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wil01 · 11-23-2012, 10:22 AM

The notes that follow are about installing a Progressive Industries Model EMS-HW50C hard wired EMS. As recommended, the EMC was connected before the Auto Transfer Switch. The instructions from Progressive are complete and should be followed to the letter, but don’t include some of the issues that less than professional mechanics, like me, faced. Those issues all have to do with dealing with the 6 gauge wire cable.
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For this installation, the RV power cord was disconnected from the Auto Transfer Switch and ultimately connected to the input of the EMS.

A new cable was purchased to run from the EMS outlet to the Auto Transfer Switch inlet.

1. I determined where the EMS would be located and how much extra cable was necessary, but didn’t mount the EMS then.

2. I obtained the 4 wire 6 gauge cable from Home Depot. It is a standard cable and contains black, white, and red 6 gauge stranded wires. The ground is a 10 gauge solid bare copper wire.

This cable is very stiff and making connections inside the EMS and Auto Transfer Switch is very difficult. The solution was to remove the cover from the cable and deal with the four wires separately. The cover just keeps all the wires together so removing it was of no concern to me.

3. At home, at my kitchen table, I make the connections to the output of the EMS. A connection had to be made to terminals marked T1, T2, T3, and a ground connection to a machine screw and bolt.

The solid ground wire must be wrapped around the ground bolt and tightened with the nut. It is almost impossible to do the wrapping once the wire is in the EMS. The solution was to make a full eye in the wire that just fitted the screw while the wire out the EMS. Then I installed it to the ground connection.

The wires connected to T1 and T3 each go through a donut that senses current. Making these connections with separate wires made this easy after the ground was connected.

After tightening the strain relief I was done with the EMS output connection

4. At the RV, I disconnect the RV power cord from the Auto Transfer Switch, and connected it to the input of the EMS. It is much more flexible than the other cable and presents only one complication.

That complication is the ground wire. It is a 10 gauge stranded wire in a green cover. It must be connected to a non-insulated ring terminal by crimping the terminal to the wire. It is a very large diameter wire connection in the terminal, and I didn’t have a crimper for that size. After some thought, I used 10” Vice-Grip pliers. To get a good crimp, I put the ringed connection with the wire in it straight into the pliers, not perpendicular as you would suspect. Then adjusted the pliers to what I thought would make a good crimp. The first try wasn’t small enough. I kept adjusting the pliers smaller until I could barely close the pliers, and I had a good crimp. I tested it for security because it must be tight.

After this, all the connections to the input side of the EMS were easy.

5. I mounted the EMS, made the connections to the Auto Transfer Switch, Secured the wires and cable to the wall and followed the rest of the Progressive instructions.

6. My RV is at a storage facility with no power, but I wanted to check the installation after I had finished. Technical Support at Progressive told me to connect the RV power cord to any outlet served by the generator, using the proper adapters. Then start the generator and observe the remote display for proper operation. It worked like a charm.

These were my experiences and not recommendations, your solution may be better, but I hope this may help someone

Wil

"007" · 11-23-2012, 08:31 PM

Thanks for the write up Wil and welcome to irv2.
You will be well protected.

MSHappyCampers · 11-24-2012, 10:41 AM

Wil, you've just been through what a LOT of us are very familar with! Those 6 gauge wires are TOUGH to work with!

Yes, I'd do it again because I believe the HW50C offers the best protection out there, but I sure wouldn't look forward to it! In fact, I have done it twice, once on my 5th wheel and again on the MH I bought a few months ago. At lease we can rest easier now knowing that we are well protected!

wil01 · 11-24-2012, 10:54 AM

What I found really helpful was to get the stiff 6 gauge wires from the EMS to the Auto Transfer Switch out of the cable and handling each separately. After doing that, the job was easy.

Good

Luck
WIL

W4MBG · 11-25-2012, 09:55 AM

so the EMS is installed to protect your shore power input, but not the generator input? i wired mine to protect both. the first time i ran the genny i found out it was putting out 136 volts at light loads. never would have known without the ems remote display. i gotta get a digital panel meter...

mgscott4 · 11-25-2012, 07:31 PM

On my Progressive Industries Model EMS-HW50C hard wired EMS, the remote display cable was only 14 feet long. I needed something longer to install on my control panel wall. I found a 25 foot cable that works. I think it is a data cable and the ends are reversed.

wil01 · 11-25-2012, 07:36 PM

The suggested reason to put the EMS before the Auto Transfer Switch is to protect that switch. If the EMS is installed after that switch, it will read the generator when it is on, but the Auto Transfer Switch will always be unprotected.

The output of the generator can be checked as described in the post. Just connect the RV input cord to any 15-20 volt outlet connected to the generator and start the generator. That connection will disclose any initial problem with the generator. Once voltage and frequency have been read and/or corrected, if necessary, the generator isn't likely to present a problem again.

The shore power is another issue. It can present a problem at any time. That means that the Transfer Switch is at danger when ever connected to shore power. If the EMS is connected after it, it never gets any protection.

You pays your money and takes your choice.

Good Luck!
Wil

W4MBG · 11-25-2012, 08:00 PM

ok, that makes sense. my rig uses the manual "plug this cable into the genny or the pedestal" method, no transfer switch. considering what the switches cost, i would protect it too!

wil01 · 11-25-2012, 08:10 PM

This all goes to demonstrate that it is important to know how your unit is wired.

Good Luck!
Wil

MSHappyCampers · 11-26-2012, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgscott4

On my Progressive Industries Model EMS-HW50C hard wired EMS, the remote display cable was only 14 feet long. I needed something longer to install on my control panel wall. I found a 25 foot cable that works. I think it is a data cable and the ends are reversed.

On a standard telephone cable the ends are reversed. The cable with the HW50C is straight-through, NOT reversed.