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.
- COMFORTABLE - Athmile water socks are made of breathable, quick-dry and elastic fabric. And its thick insole make you feel great soft when you are in a happy outdoor time.
- PROTECTIVE - Water shoes for men women are made available for both water use and dry land. The special anti-slip sole can not only protect your feet from sharp things like rocks, shells and gravel, but also prevent burns from hot sand in beach or water park. And beach shoes' smooth neck design would take care of your ankles.
- CONVENIENCE & DURABILITY - Our swim shoes are lightweight, flexible and foldable, really easy to put on and carry out. Compared with ordinary beach aqua socks, the special thick sole design can effectively help the upper not easy to be damaged and more durable.
- OCCASIONS - The Athmile socks shoes of summer stuff are suitable for beach, swimming, yoga, surfing, pool, lake fishing, water park, boating, camping and other outdoor activities.
- VARIOUS STYLE & SIZE TIPS - Our water shoes' upper material has a certain degree of elasticity. We recommend to choose a size half smaller. There are a variety of colorful styles for you to choose. And our barefoot shoes of beach accessories have lots of size suited for men, women, boys, girls.
- 【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
- Power Strip with 6 Outlets & 3USB Ports: 6 AC Surge protector outlets(1680 Joules) including 1 Widely Spaced Outlet, 2 USB A Ports & 1 USB C Port (5V/3.0A, 15W) , 6 feet power cord (1250W/10A), Surge protector indicator and 10A Overload Protector switch protects against spikes and fluctuations.Wide range voltage design, can be used on 120v to 240v circuit.
- Smart Charging USB Ports: Build in smart charging technology, Each USB A port features 2.4A Max output. USB C charging port features 3A MAX., 3 USB ports ( Total 5V/3.0A/15W) can charge almost any USB device (smart phone, tablet, Amazon Kindle, fire stick, e-reader, blue tooth headphones, portable speaker etc).
- Surge Protector outlet: The 6 AC outlets provide surge protector against electrical spikes. Three complementary Surge Protection Circuits, TVS (transient voltage clamp) MOV(metal oxide varistor) GDT(gas discharge tube), with response speed less than 1Ns, and minimum energy-absorbing capacity of 1680 Joules, its response time is much shorter than the single MOV surge protector circuit, It truly provides great protection of your precious plugged-in devices.
- 6 Feet Flat Plug Power cord with Cable Ties: - 6 Ft Extension Cord makes it more flexible ，Reusable Fastening Cable Ties Can tie up the unused cord and make it better organized. the Mounting hole at the back allows this wall mount power strip to be securely installed in various applications, such as wall mounts, floor mounts, workbenches, under counters & more.
- Our After Sale Service: 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.
- 【9 IN 1 Wall Outlet Extender】Outlet Extenders are designed with 5 USB outlets + 3 USB ports + 1 USB-C port. The 3-sided power strip with LED night light, and Detachable Shelf. 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.
- 【Outlet Extender With Soft Smart Night Light】LED light power is 1.5W. This product has a built-in light sensor that automatically turns on the night light when ambient lighting is low. The light is soft and just enough to light the surrounding area, enhancing safety at night. If you do not require the night light, you can manually turn it on or off by lightly touching the light logo on the top. Note: During packaging, the touch sensor may be accidentally pressed, causing the night light to turn off. If you notice the night light is not working, please press the sensor to turn it back on.
- 【Space Saving & Widened Removable Shelf】Our wall outlet shelf gets your devices off the counter and is able to charge easily too. The size of the shelf is 4.7 * 6.3 inches. 3-side design, 1.7 inches large space beetween 5 adapter outlets on the side which can easily fit for big head chargers.
- 【USB C Fast Charge】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)
- 【1800 J SURGE PROTECTOR TO PROTECT YOUR EXPENSIVE DEVICES】The power strip has an 1800 Joule energy rating providing a reliable power strip to protect printers, broadband modems, home theater systems, and so on. It secures your electronic devices from overload, short circuits, power spikes, lightning strikes, or fluctuation.
- 【What You Save & Get】 A 5 outlets power strip, a socket outlet Shelf, 3 USB wall chargers, 1 USB C adapter,night light. Our outlet extender has passed FCC and ETL certification.
- 【15000 Joules】GEARGO Upgraded RV Surge Protectors protects your RV by recognizing power failures and provides up to 15000 joules of surge protection. It protects your RV from high/low voltage and weather-related power surges.
- 【50AMP RV Circuit Analyzer】 Using a surge protectors before connecting the RV will verify that the power is wired correctly and that there are no problems with the power supply, and will also help detect most wiring fault problems. The surge protectors will show these causes of faults: correct wiring, open ground, open neutral, reverse polarity, reverse heat/ground, and no power
- 【Safe and Reliable】 Flame-retardant materials, and IP68 waterproofing make the surge protectors weatherproof, and the rugged enclosure reduces the risk of fires caused by circuit problems
- 【Easy to use】The plugs use ergonomic principles, the use of right-angle male plugs to achieve easy plugging and unplugging, the connection between the power supply and the interface is more convenient
- 【3-Year Warranty】 Geargo are committed to ensuring our customer experience by providing high-quality product and customer service. We have great confidence in our products and our three-year warranty is our sincerity! If you are not sure whether this is a 30A or 50A surge protectors, please let us know!
- 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.
- Enhanced Safety Alerts: Stay ahead of electrical issues by receiving timely wireless fault alerts, ensuring your camper is always protected from unexpected power anomalies.
- Stay Connected Anywhere: Wifi enabled monitoring keeps you informed of your camper essentials with voltage meter data anytime, anywhere-perfect for the modern camper must haves in RV accessories.
- Replaceable Surge Module for Lasting Value: Save time and money by simply swapping out the surge module after a spike; this innovation means no need to replace the entire power surge protector. A sustainable, cost-effective choice in power management.
- Unmatched Weather Resistance: Built with IP65 water-resistant heavy-duty construction, this smart surge protector stands resilient against harsh weather, giving outdoor enthusiasts peace of mind during adventures, wherever nature's challenges lead you.
- Convenience of Compatibility: Seamlessly connect with dogbone adapters, ensuring effortless integration with your existing setup. This adaptability makes it a versatile choice amid RV supplies and accessories, allowing hassle-free setup wherever your travels take you.
- 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.
- High-Joule Protection for RVs: Ensure the safety of your RV's electrical system with our 12,000 Joules RV surge protector. This high joule rating is designed to handle the most demanding power surges, providing you with the peace of mind that your RV's appliances and electronics are protected from voltage spikes and electrical damage.
- LED Display for Real-Time Monitoring: Monitor your RV's electrical status with our surge protector's LED display. This feature allows you to visually confirm the protection status of your RV, indicating any potential issues with power pedestals such as low or high voltage, wiring issues, and ground faults, ensuring you can take immediate action to safeguard your investment.
- Advanced EMS Technology: Our RV surge protector is equipped with advanced Electrical Management System (EMS) technology, which not only protects your RV from power surges but also detects and corrects common power pedestal problems like open ground or neutral, reverse polarity, and improper wiring, providing comprehensive protection for your RV's electrical system
- Waterproof Outdoor Adaptability: With a rugged housing that withstands rain, wind, and intense sunlight, this 30 amp RV surge protector ensures long-lasting protection for RV power safety in harsh outdoor conditions
- Plug-and-Play Convenience: Designed to fit standard 30-amp outlets, it’s ready to use with quick installation, making it perfect for frequent travelers who need convenient and reliable power protection
- 12000J of RV Surge Protection: With 8-Point Safety Systems, this protective shield against voltage surges, extending the lifespan of your RV electrical adapter and improving safety for all travelers and campers
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