Shoud I use my Progressive EMS or Not?

[Route 66 Traveler]

I would like to get some opinions pro and con about using my generator while towing my travel trailer. The generator will be secured in the back of my pickup, connected by a 30 amp cord to my 50 amp receptacle at the rear of my trailer. The main reason for doing this is so I can run the AC while traveling in the summer heat with our two cats riding in the trailer. They normally ride in the trailer when we travel. We are planning a trip through Texas at the end of June and it will probably get pretty hot inside the trailer while traveling.

My concern is whether or not to connect the power cord directly to my generator or to connect my Progressive EMS to the generator first, then the power cord to the EMS. The output of the generator is very stable so I don't really see a need for the EMS other than to protect the AC if something were to happen to the generator. When I exercise my generator at home I connect the EMS first just so I can see the current draw when I turn on the AC, electric water heater, etc.

Has anyone used a similar setup and did you use any type of surge protection or not?

[JB13502]

I don't use my Progressive EMS when connected to my generator/inverter, but I know people who do.

If you do decide to use your EMS with your generator, you'll need to fashion up an Edison plug (easily found by Googling). Generators typically have a floating ground, which the EMS will interpret as an open ground and will not supply power to the coach.

The Edison plug fools the generator into seeing the floating ground as a bonded ground.

[Route 66 Traveler]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I do use a Bonding Plug when plugged into the generator with my EMS. I have used that setup a couple of times while camping, but never while driving down the road. Just concerned about the EMS bouncing around in the back of the truck with the generator running, as well as possibly having the generator overheating and shutting down with the AC running.

I am leaning towards just plugging the power cord directly into the generator and not worry about the EMS. I was just curious if anyone has done something similar. Thanks again…