dbates
Marion, Indiana
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There are two main EMS (Electrical Management Systems) brands available, "Progressive" & "Surge Guard”. Their sites provide a lot of info but unless you are electrically proficient they can leave you confused. The first site below gives a simple comparison of the protection provided by each. This site was prepared by a marketer of Progressive units but it is fairly accurate. They have not included Surge Guard’s most recent 50 amp model and it seems to have all of the bells & whistles Progressive has, but it is 1.50 times the price.
I bought the Progressive’s 30 amp EMS, have encounter several CG electrical post problems, one power company low voltage problem and have been well pleased with the protection.
Click HERE for EMS comparison chart.
Click HERE for Progressive’s EMS site
Click HERE for Surge Guard’s site
Autoformers, Hughes and Franks, provide power boosts/reductions when you encounter low and high voltage and (I believe) surge protection but do not cover all of the other problems you can encounter with a CG electrical system. I desired protection over voltage control & couldn't afford both.
Plus New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island & Nova Scotia
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dbates
Marion, Indiana
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Charles Q,
All the electricians had to do was mistakenly wire the second 120 volt leg (phase) wire to what was supposed to be the neutral line to the CG 30 amp post breakers. The RV's would then receive 240 instead of 120 volts. A good RV Electrical Management System, though, would have automatically disconnected and prevented damage to the RV's equipment.
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bill socal
Coastal Bend Texas
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Ol Bombero-JC --- Thanks for bringing this to the front again.
Good quality electrical protection for your RV and its expensive components is necessary. Your RV is subjected to many more variables than your stick home.
dbates wrote:Charles Q,
All the electricians had to do was mistakenly wire the second 120 volt leg (phase) wire to what was supposed to be the neutral line to the CG 30 amp post breakers. The RV's would then receive 240 instead of 120 volts. A good RV Electrical Management System, though, would have automatically disconnected and prevented damage to the RV's equipment. That is exactly what happened. And they did not disconnect anyone nor test their work before applying the power.
1999 Safari Serengeti, 330 CAT
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ol Bombero-JC
USA
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Covetsthesun - Try a search. All the info you could ever want is here
on the forums. Many of the posts have links to "electrical info" sites.
IMO most will be in/on the Tech Forum - so if you use the search feature
while on this -or another forum- DON'T check the box that says:
"Search in this forum only"
Bill ("bill socal") - the thread you started is not just a good one -
it's great! Sent lots of folks to it for "a read".
It made a believer out of me . . . .in spite of the big bucks for a 50amp
EMS!
One item worth passing along about the EMS is that when running off a
gen - it detects an open ground (which is correct).
JC
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bruceandjenna
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I've read all these posts and am trying to figure the best, and most cost effective, equipment to install in my new trailer.
Just talked with a fella at RV PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS about the Autoformer VC-50. He said that this gizmo raises the voltage up to 12% and provides surge protection up to 3,580 Joules for 50 amps. And is easy enough to install if you can see colors, or won't take more than an hour labor.
Will this do the complete job? Or would I still need another device?
Is the Progressive HW50C equivalent to the Autoformer? Or is dbates suggesting a guy needs both? My brain hurts.
Thanks so much for this enlightening :> discussion. Has made a believer of me.
* This post was
edited 03/21/07 11:21am by bruceandjenna *
Bruce and Jenna
Clancy, the Australian Terrier
On the road in America
Fulltime in Sept 07 ">
* 2007 F350 PSD DRW Supercab Lariet 4x4 TowCommand 4.3LS axle & other fancy stuff. "The Honker" (Size, not behavior "> )
* 2007 Excel Limited 33RSE
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dbates
Marion, Indiana
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Bruce and Jenna,
Progressive & SurgeGuard provide CG shore power testing for most all wiring problems plus surge protection, and high/low voltage cut off (if power gets too high or low they disconnect the power). They do not provide power boost or reduction for over and under voltage. The auto formers do but they do not provide CG post testing and some don't provide any or as much surge protection as Progressive.
My problem was that I could not afford both and felt the CG shore power testing, better surge protection & over/under power cut off were the most important protections needed. Over/under voltage does occur but bad post wiring is more prevalent and the few times power is too high or low (when an auto former might continue providing power) I could do without the power, use my generator or move to another CG.
Another plus for the Progressive EMS is that the remote monitor provides a continuous reading of actual voltage, amps, Hz (being supplied & used) plus present/past line power problem codes.
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QT2
Fort Worth, Texas
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Hi everyone Im a newbe here and this is my first reply. We had a similer thing happen. We had a camper fried at a state park but did not know untill later when the DW was not able to dry here hair with out popping breakers. We took the TT in to the dealer (clueless) they stated nothing was wrong you just cant run a hair dryer in campers LOL. We no longer go to that dealer. We have a new camper and use a surg protector well worth the money.
2008 Ford F-350 DRW 4x2 Lariat Crew Cab
2007 Denali 28LB-M5
Mom, Dad, Sissy (11), Brother (7), Sassy (15 yr. old Border Collie),Daisy (8 yr. old Lab)
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bruceandjenna
On the road
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So, how is a surge protector better than the fuses or breakers in the coach electrical system?
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justALnow
Ft Myers, Fl
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Timely thread. We're picking up a new TH tomorrow, which has a lot more electrical issues than the old PopUp.
Thanks
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mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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bruceandjenna wrote:So, how is a surge protector better than the fuses or breakers in the coach electrical system?
from my understanding breakers and fuses "react" to amperage. A surge protector reacts to the voltage.
I have personally seen voltage spikes in parks that have taken out electronics that never phase the breakers and fuses in one RV and had a RV next to it with a surge system not have any problem at all.
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