage, Line 1 amps, Line 2 voltage, Line 2 amps, line frequency and error code.
It was challenging to wire the unit within the confines of the enclosure. For 50A service one could benefit by a slightly longer enclosure along the axis of the wiring. 3 inches of space on each side when you have to guide 6 gauge leads into the terminal posts is a struggle. On the supply side the installer only has the deal with the 3 leads and the ground. On the load side the challenge is increased due to the addition of two amp coils (donuts) on the hot leads. I had to insert and remove the load side leads 3 times to adjust the lengths of each lead. Contrary to the instructions, the leads need to be slightly different in length to make it easier to get the lead ends in the terminal blocks.
Installation of this useful device will require some physical strength (6 gauge wire is very stiff) and patience.
__________________
2018 Montana 3130RE
2016 RAM 3500 Limited DRW, Cummins, B&W Companion
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04-29-2018, 02:25 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 894
M.O.C. #14417
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That wire is a real pain to deal with. If I ever get a new Montana, which I hope is never, I would leave the EMS and buy a new one. That way I would have to deal with that wire only once.
__________________
Lenny and Ros
2012 Montana 3400RL,680 Watts Solar,4xT-105 Trojans,GP-ISW2000-12 Inverter,Trimetric 2020, EMSHW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 3500 LTZ Duramax 4x4 CC Dually, Banks Speed Brake
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05-10-2018, 08:01 AM
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#17
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Gering
Posts: 54
M.O.C. #21735
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EMS power connections
Have both an EMS and surge protection (separate units because EMS conditions power source and limits spikes, surge protect because it will drop the power entirely if voltage drops below safe limits). I placed the incoming power line on a purchased male end, plugging into the EMS. Ems plugs into surge guard with purchased male end, surge guard plugs into purchased female end to electrical panel of RV.... if anything goes wrong, disconnect and repair/replace as required and still have an emergency surge guard (built in EMS too) regardless of which may fail, or direct pass through if both fail... headed home if that happens!
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05-10-2018, 08:16 AM
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#18
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Gering
Posts: 54
M.O.C. #21735
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BTW - mounted my EMS behind elec.panel, behind removable 1/4" separation wall in cargo area... have a hole to view lights in that wood panel, to view indicators... BEHIND cargo area, in locked cargo hold, so it remains with us and does not grow legs.
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05-10-2018, 08:59 AM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2018
Location: livingston,tx
Posts: 558
M.O.C. #21685
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We have the Surge Guard brand surge protector with the voltage indicator located inside our control panel and is hard wired as well. The only issue we had was after hitting some rough road the flat head type screws loosened up and smoked the surge protector, luckily we were home. Our dealer had installed it and sent us a new one. I removed and replaced all the set screws with allen head screws before reinstalling the new one.
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