Internal vs External EMS/Surge Protector

[AZ Traveler]

Which is the best way to go - internal or external system to protect the electronics in your rig?

Internal Pros:
-You will not forget the unit or have it walk off so you are always protected
-With a remote, you have a friendly display in your rig
-Many are repairable if they are fried
-Could be removed and mover to a new rig with some work

Internal Cons:
-A little harder to install, for some people I would recommend a tech
-If a surge fries it, you have to repair or uninstall it to hook power up
-Some of them have issues when running a generator and will shut down although there is no real problem

External Pros:
-Easiest to install
-If it is fried, simply unhook it and reconnect power
-Easier to keep and move to a new rig

External Cons:
-Easier to forget or have walk off if not secured
-Generally not repairable if fried
-Is out in the weather

Price seems fairly similar between both types.

I made the decision to go with an external EMS made by Progressive Industries. In a perfect world, I would carry two in case one got fried.

I believe an EMS is a high priority addition to your rig.

What have others done and why?

[sambam]

I bought the hard-wired. I liked the permanency of it and one less thing to do when setting up. The external gives you the advantage of checking the power at your site before backing in, which is a nice thing to have. I am not disappointed with my selection, although can see the advantages of an external as well. Personal choice.

[Phil P]

Hi

I had damage from an open neutral in the anaconda cord that would have been avoided with the permanent installation.

Phil P

[1retired06]

Been using the same Progressive external unit for 8 years without issue. We change fivers every few years, external is easier.

[The Bone]

I leave mine hooked to the cord. I never unplug the cord from it.I was looking if i could hook one inside my rig and it looked like more trouble than it's worth. We do a lot of traveling and have been to more than 50 cities and still have mine. I am kind of new to this. Been doing this for 2 years. LOL I have more problems with forgetting my Y for the water hose. Lost 3 so far.

[mlh]

External for me I can move it from to Motor Home to the Montana.
Lynwood

[timandsusan]

We have used our external surge protector for the past 10 years--securely locked to the 50A cord. It sure looks safe and secure to me. I operate on the theory -- Make your stuff a lot harder to steal than anyone else. I also lock my bikes to the RV when we settle in otherwise the bikes are locked to the bike carrier on the truck.

[Texan]

I've had both. .I like the permanent the best because as been said, you can just forget about it. I'm surprised the portable one's are not stolen considering you have over 300.00 sitting out there waiting for a thief. The most important thing is to just have one.

[rescue7]

I have a external now, but going to an internal soon. Lost neutral in power cord to trailer last trip. took out refrigerator and some other small stuff. The hard wired unit would have prevented this.

[DQDick]

I use external for one of the benefits you missed. I can check the electricity in a campsite before I back in. Believe it or not, in 8 years of fulltiming there has been two times that saved me the trouble of working my way in only to find I wanted to move. I also use a 90 on the plugin to our campers so the stress on the power cord is minimized.

[Texan]

[QUOTE=rescue7;1099661]I have a external now, but going to an internal soon. Lost neutral in power cord to trailer last trip. took out refrigerator and some other small stuff. The hard wired unit would have prevented this.[/QUOT Probably the best reason for having the internal is the protection against faulty power cord. They both have there good and bad points.

[Kyle and Lisa]

Ours is a Surge Gard brand and is hard wired, not that hard to get to if necessary the way our dealer installed it. Although I did replace all the set screws with allen head instead of flat head.

[jeffba]

External you can use as a tester to test pedestal. (Easier)
Easier to move from camper to another. without teaching grandkids new words
Easier to troubleshoot bad wiring with an external.
External may give you that little bit extra length needed to reach. you know you have been there!!
if you want to check how much current something is drawing you have to go outside.

[Wicked1]

I chose the Progressive Inline with LCD display one less thing to carry and it is inline in our electrical system no matter where we hook up too.


A bit of a pain wrestling with the 6/3 wire but got it done in 30 minutes and works perfectly second fifth wheel using this model

[richfaa]

Personal choice...The idea is to have one.

[Dmcgrew]

Both work and will lessen the possibility of an electrical event that may cost you $$$. Buy a good one that you will use every time. Like Richfaa stated "the idea is to have one."

[bullroc3]

When we were first looking for one many years ago, I saw pictures of fried ones. I would not want that inside my camper so I have an external one.

[Texan]

Originally Posted by bullroc3

When we were first looking for one many years ago, I saw pictures of fried ones. I would not want that inside my camper so I have an external one.

Were they internal or external. I would think the external would have more chance of failure because of moisture. Nothing is water proof for ever.

[rohrmann]

We lost a couple satellite boxes a couple years ago due to a utility power issue. I soon after installed the hardwired Progressive EMS. Last year, we got to a park and plugged in, and the EMS would not allow power to the trailer. Turned out, the ground pin in the shore cable plug had broken inside the plug. If we had the portable EMS, it would not have seen the broken ground pin, or any other fault in the shore cable, which is prone to damage with use.

[Dmcgrew]

Everything electronic has the potential for failure. I hope that a solid internal mounted EMS will not take as much abuse and therefore be less damage to it and possibly not fail as often.