Installing Progressive EMS with Display aftermarket

[Centex]

Originally Posted by marant

Thought about an installed unit when we ordered The QShip (2022 21C), but decided to go with the portable plugin. Very happy we did so. Less money and a lot less hassle.

Just curious, what about the installed unit is a lot more hassle than the portable plugin in your opinion?

[marant]

Just the installation, since he did not order it with his trailer. Usage should be similar as far as circuit protection is concerned.

[W@nderer]

I just installed one last month. I took the plug apart from the outside of the trailer and unwired it. I then added in a length of 30 amp wire.

[iamunique127]

The readout on my factory-installed unit showed bad power at one campground. I reported it, told the owner how to fix it and he came and switched the wires. All was good after that.

[dfandrews]

I modified the location of the display so I could see it from the doorway. Usually, the only time I look at it is right after I plug in the electrical at a campsite, so then I can quickly look in the door and watch the display.
Here's a photo of the location. (Additionally, the photo shows what I added at the display's old location: an additional 20A circuit and receptacle to plug in an electric heater.)


Edit: The white dot is a pad on the end of a screw that acts as a door stop for the cabinet door on the right.

[W@nderer]

Originally Posted by Beekeepers

Taking delivery on a new E-19 that does not have an EMS installed. Has anyone installed the Progressive EMS w/Display aftermarket? If so, any thing to know or worry about? This trailer has solar. It was a stock trailer so could do very few modifications.

Here are the Photos for my EMS install.

[W@nderer]

Hi jack sparrow, Is that yellow wire 12/2 or 10/2 gauge wire? Since they wired with 10/2 (orange sheath) from the plug to the converter that was what I used. Is that all you had or?

[jack sparrow]

Hi W@nderer,


That is 10/2 that I used, same as what ETI used but for some reason in my neck of the woods mine is orange color. The yellow is what ETI used.


Glad to help.


Cheers to ya....... and Happy Trails...... Jack

[Beekeepers]

One follow up question. What size unit did everyone install. A lot of campgrounds are offering 50 amp service now so what happens if you plug into a 50 amp service with a 30 amp EMS?

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by Beekeepers

One follow up question. What size unit did everyone install. A lot of campgrounds are offering 50 amp service now so what happens if you plug into a 50 amp service with a 30 amp EMS?

You will not be able to plug directly into a 50 amp pedestal with your 30 amp plug. You will need a 50 to 30 amp adapter, which will effectively reduce your amperage to 30.

[Rockhead]

Originally Posted by Beekeepers

One follow up question. What size unit did everyone install. A lot of campgrounds are offering 50 amp service now so what happens if you plug into a 50 amp service with a 30 amp EMS?

Escape trailers are 30 amp 120 . 50 amps plug are 220 usuall for the huge travel trailers and motor homes . They have adapters to where it reduces the 50 amp 220 down to 30 amp 120 so it will not fry the electrical in an Escape

[Centex]

Originally Posted by Beekeepers

One follow up question. What size unit did everyone install. A lot of campgrounds are offering 50 amp service now so what happens if you plug into a 50 amp service with a 30 amp EMS?

First, note that 30A and 50A outlets have different (incompatible) plug configurations, so you can't inadvertently plug your 30A cord into a 50A outlet.

Your ETI installed power center breakers limit the total current load imposed by the trailer to ~30 amps @120volts. IOW, whatever current is available at the power source (e.g. 50A) the trailer will only pull ~30A of that available current.

Therefore, it's appropriate to install the 30amp @ 120volts EMS-HW30C for our trailers, and plug into a 30A pedestal outlet when available.

IF only a 50A @220volts pedestal outlet is available, one can use an adaptor of the type shown below to connect your 30A @120 volts cord to that 50A @220 volts outlet. All will be good, no worries.



Ooops, lotsa replies posted at the same moment there!

[Beekeepers]

Thanks for the quick and detailed responses!

[CharlesinGA]

Originally Posted by Beekeepers

One follow up question. What size unit did everyone install. A lot of campgrounds are offering 50 amp service now so what happens if you plug into a 50 amp service with a 30 amp EMS?

There are a lot of really crappy answers above. Using the 50/30 dogbone in the illustration above..... In the 50 amp plug (the male top four prong) the bottom, center flat blade is the neutral, and the round pin is the ground. The ground connects directly to the round ground pin hole on the female 30 amp end. The flat blade that is the neutral connects directly to one of the flat blade slots of the 30 amp connector (which one I don't recall and my internet is so flaky at the campground I'm at to not bother looking it up) ONE of the remaining flat blades connects directly to the other female flat blade slot of the 30 amp. The remaining flat blade is dead. It goes no where and does nothing, except help hold the plug in place. Each side of the 50 amp is 120 volt when measured to neutral. If you measure across the two "hot" flat blade positions of a 50 amp receptacle, you get 240 volt, but remember, we are not using one of those, all we have it the one hot, to the neutral or 120v at 50 amp. MOST RV's except for some upscale motorhomes do not utilize the 240v capability, but rather they have two separate 50 amp buss bars.

Your 30 amp RV cannot draw more than 30 amp from that 50 amp receptacle because if it does, it will blow its 30 amp main breaker.

I may add to this when I get a better connection.

Charles

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by CharlesinGA

There are a lot of really crappy answers above.

Charles

Not just crappy, but “REALLY” crappy.

[CharlesinGA]

Here is the basic wiring diagram of the 50 to 30 dogbone as shown above. Your EMS will not know the difference. Same voltage, amperage dependent on your RV's load, same Hz.

Notice the unused flat pin? Maximum amperage is limited by the 50 amp breaker in the pedestal, and your 30 amp main breaker should limit the RV's max draw.



Charles