I just purchased the Progressive Industries Portable 30amp as well. It is Model Number EMS-PT30C. I did a lot of research and this seems to be the best. Lifetime Warranty on the product as well. Have not seen that on any others. Here is the link to where I found the best deal with free shipping.
I just purchased the Progressive Industries Portable 30amp as well. It is Model Number EMS-PT30C. I did a lot of research and this seems to be the best. Lifetime Warranty on the product as well. Have not seen that on any others. Here is the link to where I found the best deal with free shipping.
OK... PI seems like the brand to get. Is it worth paying almost $300 for the EMS or can I get by with the $89 SSP-30?
In other words, am I more likely to need basic surge protection or protection from all the "other" electrical issues? I would be interested to what problems I am most likely to face...
I would still go with the more expensive protector. I debated just as you are and after reading owners horror stories on reversed polarity issues, low voltage problems and the like killing their appliances I opted with the more secure protector. If you are going to spend $$ at least get what is going to give you a peace of mind. A question to ask yourself, "If I buy the cheaper one, will I feel good about the choice and have a sense of peace about it?" I did not so that is why I spent $160 more.
Yes either way you will be protected but just not as well. Here is a graph that may help your choice.
Just think what it would cost to repair/replace all your electronics, tv, stereo, microwave, circuit boards on fridge, hot water heater, furnace, etc. Well worth the added $$ to go with the EMS and for the price in pbrackneys link (nice find!) you can't go wrong.
I also picked up the PT30C from Dyers. Best overall pricing b/c shipping was free and very quick delivery.
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Originally Posted by FreedomTracker
OK... PI seems like the brand to get. Is it worth paying almost $300 for the EMS or can I get by with the $89 SSP-30?
In other words, am I more likely to need basic surge protection or protection from all the "other" electrical issues? I would be interested to what problems I am most likely to face...
In general, I found in my research that the PT30C offers better protection than its little brother - the SSP30 - but for 2 1/2 time the cost.
For this cost, you get protection against higher levels (Joules and Amps) and things like over/under voltage, open neutral, and reverse polarity protection, accidental 220v protection, automatic reset, etc.
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Scott
DW, 3 Kids and our Goldens
2012 Shamrock 233S
2008 Toyota Sequoia 5.7L 4WD
I have this one because of it has a relay and monitor circuit that will not active power thru it until it is correct. You have to plug in and it checks if the shore power is low, high, no ground, open nuetral. It will drop out if the power changes in any way.
Along with this if a lighting stike the MOV's will blow
Manuf. Details
This 30 amp Surge Guard unit monitors shore power continuously and shuts off when it detects excessive voltage or open neutral conditions that could damage electronic equipment in your coach. The 30 amp portable unit can be moved from coach to coach and does not require internal installation. Additional features include:
Automatic reset on power restoration.<LI sizset="14" sizcache="0">Automatically shuts off the power when the following is present:
I got the same one but cannot vouch for it yet, I haven't used it. Bought it for piece of mind. Heard/read horror stories of unprotected trailers burning down or getting electronics damage,
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2013 Jayco Eagle HT 23.5
2010 Ram 1500 HEMI with integrated brake controller, tow mirrors and Michelins LTX/AT2 275/65R20 max load: 3750 lbs. @ 80 psi but we keep them 50-55 psi
Superglide 2700
Timbrens
I have this one because of it has a relay and monitor circuit that will not active power thru it until it is correct. You have to plug in and it checks if the shore power is low, high, no ground, open neutral. It will drop out if the power changes in any way.
Along with this if a lighting strike the MOV's will blow
Manuf. Details
This 30 amp Surge Guard unit monitors shore power continuously and shuts off when it detects excessive voltage or open neutral conditions that could damage electronic equipment in your coach. The 30 amp portable unit can be moved from coach to coach and does not require internal installation.
Additional features include:
Automatic reset on power restoration.<LI sizset="14" sizcache="0">Automatically shuts off the power when the following is present:
2 minute 15 second reset delay protects A/C compressor.
Convenient plug disconnect handles.
1050 Joules of power surge protection.
Iggy,
There is a difference between high voltage (over 132Volts AC continuous) and a spike. High or low voltage is usually a power company or campground issue at the transformer.
Spikes can be thousands of volts for microseconds and are measured in Joules of power. The bigger the spike, the less of them a surge protector can handle. (Sometimes if it is a lightning strike, it can be just one) Ideally, you will never know when your surge protector has "handled" a spike. It just does. As the surge handling devices "get used up" an indicator light will tell you you need to replace the surge protector.
Lightening is not the only cause of power line surges. Car accidents that bring down power poles that have live wires that arc to the ground can cause damaging surges. No as bad as a direct lightening strike, a good surge suppressor can handle many of these.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Besides the P.I. SSP-30, I'm going to supplement with a TRC Digital Line Monitor(Campingworld). If low voltage persists in a crowded campground during a very hot weekend, I can monitor voltage readings before trouble happens. It also has alarms of high & low voltage, with other checks like the high dollar P.I. surge protectors. All I've been reading on the net(besides CampingWorld) have been giving it high marks.
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2006 Rockwood 8272S
2005 Chevrolet Silverado
John & Pandra
Battlefield, Missouri
F.R.O.G. Member
1st International F.R.O.G. Rally Branson Missouri
Besides the P.I. SSP-30, I'm going to supplement with a TRC Digital Line Monitor(Campingworld). If low voltage persists in a crowded campground during a very hot weekend, I can monitor voltage readings before trouble happens. It also has alarms of high & low voltage, with other checks like the high dollar P.I. surge protectors. All I've been reading on the net(besides CampingWorld) have been giving it high marks.
Just ordered the Progressive Industries EMS-PT30c from Camping World as they had an internet special. According to a Progressive trained service rep at TechnoRV, the most common problem is low voltage which the EMS unit covers and the regular surge protectors (eg. SSP30) do not. This is especially true in the summer where everyone the campground is using their AC. The anology that was used is, it is similar to when everyone in your neighborhood is watering their lawn, the water pressure goes down... and so does voltage.
For a few bucks more (OK, many bucks more) I got the Franks Voltage correction system.
It clips spikes and levels incoming voltage above 125 volts and "ramps up" low voltage to the correct voltage range. You never have to worry about low voltage. It fixes it automatically. Voltage "monitors" will alert you that something is wrong. This bad boy does something about it.
OK, gotta ask. I realize I need a surge protector and like the idea of the portable device. I assume you plug it into the post at the rv site and your power cord gets plugged into the device. So how do you keep this little jewel yours? That is, how can you stop someone from borrowing it unexpectantly?
Ultimately you can't. The progressive unit has a small steel ring on it that you could lock to the pedestal at the campground, but not sure how reliable it would be. I have found that people at campgrounds are pretty courteous about people's property. When you think about all the stuff that is outside of a trailer at a campground: chairs, rug, bikes, grill, awning tie downs, awning lights, hoses, supports for hoses, electrical cords, swear hose, cabels, hitches, etc... And that does not include pop-ups that really anyone could get into with a key and get pretty much whatever they would like. You do not hear much about stuff being stolen. Not to say it does not happen, I am sure it does, but I have been camping for 15 years with my family and then my whole life with my parents before that and I never remember having anyone take anything of ours. I guess, yes, it is a risk because it is there.
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Philip, DW, 3 DD, 1 DS, and Ginger our Dog
2017 Wildwood 30QBSS
2003 Ford Expedition 5.4 Liter with 3.73 Axle
Equalizer 4-Point Sway 12000# & Tekonsha P3
In a perfect world it would just sit there and never be bothered.
While not "waterproof," it is "weather resistant"
I turn over the egg crate I keep it in; Put the unit on top of it; Cover the whole shooting match with a black garbage bag; and a bike lock through the handle, crate, and around the pedestal. Been 2 years camping with it and so far never a problem (knocking on wood).
I entertained installing in inside the camper at one time.
(May still do it one day assuming it don't get stolen. )
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
OK, gotta ask. I realize I need a surge protector and like the idea of the portable device. I assume you plug it into the post at the rv site and your power cord gets plugged into the device. So how do you keep this little jewel yours? That is, how can you stop someone from borrowing it unexpectantly?
If it worries you about it going bye bye just buy the internal unit with remote display and mount it behind the converter.
Best 30a Portable Surge Protector...?
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Linear Mode
