RV Surge Protector VS EMS – Which is better?
When it comes to protecting your RV, which is better?
Both devices are intended for the protection against power surges it can’t handle, and both come in Portable and Hardwired solutions. They do have notable differences though and making sure you buy the right unit is essential. Otherwise, the cost to your possessions could rank in the thousands of dollars — and your insurance policy may not cover it.
RV Surge Protectors
When it comes to protecting your RV, which is better — RV Surge Protectors or RV Electronic Manage Systems (EMS)?
Both devices are intended for the protection against power surges it can’t handle, and both come in Portable and Hardwired solutions. They do have notable differences though, and making sure you buy the right unit is essential. Otherwise, the cost to your possessions could rank in the thousands of dollars — and your insurance policy may not cover it.
RV Power Systems — 30 Amp or 50 Amp?
Before we dig into it, it is worth mentioning that RV power systems come in both 30 Amp and 50 Amp varieties. No worries, though — there’s an easy way to tell them apart.
If the power plug for your RV has 4 prongs, it has a 50 Amp power system.
If the power plug has 3 prongs, however — it has a 30 Amp system.
The 30 Amp power plug may look familiar — dryer power plugs use the same design. Don’t be fooled though, plugging your RV into a dryer outlet will lead to disastrous consequences. They have different requirements, and it will likely cost you big bucks if you make this mistake.
Both RV Surge Protectors and RV Electronic Management Systems come in 30 Amp and 50 Amp varieties.
What is an RV Surge Protector?
An RV Surge Protector is a device that goes between your RV and a power source. It protects your RV against high voltage spikes and surges, as can be caused by lightning strikes.
Usually, RV Surge protectors come with user-friendly designs and are simple to operate even for beginners. Additionally, they often come either in the form of extension cables enabling easy access.
When you plug your RV into an external power source without a surge protector, you take a huge risk. A high voltage spike could fry your RV’s wiring, as well as any electronics, plugged up inside.
While some Surge Protectors do come with warning LEDs concerning various issues, they don’t do anything to stop these issues — so if the LED warning light stops functioning, your RV could be fried.
They don’t protect against everything, but they are affordably priced and should be the bare minimum you use to protect your RV. Check out the best RV surge protector reviews.
What is an RV Electronic Measurement System?
While very similar to RV Surge Protectors, an RV EMS is much broader in protection. This does push the price point up on these devices, as they have to be able to address more issues.
In addition to the High voltage surge protection offered by RV Surge Protectors, an RV EMS protects against the following:
- Power surges
- High voltage and low voltage
- Open Neutral Protection
- Open Ground Protection
- Accidental 220V Protection
- AC Frequency Protection
- Reverse Polarity Protection
Any one of these issues could destroy the wiring and electronics in your RV — but electronic management systems will protect you. While a Surge Protector may warn you about various issues with a power pedestal at a campground, it won’t prevent you from using that power.
An EMS is designed to cut off the power from the source, preventing damage to your RV.
Between the two, the EMS is the pricier option — but the protection it offers is worth it in every way.
Similarities between the two
Both are devices that come between your RV’s power systems. And they protect your RV’s power systems from high voltage power issues, which can save you money in the long run.
They both also come in portable and hard-wired varieties, which have their own advantages and disadvantages.
After that though, the similarities start to run out.
Differences between RV Surge Protectors and RV Electronic Management Systems
While they may seem like very similar devices, they’re more like an evolution of systems. RV Surge Protectors do protect your RV, it’s true — but only against a very limited route of damage.
Electronic Management Systems on the other hand, offer a much wider array of protection. They protect against low voltage issues, also known as brownouts, which can cause just as much damage as high voltage. And if the power source you plug into is unsafe for your RV, then the EMS will block the power right then and there — no worries.
The next difference is the price tag. A Surge Protector runs around $90 to $120 for a low priced portable one, while a portable EMS typically costs at least $250.
But the cost to rewire and replace all the electronics into your RV is likely to be even more expensive.
So, which should you choose?
We say EMS. While yes, the upfront price is heftier by not a small amount, it’s a small price to pay for protection.
An RV Surge Protector may protect you against lightning storms and other high voltage events — that’s not enough.
If too many people crowd a campground’s power systems, it can cause the voltage to run low. Not all surge protectors will protect against this. And since voltage can drop or surge at any time during use, just measuring beforehand won’t help you. And that’s not even mentioning the issues a power pedestal itself might suffer. Many campground pedestals aren’t maintained properly, and when they start having issues, it’s your recreational vehicle that suffers.
With the Coronavirus pandemic forcing people indoors, we see campgrounds into the future. Stick with an EMS for your recreational vehicle.
Portable vs Hard-Wired
Now that we’ve settled on EMS being the system that will better protect you — which option should you choose? They each have their advantages and disadvantages.
Portable EMS Pros
- Full protection from power-related issues
- No installation required
- Allows you to test power systems portably
- Many models come with built-in locking bracket
Portable EMS Cons
- Typically more expensive than hard-wired version
- More vulnerable to theft
Hard-Wired EMS Pros
- Usually cheaper than portable models
- Once installed, no more worrying
- Full protection from power related issues
- No worrying about theft
- Inside access for most models
Hard-Wired EMS Cons
- If you hire an installer, will cost extra
- You have to pull your RV up to a power pedestal to check it — no portability
Conclusion
To conclude, we think that a hard-wired EMS is the best case solution. While it may be a bit costlier with installation factored in, the simple fact remains that once it’s installed — you’re protected.
With the portable system, there’s always the small worry that it may be stolen, or that you might forget to plug it in before your RV. By removing this step, you’re doing the best you can feasibly do to protect your RV against power issues.
Either way, you decide to go through – we believe you should use an Electronic Management System over a Surge Protector. Better safe than sorry, especially with something so valuable.
RV EMS Management Systems
- 【0.27in Ultra Thin Flat Plug】 The ultra-thin plug can perfectly fit your wall outlet and be hidden behind furniture to save more space than the usual plug.
- 【9-in-1 USB-C Power Strip】 All-in-one power strip provides 6 widely spaced outlets, 2 USB-A ports, and 1 USB-C port, charging 9 devices simultaneously.
- 【Compact for Travel】 The 3-Side design makes our power strip only 1/3 the size and mass of others. It's compact and lightweight as a travel essential.
- 【Overload Protection】 The built-in circuit breaker cuts the power off when it exceeds the rated power to prevent overcurrent and overheating.
- 【Wall Mount Power Strip】 There are two mounting holes on the back of the power strip, which can be used to easily install the power strip on the wall.
- Portable Travel Adapter: Compact size plug-in adapter only occupies 1 wall socket which is a nice outlet splitter; ideal for smart phones, tablets, laptop, kitchen appliances and other electronic accessories. 4 side outlets and USB ports allow you to charge up to 6 devices simultaneously; ideal for power adapters and bulky plugs.
- USB Plug with 3 Ports: 5V 3.0A shared rating; high-speed USB ports automatically detect charging devices and deliver optimal charging speed, up to 2.4A per port.
- Unique Cube Design Power Strip：the 3 side outlets with super small size of 2.5*1.9*1.9 INCH, can fit 1 large adapter and 2 standard plugs at the same time. Great for cruise ships, hotels, home, office or dorm room use.
- Cruise Essentials : Most cruise ships don’t allow surge-protected power strips on board for safety reasons. This multi outlet plug is designed with non-surge, compliant with major cruise lines - Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Disney, etc.
- Our After Sale Service: ETL Certified，Our friendly and reliable customer service will respond to you within 24 hours. You can purchase with confidence, with our 30-day return and 12-month replacement .
- Desk power strip surge protector - ETL listed, this massive outlet expansion features 13 AC outlets and 4 usb charging ports(17w total usb output), which provide power and charging for up to 17 devices from a single wall outlet. Max. power: 1875w (125v~15a)
- 13 widely spaced AC outlets - Extra space in-between(38mm vs. 30mm on other power strips) can provide room for large plug adapters without blocking adjacent outlets. Easily plug in your PC, monitor, printer, TV, android box, echo & more
- Power strip flat plug - Made of 14AWG pure copper, the 5-foot extension cord is heavy-duty and has better current carrying capacity (15a). The low-profile space-saving 45° angled flat plug doesn’t block the bottom receptacle
- Wall mountable design - 4 screw-mounting tabs allow you to securely install this surge protector power strip in various applications, including the entertainment center, behind the TV, dorm room, guest room, garage, desktop, under desk/counters, workbenches, etc
- Safety assurance - It’s ETL listed, and made of the top-grade ul94 v-0 flame-retardant material. With 4000j surge protection, it safeguards your TV, computers, phones & office equipment from potentially damaging power disturbances, creating peace of mind
- Household Tool Set: Well thought out components that Includes all the tools you need for most small repairs and DIY projects, from a hammer, pliers and screwdrivers to a tape measure and many more. This is the perfect starter kit for home repairs.
- High quality material: All the tools are constructed from premium material and precisely manufactured to ensure durability and longevity,anti-corrosion
- EASY STORAGE & PORTABLE - The compact case measures 12. 5”x7. 5”x3. 25” and is made of ABS plastic keeps everything, clean organized and easy to use.
- Home Repair Tool Set includes: (1) claw hammer, (20) screwdriver bits, (1) bit driver, (1) bit holder/extension (8) hex keys, (4) precision screwdrivers, (1) slip joint plier, (1) tape measure, (1) utility knife, (1) scissor
- Purchase Without Risk: Your satisfaction is always our highest priority. If you don't feel satisfied, please Email us freely. If you love it, add it to cart today! Beautiful gift for a Birthday, Anniversary, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
- 【Versatile 10 in 1 Outlet Extender】- 4 usb charging ports, 5 wide spaced outlets, 3 side power stip provides large space and saves you another charger head space. 360°night light around makes it easy for you to see the outlets in dark corners or at night. With the removeable screw and the plastic prong, the multi plug outlet is firmly attach to your DUPLEX and DECOR outlets, and perfect for bedroom, dorm room etc
- 【Smart & Soft Night Light】- With the light sensor, the outlet extender will automatically turns on only when ambient lighting becomes dim. With sensitive touch sensor on the top logo, you could also choose to turn on/off the nightlight manually. The night light is soft, warm and does not dazzling, will not disturb to your sleep
- 【USB C Fast Charge & Wide Space】- 1.7 inches large space beetween 5 adapter outlets on the side which can easily fit for big head chargers. The 4 usb ports total 3.1A, and the USB C ports built in smart technolohy, can detect and charge your devices quickly, up to max 5V/3A,compatible with most type c devices.(NOTE: The UCB-C port doesn't support any other devices which need 14-22V charging voltage)
- 【Surge Protector Outlet】- This product is made of safe and reliable fireproof material and 3 level complementary Surge Protector Circuit, which can effectively provide protection for your equipment, with minimum 1050J energy absorbing capacity. ("SURGE PROTECTED" indicator light on to show your devices are protected)
- 【Super Safety & After Sale Service】- ETL Certified. This plug extender has overload protection, short-circuit protection, over current protection, over-voltage protection and overheating protection. It will automatically cut power to protect connected devices when voltage surge is overwhelming
- Offers 6,100 Joules of advanced surge protection for your coach. It features advanced circuit analysis to shut off power in an emergency
- Wirelessly Monitor voltage, amperage, and wattage on your smartphone in real time using our free mobile app! Oldest and most reliable phone app in the business!
- Plug-n-Play ensures a minimal 4-second power-on analysis to determine if power conditions are safe, while other brands can take up to two minutes.
- Protect your applicances with a buil-in 90-second power-on delay after a fault is detected and resolved.
- Complete LED Park Power Diagnostics with wireless fault alerts ensure you are aware of any hazardous park power conditions.
- Portable RV Surge Protectors: GEARGO RV Surge Protectors are designed to identifies faulty power and offers 8000 Joules of surge protection. The adapter circuit analysis instrument is used to detect the connection error of the electric system with a grounded safety feature for your electronic equipment.
- Circuit Analyzer: This allows you to test the quality of your power before connecting your RV, by verifying if the power source is correctly wired and by helping detect most wiring faults. The 30A RV Circuit Analyzer Diagnostic Chart indicates the following faults: Correct Wiring, Open Ground, Open Neutral, Reverse Polarity, hot/Ground Reversed, and No Power.
- Safety Protection: FCC tested. V-1 flame-retardant materials and IP68 waterproof design make it extra safe to use. This Surge Protectors was designed with waterproof cover which protects the circuit from rain, wind, sandstorm. The sturdy cover is designed to reduce the risk of short circuit or fire.
- Easy to Use: The RV Surge Protector's plugs are designed with ergonomic power grip handles to safely and easily plug and unplug it, featuring a right-angle male connector to provide a reliable low-damage and low-bend interface with your power source.
- 3-Year Warranty: GEARGO aim is to provide HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCT & COMPLAINT-FREE CUSTOMER SERVI. If you are not sure whether this is a 30A or 50A surge protectors, please let us know!
- 🔰Upgrade the 9800 Joule 30amp Surge Protector: It is a necessary accessory for RV charging, which can identify wiring errors, power failures, and unstable current, providing safe and efficient protection for your RV travel.
- 🔰30 AMP RV Circuit Analyzer: ZEALBON 30 Amp RV surge protector come with easy to read circuit analyzer function. Equipped with LED indicator lights, it can display 7 modes to help you determine whether there is a fault with the rv power supply. LED light display guide: correct wiring, open circuit grounding, polarity reversal, high temperature open circuit, neutral point open circuit, high temperature/grounding reversal, neutral point with high temperature open circuit energized.
- 🔰Safe and efficient certification: Our 30 amp surge protector with thick wire, a Level 3 surge protection circuit, and a V-1 flame-retardant ABS shell. IP67 waterproof cover ensures safe use in rainy, sandstorm, and high-temperature environments, reducing the risk of short circuits and fires. Specification - Plug type: 30 Amp male (NEMA TT-30P)/30 Amp female (NEMA TTP-30R); Surge protection 9800J; Rated value: 125V/30A/3750W.
- 🔰Portable and easy to use: Our RV surge protector handle is made of high-quality rubber material, are designed with ergonomic,can safely and easily to plug and unplug it.
- 🔰Efficient after-sales service: ZEALBON aims to provide customers with high-quality products and services. We have 24-hour online customer service and provide a 30-day return and 24-month replacement service. you can purchase with confidence.
- Maintain electronic safety - This 30 Amp RV Surge Protector by Progressive Industries is a real guard for your RV electronics. Its built-in Electrical Management System helps to protect your RV appliances against voltage fluctuations and power surges.
- Prevents costly damage - With a 30A/120V/3,600W rating, EMS-PT30X can absorb surges of up to 1,790 joules. This surge protector prevents severe and expensive damage to RV accessories and equipment attached to your motorized or towable RV.
- Powerful fault detection - As a 30 amp surge protector for RV, EMS-PT30X can protect against over/under voltage, open ground/neutral, reverse polarity, miswired pedestal, accidental 240V, and surge failure; as well as A/C frequency protection.
- For the outdoors - This heavy duty surge protector can withstand harsh conditions through its All Weather Shield assembly, integrated display, thermal protection, and tough Lexan housing. This unit is also usable during low-visibility situations.
- Proudly designed in the USA - Progressive Industries engineers and manufactures a wide range of high-quality electrical solutions designed for harsh environments. Protect your RV accessories and appliances from severe and costly damage today.
- Reliable Surge Protector Circuit: 3 level complementary Surge Protector Circuit which composed of TVS, MOV (metal oxide varistor), GDT (gas discharge tube), with minimum 2100J energy absorbing capacity, could protect your devices much more quickly and reliably than other 1 level MOV(metal oxide varistor) Surge Protection Circuits.
- Power Guard: Diagnostic LED, Open ground, Open neutral & reverse polarity detection, Miswired pedestal indication, Surge failure indicator. Designed for outdoor use, Weather resistant, All weather shield assembly.
- All Weather Resistant Design—— This Surge Protector was designed with waterproof cover which protects the circuit from rain, wind, sandstorm. The detail cover is a nice design to reduce risk of short circuit or fire
- Designed with Easy To Use Handles: Rugged Pull Handle, Locking Bracket, Tough Lexan Housing, Brighter 3-Color LED Indicators
- Best Value: Made of high quality rubber and pure copper material, the Surge Protector must be a great guard for your Rv. Eco-Friendly compact Package & Value itself. ZIKOPOMI pay all attention on product quality and safety! You will get what the best value paid for.
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