Just bought a Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X

[scottkeen]

Just ordered a Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X 50 Amp surge protector from a RV parts supplier on eBay.



This is the portable EMS unit, not just for surge protection, but protects against under/over voltage. I decided against the hardwired unit because the manual clearly states "Do not use the EMS with an inverter generator". It will cause damage and eventual failure to the EMS when the generator switches between normal and peak load. The only way to get around it with the hardwired is to get around it literally with a bypass circuit.

eBay has a 15% off anything promo code "PSPRINGTIME" going on today March 20, 2018. Anything you buy is 15% off up to $50 maximum discount.

Anyway, I found a RV parts supplier on eBay selling it for $335, so I got the maximum $50 discount and paid $285 OTD with free shipping. Pretty good deal.

Oh, I did check with Progressive Industries to confirm that they're an authorized dealer so that the Lifetime Warranty coverage would apply. PI said that as long as the retailer provides an invoice, then the Lifetime Warranty would apply.

[Razrbk]

Thanks for the info.

[dannyrver]

The hard wired unit comes with a bypass or off switch.

[scottkeen]

Originally Posted by dannyrver

The hard wired unit comes with a bypass or off switch.

I was reading about that on another RV forum. The "bypass" on/off switch disables the EMS functions, but it doesn't take the components out of the circuit.

The problem apparently is when an inverter switches between a pure sine-wave output under normal load and modified sine-wave output under peak load (like starting A/C). Even though the EMS functions are disabled with the "bypass" switch, the switching between pure and modified sine-wave damages the components of the EMS.

I confirmed this with Ray Burr of "Love Your RV" channel on YouTube. He said it's a major flaw of the Progressive Industries unit that fried his EMS-HW30C unit (they sent him a new circuit board). He believes it was from his Champion generator running under peak load when he'd start his A/C. PI added the "Never plug the EMS into an inverter" in their most recent user manual.



RV'ers on the other forums addressed this by cutting the input/output cables of the hardwired unit and putting male/female connectors on the ends. So when they want to use shore power, they plug the EMS in-line. When they want to use inverter generator, they disconnect the EMS and just plug the male/female ends of the cables together. Others said "just get the portable version to use when you're on shore power."

[richfaa]

We have been using The EMS since 2006 on two Montana's.

[DQDick]

We're also long time users and it's saved us multiple times. Our original unit finally died this winter and Progressive sent us a new one. Great company to work with.

[scottkeen]

That's great! Glad I got one. Thanks for the positive feedback on the unit.

I wanted the hardwired model but figured the portable unit would work fine for me -- they are exactly the same except the hardwired can be field-serviced and you can adjust the time delay to 15 seconds or 136 seconds, whereas the portable is set for 136 seconds only and it's a little more $.

Glad to hear the company is good to deal with!

[dieselguy]

A bit late for you, but like you've read ... it can be hardwired in via a 50 amp male and female plug ... I did it on my 3150. I decided where I wanted to put the unit and cut the shore power wire there. I bought a longer shore power wire coming from my fuse box and terminated it with a 50 amp male plug. I terminated the shore power wire coming from the EMS unit with a 50 amp receptacle I got at Lowes. I attached that receptacle to the roof of the storage compartment. The male power plug coming from my fuse box is long enough to plug into that receptacle. When I want to run my generator ... I just unplug the shore power cord ... unplug the male connector on the ceiling of my storage compartment and dog bone it to my generator. No worries about theft although few have had that issue.

[1retired06]

Long time Progressive fans also.

[RoadRunnerTR21]

We got theEMS-PT50X about 2 weeks ago. I've already seen it work in our RV garage when we had a power glitch.

[Civi]

...so, I was about to purchase :

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

and then this thread started about the Progressive. Great! Another tough decision lol

What are the real differences between these two please?