Community Forums

jtcowman · 04-09-2018, 07:19 PM

Hello all,
I am considering buying an EMS for my new to me 5th wheel, and cannot find any mention whether a 50A system will work well if you plug it into a 30A power source. Many of the state parks that we enjoy only offer 30A service. ( I know, only 1 AC) I am also considering a hardwired system. How hard are these to put in? As an electrician, on a scale of 1-10 I am probably a 5.
Thanks!

tmw188 · 04-09-2018, 08:01 PM

I assume your fiver is a 50a trailer, but yes no problem if it is. You should be able to do the job. Look on YouTube.

Bob_C · 04-09-2018, 08:25 PM

Easy to install....just work'n with stiff wire........and the adapter to get from 50 to 30 amp will take care of the switch to 30

rarebear.nm · 04-10-2018, 07:27 PM

I have a EMS 50 Amp hardwired in our 5th. I did it myself, no big deal. Instructions were fine, just stiff wires as mentioned above. The EMS has saved us a couple of times.

There's no issue at all about connecting to 30 Amp service. We do it more often than 50 Amp connections. I like the hardwired solution as its one less thing to get out, put away and connect, KISS.

Bob_C · 04-10-2018, 07:29 PM

And don't have to worry about chaining it up....

bddadles · 04-11-2018, 07:32 AM

Plus with the hardwired version you will have the monitor inside so you don't have to go outside to see why the power shut off.

jtcowman · 04-11-2018, 05:37 PM

Thank you all for the advice. I thought it probably would not be too hard, but reassurance from my RV friends always helps!

**Spdracr39** · 04-11-2018, 09:06 PM

I have a 50 amp setup and have no issues with 30 amp. I can even run both a/c's on 30 as long as that's all I am doing. i keep a portable 30 amp surge and a 50 amp surge to use depending on which service is available. A hard wired surge protector is in my future though.

Dale & Mark Bruss · 04-11-2018, 09:15 PM

Just as another perspective, for the past 12 years we used a portable 50 amp EMS. One advantage of a portable has been when we arrive at a park with really crummy wiring, we can do a walk down a set of power poles looking for a good one.

We never worried about the EMS walking but we did use a cable lock to take the weight off of the power pole receptacle.

kksalmon · 04-12-2018, 07:12 PM

I just finished installing the Progressive 50 amp system. I routed mine to inside of my pass through storage so I would easy access in the future.I hate that 6 gauge wire! It's more stubborn than a mule! But the instructions are good and overall it went good. Good luck to you!

RoadEyePie · 04-13-2018, 05:49 AM

I tried searching the forum for terms and glossary but could not find it. Would some one please tell me what EMS is and what it does?

Bob_C · 04-13-2018, 05:55 AM

Electric Manigement System.....

Dale & Mark Bruss · 04-13-2018, 06:08 AM

A system that monitors the input current into the RV for the amount of voltage, high or low, cycles, Neutral faults, and protection from voltage spikes.

Many call it a lighting arrestor but there are lighting arrestors that do only that and none of the voltage and Neutral checks.

With the every present poor power in RV parks, an EMS is an important accessory.

RoadEyePie · 04-13-2018, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale & Mark Bruss

A system that monitors the input current into the RV for the amount of voltage, high or low, cycles, Neutral faults, and protection from voltage spikes.

Many call it a lighting arrestor but there are lighting arrestors that do only that and none of the voltage and Neutral checks.

With the every present poor power in RV parks, an EMS is an important accessory.

So is this an option that you tell your dealer you want on the RV at purchase time or something you purchase after and install yourself? And thanks for the reply.