Powerline Energy Management System and surge protection

[macnut]

For those of you with Winnebagos that include the Powerline EMS, do you also use a surge protector? If so, do you use a simple surge protector or do you use the more sophisticated one that overlaps some functions of the Powerline EMS? Finally, did you get a portable or built in surge protector? Thanks for your advice!

Here is what I am thinking of buying for my 2017 Winnebago Adventurer 35P

SSP-50XL Smart Surge Protector | Progressive Industries, Inc.

My thinking is that the Powerline EMS does not have surge protection, so this is the right model to buy instead of the one below, which seems to duplicate features on the EMS. It seems like that could lead to problems.

EMS-PT50C | Progressive Industries, Inc.

[vsheetz]

The power line ems is primarily a load management system. The progressive pt50c surge protector and power quality monitor/protection. I would suggest to get the pt50c.

[macnut]

I appreciate the quick reply, vsheetz! It sounds like the Powerline EMS would not sense low voltage, then. Thanks!

[747Driver]

I went with this one, hard wired, automatic:

Surge Guard 50 Amp, Hardwired - TRC 35550 - Surge Protectors - Camping World

[macnut]

Thanks 747Driver

[Eyephoto]

My '99 Winn Ult Freedom, I put behind the transfer switch a Progressive Ind. EMS HW50c w/extra remote. This way, the coach was protected from both Shore and Gen power.

[macnut]

Sounds like a great idea.

[macnut]

Here's a question for you that understand this better. If there is low voltage, the EMS-PT50C shuts off the power. However, my understanding is that just cutting power to an AC can damage it. The EMS-PT50C says it has a 128 second delay to avoid this, but how does the AC know the power will be shut off in 128 seconds? And what happens with the built-in Powerline EMS?

[747Driver]

I assume you are talking about a different delay vs the 136 second delay?

[macnut]

No, I got it wrong...it's 136 seconds.

[747Driver]

That is a start up delay, so if you are switching between power sources, the unit will delay power being applied so the pressure can be relieved from the Air Conditioner compressor.

Your new PCS (Power Control System) formally EMS, will do the same. It will analyze the genset power, put power on the RV, then it will roll off the heavy load items off for a couple minutes. This may also be to allow the genset to warm up before heavy loads are applied. You will know it is this mode because there will be decimal points between the numbers displayed showing load.

[SuperGewl]

Personally don't waste your time with a Portable unit. You would also need to buy a lock for it and it just adds another connection. Also if you are somewhere that does not have a 50A hookup you would then have to add your dogbone to end of it, also with all of those connections and weight you are just asking for problems. Get your self this one:
EMS-LCHW50 or this one EMS-HW50C, hard wire it in and be done with it.
They are pretty straight forward to do. Depending on how far away from the transfer switch you mount it is all the amount of cable you will need. All I did is cut that much off the end of the Shore Power Cable when I removed it so no cable was required to buy at all. Just make sure you properly anchor the Shore power cable afterwards. You don't want it wiggling itself loose over time.

[HD4Mark]

We have the older version of the SSP-50XL. At first we locked it or the pedestal box all the time. We don't bother any longer. No one seems to notice it even with the LEDs lit. I have never really heard of anyone that had theirs stolen. Were we are parked right now I need a 50amp extension cord so the SSP is in the middle, under the coach and out of sight.

BTW with that unit I found out the procedure to connect it is to plug it in without the coach connected, flip on the breakers, check the LEDs and if they are OK flip off the breakers (or maybe turn off sounds better) Then you know the circuit is good and you can plug in the coach and turn on the breakers.

We did discover once that one of the first things our EMS sheds is the electric hot water. We were connected to only 30amp and had all kinds of stuff on.

[747Driver]

I kinda agree with down side of the portable units. I had the Surge Guard on the '03 for thirteen years and never had to think about it or touch it. It just worked and just took about an hour to install. Twice in that time, the Guard stopped us from using questionable power.

On the 35P, I plan on just looping the cable up to the Guard that will be mounted on the access panel above the transfer relay. I will lose about ten inches of cable.

With the newer PCS panels, it may not be wise to put the suppressor in after the transfer relay as you will have two, 2 minute delays. Gensets are not the issue, shore power is. Miswired, worn out wiring, lightening, ect at campsites are the threat.

[macnut]

747Driver, that's what I'll do. Thanks for the advice, and actually all the advice on this board.

[Clifftall]

I didn't have a convenient place to install the hard wired version so I installed a portable in the service bay.

[macnut]

Cliff talk, great idea. Since I have the room and since I'll have an electrician do the work, I'll go with the hard wired version.

[Cover Dog]

In the coach in our signature we have the hard wired Progressive Ind. 50amp mounted in the same bay as our power cord and transfer switch. It is mounted before the transfer switch. That is also where the remote read out is located.

Moved it from our 5th wheel to the coach. First add on installed in both units.

[macnut]

Anyone see a problem with adding this during the initial warranty period? Any chance of an issue with it somehow voiding the initial 12 month "bumper to bumper" warranty from Winnebago?

[Journey39n]

With all the computerized equipment in a modern RV, having a good surge suppressor only makes good sense. We have travelled all over the country and our Surge Guard 34750, a portable 50amp unit has saved our equipment many times. Most of the time from low voltage, once from high voltage, once from a neighbor who had a direct short in his power cable, who kept tripping the main camp breaker, and one week of weird nightly power surges coming from a large water pump filling the campground's water tank.

I have a different take on portable vs wired-in units. I have seen other types of surge suppressors that have done their jobs, but in a destructive manner. So I thought, do I want to have a wired-in unit go up in a flaming, melted, smoking mess, inside my electrical compartment, or outside, next to the power post?

I chose the portable solution, and yes, I got the locking coupler, which will keep semi-honest thieves at bay, it is a bit of a handful when hooking up to shore power. But I have the storage room in my electrical compartment, and it has been doing its job for nearly 7 years.

Just my take on a needed accessory item, wired-in, or portable, I would recommend you have one.