Progressive HW50 vs PT50

[Appalachian Ed]

We are purchasing our first rv (5er with 50 amp service) and surge protection is a worry of mine.

Question is should I get the hard wired or portable Progressive EMS unit? I am fairly handy (electrical outlet or ceiling fan install) but not an electrician. Which would you purchase now that you have experience? How hard is the hard wired HW50C to install?

I found some threads but they were too old to ask this question.

Thanks for lending me your experience.

[rowdydog77]

I first started with a portable. Did not like not having the readout. So I put a hard wired unit with a readout. Save yourself some time and money. Get the hard wired.


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[Appalachian Ed]

Thanks RowdyDog77.

Was the hard wired easy to install?

[Cover Dog]

Hardest part for me was bending the 6ga wire.

[RubyDually]

I prefer the hardwired as well... Wasn't hard installing albeit my son helped who is an electrician... Hardest part was routeing the remote display to the convenience centre.

Still could have easily done it myself. There's plenty of YouTube videos out there.

Our Sabre has a convenient location behind the electrical panel to mount the EMS. Purchased a 4 foot length of 6 gauge cable and it was installed in about 60 minutes.


Oh ya... The 6 gauge wire connector on the panel is a plastic one time use connector so I had to get a 3/4 inch 2 screw connector to re-attach the wire to the panel.

[bob caldwell]

If you hard wire one in (easy), do it like Turbs did his.....Use male/female plugs on wire ends .... If it (not likely) fails, you can simply by-pass it thru the plugs, 'till it gets fixed.

[CT3850]

I hard wired my Progressive 50 amp (with remote readout). As previous post noted, working with the 6 gauge wire was difficult because the box doesn't give you much room for connections inside. Also, you need to identify a spot to locate the box. It requires more room than you think since you need to plan for the "in" and "out" wires and wire turns. However, once installed, nothing like it. Place the remote anywhere convenient and you will appreciate the peace of mind every time you power up your RV.

[Appalachian Ed]

Thanks for your input. Hard wired it is.

[CharlieS3]

Hard wire. However,I do like the idea of using plugs to bypass. Also, get a 6 gauge flexible cable, rather than solid cable. It will be much easier to manipulate and install. You could even find a short 50 amp cable with plugs and just cut it up.

I installed this (hard wired) when my surge guard portable failed with a bad relay. That unit is difficult to repair and non-repairable per the factory. The progressive is designed to be repairable. You can bypass the internal guards by the switch on the remote. I had to do that at an RV park with 128 volt power (per my Fluke Meter) that this unit reported at 132. However,if the relay fails, like in my surge guard, having the plug bypass would be nice

[rowdydog77]

Originally Posted by Appalachian Ed

Thanks RowdyDog77.



Was the hard wired easy to install?

I used the plugs just like what Turbs did. If I ever need to remove it, I can just plug the other two ends together and I'm still good. Yea the wire is pretty stiff to work with.


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[redjet]

Have a 2016 Cardinal. No space and wires too shot for hard wire install. Forced to go with PT50. In hind sight PT50 will be much easier to bypass if problem arises. Bottom line - get 5er - look at mounting space etc for HW - then decide.

[Handydc]

Hard wired!

[johng4706]

I hardwired the 30 Amp surge protector with the remote read out in my travel trailer. I mounted in the area where you push in the 30 Amp cord and installed the Marinco receptacle where the push in hole is located on the side of the trailer. I purchased a 90 degree Marinco 25 ft. cord with molded ends.

End result was a very clean setup.

Took me about 1 hr. Hardest part was getting up and down on the .floor

I was able to use a portion of the original cord to wire the surge protector and to the Marinco plug. I took the shortened cord and installed the Marinco female plug on the end and had an extension cord.

[checkmate99]

Do you have photos of your installation, johng4706?

[Appalachian Ed]

I am not clear on one item and wonder if my dealer is incorrect.

If I have the HW50C installed can I use a simple adapter to connect to 30 Amp service? I find posts saying yes it works fine (of course delivering 30 Amp service) and other posts including my dealer saying it won't allow 30 Amp service. This has me leaning towards the PT50C (and potentially a PT30C as well - OUCH!)

[RubyDually]

It works fine when plugged into 30 or 20 amp service.

I had to do a simple mod on my generator so the EMS wouldn't detect an open ground condition when I use the generator.

[CharlieS3]

Ditto, mine works fine with 20 or 30 amp service.

[Kenny kustom]

Originally Posted by RubyDually

I had to do a simple mod on my generator so the EMS wouldn't detect an open ground condition when I use the generator.

Please explain?


2015 RAM 3500 CCSB CUMMINS
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

[RubyDually]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

Please explain?


2015 RAM 3500 CCSB CUMMINS
2016 Sabre 36QBOK

I have a 2000 watt Champion Inverter

Used an empty plug and bonded the neutral & ground together. DO NOT wire anything to the hot. Then plug it into the unused receptacle when running the generator through the EMS.

Generator power is dependable so using the bypass switch was another option but it was such a simple mod I went with it.

[Appalachian Ed]

Excellent! I much prefer it hard wired in and forget it. I will also plan on getting a generator so thanks for the heads up.