Progressive EMS install question

[Maineiacs]

I have a 32RLI. Purchased a Progressive EMS for permanent install. For those who've done this in a Cougar - how much slack did you have to work with when you pulled the power panel? I'm hoping there's enough slack to work comfortably this spring.

[chuckster57]

I dont have your model, but when I installed mine the shore cord joined the trailer romex at a junction box. I just undid the wire nuts, removed the box and put my EMS in the same spot. If you have romex all the way to the breaker panel, just pick a good spot and then cut the romex where the middle of the EMS will be.

[Maineiacs]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

the shore cord joined the trailer romex at a junction box. .

On my coach the electrical panel is at floor level. Until I remove it, I'm not sure what I'll find. A junction box would be nice - easy to work with. As I say, some of the videos I've seen show enough slack in the input cord to work easily. Hoping to find someone with a similar Keystone product who can tell me what to expect.


By the way, you really need to get up here to Maine so you can color that in on your map!

[Northofu1]

My panel is mid trailer at floor level and outlet is on rear wall. Being a rear entertainment model there was ample wiring to cut and rejoin. So I put mine in the cubby above the water pump. It was easy, but cutting and bending 50 amp cord is not fun if temps are low.
If there is any way you can warm it, I would do that. Micro heater in close quarters would help, 20 mins or a half hour.
Good luck

[Maineiacs]

Dan, the shore cord enters in the rear and it appears to run under the floor and come up behind the electric panel which is mid-coach at floor level. So I don't think your approach would work for me. Thanks for the suggestion.

[JRTJH]

I think you're asking about how much slack is in the ROMEX that's connected to the trailer power distribution center ???

In every trailer that I've pulled the power center distribution center, there has been ample ROMEX to completely pull the box away from it's mounting location, turn it at an angle to access the back of the circuit breaker panel...

If that's your concern: "How much extra cable is behind the panel where the circuit breakers are located" ?? Then I think you'll find that there's "adequate ROMEX to pull the panel to get behind it without having to disassemble the circuit breaker/fuse box to disconnect it.....

Is that your concern ??

[rhagfo]

Big TT, is it 50 amp or 30 amp service. If it is 50 the 6 gauge wire is not user friendly. I chose to buy a 3’ length at HD and not cut the existing cable. I ran the 3’ from power center to EMS and connected the existing cable end to the input side of the EMS.

[Northofu1]

Originally Posted by Maineiacs

Dan, the shore cord enters in the rear and it appears to run under the floor and come up behind the electric panel which is mid-coach at floor level. So I don't think your approach would work for me. Thanks for the suggestion.

That's exactly how mine runs, only difference is I have cabinets on the back wall. Yours probably runs in to where that panel is on the side cabinet of the recliner, and then under the floor.
It's just an alternative to pulling everything out from the breaker panel.
Like Russ, I bought 2 feet of cable and attached it to a new receptacle as mine was cracked along the threads.

[Maineiacs]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Is that your concern ??

That's exactly right John.

[Maineiacs]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

Big TT, is it 50 amp or 30 amp service. If it is 50 the 6 gauge wire is not user friendly. I chose to buy a 3’ length at HD and not cut the existing cable. I ran the 3’ from power center to EMS and connected the existing cable end to the input side of the EMS.

It's a 50 amp service. An excellent idea about the extra wire and thanks for specifying the correct gauge.

[Maineiacs]

Originally Posted by Northofu1

Like Russ, I bought 2 feet of cable and attached it to a new receptacle as mine was cracked along the threads.

Apparently great minds think alike! Thanks for the quick and helpful answer.

[Javi]

Either the Progressive (my favorite) ot or the South Wire are very simple to install although in some cases it does help to be a contortionist.

[LHaven]

I had a 30A connection at floor level. The easiest way for me to figure out what it looked like back there was just to look back there. I had plenty of slack to pull the box out 90° and then some. The feed cable was run into the box with some nasty strain reliefs of a type I hadn't encountered before (image)... with a little work I was able to jimmy the ratchet inside and slide the cable out so I didn't have to cut it, and I had the whole length to work with. Then I bought new strain reliefs and used them to secure the new jumper I installed from the box to the EMS.

Advice: get your vacuum before you start this job. You will find lots of "factory presents" behind your fusebox.

[bcintx]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

Big TT, is it 50 amp or 30 amp service. If it is 50 the 6 gauge wire is not user friendly. I chose to buy a 3’ length at HD and not cut the existing cable. I ran the 3’ from power center to EMS and connected the existing cable end to the input side of the EMS.

I have a 2021 316RLS and the power cable ran right to the back of the breaker box. I did what rhagfo did.

[Berdan]

Before and after photos on my 22RBIWE.

[Maineiacs]

Originally Posted by Berdan

Before and after photos on my 22RBIWE.

It appears that the service cable is entering through that black circle on the wall - correct? And the junction box is where it transitions to romex to run to your circuit breaker panel - right?


I don't think it physically possible for me to access the area where the service cable enters. I'm hoping to pull the circuit breaker panel and have enough room to make the connections there.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Maineiacs

It appears that the service cable is entering through that black circle on the wall - correct? And the junction box is where it transitions to romex to run to your circuit breaker panel - right?


I don't think it physically possible for me to access the area where the service cable enters. I'm hoping to pull the circuit breaker panel and have enough room to make the connections there.

I pulled the 50 amp cord from the service center and added a 3 foot piece from the EMS back to the service center. Then mounted the EMS in the basement behind the service center

[LHaven]

It looks like Berdan installed the EMS inside his mousehole, not in back of his fusebox. I was considering the same but decided against it because I didn't like any of the places I would have had to mount the monitor panel in the bathroom.

Seriously, dismounting the fusebox is not a complicated job. Disconnect shore and battery power, zip out six screws, and slide. The most taxing part of mounting the EMS there was the very last step of reaching way back into the low cavity to screw the box into the floor. All the actual electrical work was comfortably done well outside the cavity.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by LHaven

It looks like Berdan installed the EMS inside his mousehole, not in back of his fusebox. I was considering the same but decided against it because I didn't like any of the places I would have had to mount the monitor panel in the bathroom.

Seriously, dismounting the fusebox is not a complicated job. Disconnect shore and battery power, zip out six screws, and slide. The most taxing part of mounting the EMS there was the very last step of reaching way back into the low cavity to screw the box into the floor. All the actual electrical work was comfortably done well outside the cavity.

Exactly. For most installations, the "hardest, most frustrating" part of the installation is getting that DAMN 6 gauge wiring to bend inside the EMS box. The actual installation (if done behind the circuit breaker panel) can almost always be done while sitting on the trailer floor, with the EMS in your lap. BUT THAT HARD TO BEND 6 GAUGE WIRE IN A 3.5" BLACK PLASTIC BOX....

[Berdan]

[QUOTE=Maineiacs;484770]It appears that the service cable is entering through that black circle on the wall - correct? And the junction box is where it transitions to romex to run to your circuit breaker panel - right?


Yes. The location for mine is behind a wood panel at the base of the bathroom sink. My TT has the bathroom at the rear. The junction box just had the shore power cable connected to the Romex via wire nuts.