Those that have the portable unit think it is the best option
Those that have the hard wired unit think that is the best option.
I like the hardwired, but I also can do all my own work and did my own install.
I have one concerned about the hard wired EMS: what happens if it fails and you are camping? Even though the Progressive units are very good, there are examples of them failing from time to time. Should that happen and the unit is installed behind the basement wall, it would be a tough campground project to bypass it until it could be replaced. On the other hand, the portable unit is in danger of disappearing. Is there a preferred solution? Has anyone installed a bypass switch when installing the EMS?
The failure rate on the Progressive is extremely low, and you have to qualify that a bit. Are you referring to a unit that "just failed" or - a unit that "sacrificed" components to protect the coach?
The Pro EMS has about the best warranty in the electrical component field. Who warrants printed circuit boards?
If having the hardwired unit behind a wall making access difficult is an issue, the simple answer is to make a separate access cover.
Depending on the "failure" there are two bypass methods with the Pro EMS HW. One is to simply bypass the unit with the remote switch. The second requires access to the EMS and removing the cover, unplugged from shore power of course.
Another possibility is a bypass. There are several ways this can be done. Nicest would be a double pole, double throw switch. Not cheap at 50A, but also not crazy expensive.
Bypassing is simple if you can get to the unit.
You only need to bypass the two hot leads. Neutral and ground can be wired through for both devices.
That is incorrect. The Pro EMS relay switches the Red Black and White - 2 hots AND the neutral.
I have my progressive unit hard wired into my rig. I believe I have read that should the unit fail you can contact progressive technical support and they will walk through removing something to bypass the unit so you can get power to the rig. Then they will replace or repair the unit at no cost. I understand they are very good and back their product. I don't remember where I read this though.
Ya probably read it here:
//heartlandowners.org/showthread.ph...pport-service-and-a-tip?highlight=progressive
Is it a fair statement that the Progressive Hardwired and Portable units (EMS-HW50C and EMS-PT50C) are very close to being the same unit? When I compare the features of the two, the hardwired unit claims it is rated to 240V and offers a 15 second and 136 second Air Conditioner compressor delay setting. The portable unit claims it is rated to 120V and only offers the 136 second Air Conditioner compressor delay. Both hardwired and portable units offer accidental 240V protection. Those are the only real differences I could find.
If I hard wire the unit after the transfer switch, I protect the coach against the genny, too. If the portable unit is put on the pedestal, there is no protection from the genny. The hardwired unit is also $20 less expensive.
Are the two above units functionally equal?
If not, which one is better?
What is better? Protecting the transfer switch with a portable unit or using a hardwired unit and sacrificing the transfer switch to protect from the generator?
For me, as posted recently in another thread, I intalled mine after the genny, and will do so in the next trailer.
BTW, if you have a newer coach, you may not need the long delay for the AC units. The newer AC units have the delay built in to either the AC itself or the T-Stat.
The AC's with the built in delay allow you to get the coach power back on 2 minutes sooner.
BTW - after my EMS failure and the difficulty I had bypassing it, I relocated the unit. Still behind the wall, but readily accessible once the wall is off.
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