Progressive, Surge guard or ?

[Blaster 84]

Purchased a new RV with 50 Amp service. Last RV had 30 Amp serviced and I had installed a Progressive EMS that I was very happy with.
The company has changed ownership since then and I don't know if the quality and service is as good as it was, or if there is something better now that I should consider.

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

Originally Posted by Blaster 84

Purchased a new RV with 50 Amp service. Last RV had 30 Amp serviced and I had installed a Progressive EMS that I was very happy with.
The company has changed ownership since then and I don't know if the quality and service is as good as it was, or if there is something better now that I should consider.

I bought the Progressive 30 amp plug in unit over 2 years ago. It failed after about 2 months. Don't know why? Maybe got hit with something more than it could handle. It was plugged in at home feeding the trailer.

Progressive replaced immediately with new unit after sending them some pictures.

So, customer service was excellent! New unit working fine since.

Good Luck!

[jrk341]

This could be another choice.

https://hughesautoformers.com/product/pwd50-epo-h/

[st4]

I would go back with progressive. You know it’s a good product. They treated you well in the past. I think you should go back with them despite the changes.
By the way my progressive has saved me several times

[Dwilcox]

I installed the Progressive 50 amp hard wired 4 years ago and has been flawless.

[SailorSam20500]

At last years International Rally, Mike Sokol, the RV Electric guy gave a set or presentations and said the SurgeGuard was now the better product. Since being sold, Progressive has cut back on R&D.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

At last years International Rally, Mike Sokol, the RV Electric guy gave a set or presentations and said the SurgeGuard was now the better product. Since being sold, Progressive has cut back on R&D.

The Southwire SurgeGuard is far superior to the Progressive units in too many ways to list. Customer service and warranty is just as good — you just don’t need to use it with SurgeGuard as much as you do with Progressive. What does that tell you?

Bruce

[TRD]

Progressive has great customer service. Just rcvd a new unit because my 3 yr. old EMS-PT30X failed. It has 'saved' my A/C on 3 occasions over that time with both low voltage and 10 second power outages. Also warned me of a miswired (ground issue) at a small rv park in Iowa.
Called Progressive last Friday and recvd new unit yesterday, Thursday. Awesome service located in Manitowoc, WI.

[Tundra 2014]

I have used a Progressive EMS for 3 years. At that time I felt it was the superior product. I have been pleased w/ mine and it has saved us several times on low power. I would also look @ Hughes auto former if replacing. There was an electrical engineer discussing on a post here several months ago. He talked about the benefits of it over other EMSs. It sounded impressive.

[camaraderie]

Happy with my Progressive and it has saved me lots of money. While an autoformer might offer more...I'm not spending $550 for something I haven't yet needed!

[Blaster 84]

Thanks for everyone’s input.

[Comanchecreek]

I have a Progressive. Filled with water on first use due to rain. They replaced it no problem. I sealed the unit and have had no trouble with it since. (3 years). It caught a failed neutral once, and is handy for checking posts before hookup. You'll find many discussions on these pages, for, and against. Just be sure to get a unit that will monitor the power to protect your rig. More than just a "surge" protector.

[TRD]

How did you seal the Progressive EMS unit?

[Comanchecreek]

Originally Posted by TRD

How did you seal the Progressive EMS unit?

Take the nut loose around the cord. Remove the screws that hold the case together. Most of the water was coming in around the rubber seal where the cord was going into the case. I used clear silicon (black is fine) on the inside and outside of the rubber seal, and down both sides of the case. I then drilled two small holes in the bottom to allow water to drain should any get inside which would prevent water from reaching the circuit boards should I get another leak. I reassembled and wiped all excess silicone off the outside. I also cover with a plastic bag on the post when camping in rainy areas. These units work very well, but this seems to be a design/quality control problem. Shouldn't happen given the cost of the unit, but live and learn.

Another note about any brand of these units is to turn the breaker off before plugging them in, and plugging the cord in. If the juice is on, the prongs will arc on plug in creating corrosion and eventually resistance on the prongs causing them to burn and heat up under load. Same goes for the cord.

[moff34]

[Quote:
BruceQUOTE=nomad297;2352865]The Southwire SurgeGuard is far superior to the Progressive units in too many ways to list. Customer service and warranty is just as good — you just don’t need to use it with SurgeGuard as much as you do with Progressive. What does that tell you?

Bruce[/QUOTE]

Trying to decide myself on a unit for my sister's new trailer. I bought the hard wired Progressive a few years ago and have been very happy with it. However, I have been concerned with the company changing hands and am open to hearing why the SurgeGaurd is now considered better.

Any info anyone cares to share on the SurgeGaurd?

[SailorSam20500]

[
Trying to decide myself on a unit for my sister's new trailer. I bought the hard wired Progressive a few years ago and have been very happy with it. However, I have been concerned with the company changing hands and am open to hearing why the SurgeGaurd is now considered better.

Any info anyone cares to share on the SurgeGaurd?[/QUOTE]


According to Sokol at the seminar last year. Surge Guard has come up with a method of protecting against some kind of issue that occurs downstream (in your rv) of the unit and patented it. I really don't remember the specifics other than Mike said that he thought it was impossible, until Surge Guard allowed him into their R&D center and showed him how it worked.


Both companies have essentially the same warranty. They do not cover replacement of the MOVs that are responsible for controlling surges - those can only absorb x amount of surge power. Once the limit is reached, both units will tell you that they have reached end of life and must be replaced.

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by moff34

[Quote:
BruceQUOTE=nomad297;2352865]The Southwire SurgeGuard is far superior to the Progressive units in too many ways to list. Customer service and warranty is just as good — you just don’t need to use it with SurgeGuard as much as you do with Progressive. What does that tell you?

Bruce

Trying to decide myself on a unit for my sister's new trailer. I bought the hard wired Progressive a few years ago and have been very happy with it. However, I have been concerned with the company changing hands and am open to hearing why the SurgeGaurd is now considered better.

Any info anyone cares to share on the SurgeGaurd?[/QUOTE]


TechnoRV likes the surge guard, but then, they are dealers. The Progressive had me at lifetime warranty. If they still offer that, I'm ok with the occasional failure

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Tom48

Progressive had me at lifetime warranty

SurgeGuard has the same warranty.

Bruce

[tempestdriver]

My experience with lifetime warranties is that it's the lifetime of the product and not the owners lifetime.

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by nomad297

SurgeGuard has the same warranty.

Bruce

That's new. previously because it had no lifetime warranty and because they feature it at Camping World I figured it was junk. But then I've seen the fellow from TechnoRV go to bat for it so I started to wonder.

Sounds like maybe the playing field has been leveled.