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Old 03-31-2022, 10:21 AM   #41
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Originally Posted by CentralMePistol View Post
I have the Hughes hard wired 30amp model. Does everything it is supposed to do. Only flaw, in my opinion, is the lack of bypass control. To run on a generator you need to jump the ground/ neutral lines at the generator. While this doesn't seem like a big deal, it gave me a MAJOR headache while boondocking at a Cracker Barrel. Not the fault of the EMS but a simple loose connection but I certainly would have preffered a simple bypass switch instead of 90 minutes of work for something so silly.

That said I still prefer hard wired to portable- looks cleaner, less to pack and remember, and it actually provides a nice night light in my storage compartment!
I believe that’s common for all EMSs. Pedestals have the ground and neutral bonded - same as at home. Generators don’t. So whenever you use a generator and have an EMS inline you have to use a ground-neutral bond plug.
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Old 03-31-2022, 11:21 AM   #42
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Originally Posted by itat View Post
... So whenever you use a generator and have an EMS inline you have to use a ground-neutral bond plug.
Or install an actual ground like what the generator manual calls for
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Old 03-31-2022, 11:42 AM   #43
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Or install an actual ground like what the generator manual calls for
Which still won't satisfy the ground-neutral bond that it looks for. A main panel at a building has them bonded at the power entry.
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Old 03-31-2022, 11:50 AM   #44
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Surge Protectors etc

I prefer the portable ones which give me an indication regarding the correct polizeration and wiring of the power post. Thus I can plug it in, determine if all is OK before I plug in my camper. I like to know things are correct BEFORE I plug in the camper, and not AFTER I plug in the camper. Makes life much more pleasant and a lot less expensive.

Just be sure to turn the power post breaker OFF before you plug in and before you disconnect. It saves the electrical contacts. Again makes life much more pleasant and a lot less expensive.

I do like the ones with the weather shield.

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Old 03-31-2022, 12:30 PM   #45
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I have the Hughes and like it a lot. The Bluetooth is a nice way to remotely see any codes and monitor usage. Also, the surge protection circuit is replaceable without replacing the entire unit.
2x that! We camped with our new Watchdog EPO last weekend. We were pulling a lot of amps one morning with 2 heaters, TV toaster etc running. The Watchdog switched the power off to the trailer instead of having us overload our 30 AMP service. It could have also been a challenge with the power on the pedestal. I really do not know which caused it to shut down.

But after shutting off some of appliances, it was very nice to use the Watchdog app and tell it to power back up. No one had to go out in the cold to flip any switches!

Also, I like the option of replacing just the surge protector component of the Watchdog. That is what went bad with my Southwinds EMS. Had to toss the whole unit. Watchdog would replace the surge protector for under $25.
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Old 03-31-2022, 02:05 PM   #46
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Originally Posted by Bob K4TAX View Post
I prefer the portable ones which give me an indication regarding the correct polizeration and wiring of the power post. Thus I can plug it in, determine if all is OK before I plug in my camper. I like to know things are correct BEFORE I plug in the camper, and not AFTER I plug in the camper. Makes life much more pleasant and a lot less expensive.

Just be sure to turn the power post breaker OFF before you plug in and before you disconnect. It saves the electrical contacts. Again makes life much more pleasant and a lot less expensive.

I do like the ones with the weather shield.

73
Bob, K4TAX
I have the hard wired PI and I checked the pedestal with a multimeter before I was able to buy this 50A tester. I check the pedestal before I back (if we have a back in site).
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Old 03-31-2022, 02:48 PM   #47
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I had a hardwired Progressive on my Imagine and it worked great. When I got my Rockwood I went with the hardwired Hughes Power Watchdog. I decided I Wanted bluetooth instead of the display on the Progressive that looks like it's from the 1980's. I asked them if they had plans to update it and they said no.
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Old 03-31-2022, 03:39 PM   #48
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Progressive hard wired with remote read out. Easy install and Life Time Warranty!
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Old 03-31-2022, 04:34 PM   #49
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I have the hard wired PI and I checked the pedestal with a multimeter before I was able to buy this 50A tester. I check the pedestal before I back (if we have a back in site).

You just had to go and post that photo. I had to hunt it down and buy one as well. For anyone else looking for one they are not listed on the Progressive Industries website. The term I used when searching is "Progressive Industries 30 Amp Circuit Tester" I just bought mine on EBay for less than $40 with free shipping.
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Old 03-31-2022, 05:22 PM   #50
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Do you have a link cause I can’t find it on eBay or Amazon.

Edit: it appears to be a remote display for the hw30c and hw50c units. 100 bucks on eBay but you need the EMS also.
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Old 03-31-2022, 06:23 PM   #51
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Progressive hard wired with remote read out. Easy install and Life Time Warranty!
Agreed.
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Old 03-31-2022, 09:57 PM   #52
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When I had a 30 amp trailer I used this device with a 30A male to 15A female dog bone adapter.

Prime Products - 788530 12-4058 AC Power Line Monitor

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BRFTH6...ing=UTF8&psc=1


When we bought our 50A fifth wheel I used a multimeter until I found the PI tester.
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Old 03-31-2022, 10:12 PM   #53
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Uh, did you see rk06382's post prior to yours? Looks just like what you're talking about doing. Very well done, if you ask me.
@GPs37FLH - Now that I'm at home on the desktop and not the phone using a slow wifi, I can see the picture in the prior post. Yes, that is the concept I was referring to. Looks clean, nicely done.
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Old 04-01-2022, 06:54 AM   #54
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Originally Posted by itat View Post
I have the hard wired PI and I checked the pedestal with a multimeter before I was able to buy this 50A tester. I check the pedestal before I back (if we have a back in site).


Very interesting product. Think I may just have to get one too!

After searching and reading about them on several sites, I came across an alternative below that appears to test and warn for more electrical conditions than the one from Progressive Industries. I'm not an electrical subject matter expert, but does the one from PI do the same number of tests?

Tried to find details on the tester from PI, but it's not listed as a product on their website. I don't think they make the product, but just put their name on it. That, or they really, really need to update their website.


https://www.amazon.com/Circuit-Analy...ps%2C71&sr=8-3
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Old 04-01-2022, 01:48 PM   #55
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob K4TAX View Post
I prefer the portable ones which give me an indication regarding the correct polizeration and wiring of the power post. Thus I can plug it in, determine if all is OK before I plug in my camper. I like to know things are correct BEFORE I plug in the camper, and not AFTER I plug in the camper. Makes life much more pleasant and a lot less expensive.

Just be sure to turn the power post breaker OFF before you plug in and before you disconnect. It saves the electrical contacts. Again makes life much more pleasant and a lot less expensive.
I have a 30 amp rig that has a hardwired EMS. So I picked up a 30-20 amp adapter, a 3-way 15 amp splitter, one of those cheap wiring testers and a $10 digital voltage display thingy. Total cost under $20.

For the 50 amp rigs, you should be able to put together a similar setup, just a big more expensive

I plug that in before connecting my rig and can check before backing into a spot.


X2 on making sure the pedestal is off before plugging in and disconnecting.
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Old 04-03-2022, 02:20 PM   #56
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We have the 30A hardwired PI unit, we're all electric(don't even carry propane) and the remote monitor is a great tool for us, .... I mounted the monitor on an inside door of an outside storage area, from there I can see immediately if there's any electrical problem w/out having to go around the trailer and inside to see the monitor, ... plus it is also viewable from the inside if ever needed, ... I've modified my AC wiring to run the AC and also our electric heaters with a extension cord to take those amps off the 30A system, BUT the last two weeks we were in a cg that had only a single 30A socket on the power pole, no 110 or 50A, .... so that required us to be more careful with our power usage since everything uses electricity, AC, heaters, water heater, cooking, micro wave, ect, ... with the long wire of the monitor, I was able to move the monitor into the kitchen area where we had an easier look at the amps being used, ... worked great, love our setup, ....
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Old 04-04-2022, 06:43 PM   #57
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Ems

Pulled into Sanibel campground last Friday. Plugged in and had a reversed popularity error code. Called the office and they would send someone done right away. They also said that the last person on our site was there all winter with no issues. No EMS I guess! They opened the box and guess what, the hot and neutral were reversed! They thanked me and all was good!
My Progressive Industries EMS did it's job!!!!
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Old 04-04-2022, 06:57 PM   #58
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I bought the Watchdog after the neighbor lost an AC unit and another a microwave due to voltage problems. Mine shut down last year due to a surge, they are well worth the money spent on them. With the Watchdog my camper was the only one on our power line to shut down because of a surge. Within a minute power is normally restored.
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Old 04-04-2022, 07:02 PM   #59
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Mine has shut down more because of low power.
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Old 04-04-2022, 07:29 PM   #60
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EMS

We have been using Southwire #34903 30 AMP EMS from Techno RV since 2019. It has discovered a mis-wired pedestal at a city campground in NE in 2021 and prevented damage to our RV. This year discovered a "rattle" in the case, It was repaired / replaced for free. I think its on sale and there is also the 50 Amp version.
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