Ok....writing this for a 2nd time as connection crapped out as I was first posting.
For my fellow canadian friends.....
BE CAREFUL when buying a surge suppressor (or any electrical device for that matter) that is manufactured out of country. Canada does not allow electrical devices to be sold or used in canada unless it carries at least one of the approved electrical safety certifications (ie. UL, CSA, NSF, MET, etc).
Most of Surge Guard's surge suppressors are not approved for use in Canada. Only a select few are UL approved. None are CSA approved or have any other designation. I am not certain about Progressive surge suppressors but suspect same (as they have pics of all sides of the device on their website and I do not see any designations on the labelling). Perhaps our fellow rv'rs that use progressive can advise if they do and which model.
If you are caught using or selling an unapproved electrical device in canada; it carries a hefty fine (see excerpt below). If an unapproved electrical device is deemed a contributor or cause of a fire/accident/injury/death; the user of the device will be held criminally negligent; and any insurance they have will likely be void. The retailer selling the device can also be held accountable.
Surprisingly, almost all RV retailers in canada are happily (and blissfully unaware) selling unapproved surge suppressors to their customers. There are no controls in place to prevent these unapproved devices from being sold into canada from USA distributors. All canadian RV resellers are purchasing from the same USA distributors (namely coast).
Here are the links backing up my posting. First is link to the electrical safety code (specifically ontario). I am also pasting excerpt below for convenience. Second link is the list of approved electrical safety certifications to use an electrical device in canada. Just ensure at least one of these is embossed on the label or product casing.
Product Safety | EsaSafe
Product Approval Requirements | EsaSafe
=====excerpt of electrical safety code for ontario=====
The Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) and Ontario Regulation 438/07 require that all electrical products and devices (including equipment) be approved.
Specifically, the Code states –
Rule: 2-022 Sale or Other Disposal and Use
• No person shall use, advertise, display, sell, offer for sale or other disposal any electrical equipment unless it has been approved in accordance with Rule 2-024 and Ontario Regulation 438/07.
Rule: 2-024 Approval of Electrical Equipment
• Electrical equipment is deemed to be approved if it has been approved according to the process set out in section 2 of Ontario Regulation 438/07.
The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) recognizes certification bodies and field evaluation agencies accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to certify or evaluate electrical products or devices. Only equipment bearing a recognized mark or label is deemed to be approved. A list of recognized marks and labels is available on our website.
Failure to comply with these Rules or the Regulation is an offence and upon conviction, a person or director/officer of a corporation could be found liable to a fine of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than one year. A corporation may be found liable to a fine up to $1,000,000.
ESA also has the authority to order products be quarantined, seized or forfeited to the Crown for disposal.
Bill
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