Surge protector

[TommyD]

Since I'm getting a new Hawk 23MRB I'm looking into a surge protector.
Many many out there. Any suggestions or guide lines?
Thanks

[Rustic Eagle]

Here's a couple JOF surge protector threads to check out.....;

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...r-30066-4.html

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...r-55526-2.html

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...r-45214-3.html

Bob

[John from Central Florida]

Definitely recommended! Use the links Rustic posted, and let us know what you got!

Be prepared for a little sticker shock.

Safe travels!

[RedHorse1]

I’m a fan of Progressive and it’s my opinion that an EMS offers more protection than a surge suppressor (the device, not the brand). I’ve owned 2 PI EMS units, a portable 30A and hardwired 50A.

[wags999]

For sure you want an EMS not just a surge protector. Much more common to have low voltage at times in a campground than a surge. It will offer much more protection to all your electronic components including surges.


Good Luck.... and yes Progressive in my opinion offers the best and lifetime warranty.

[wiscampsin]

Another vote for Progressive Industries EMS unit. You can go with either a portable unit or one that's hard wired. My preference in the hard wired unit. Link: Rv Surge Protection | United States | Progressive Industries, Inc.

[smithmdsmith]

Another vote for the Progressive Industries EMS.

[2edgesword]

I have a Surge Guard 30Amp "electrical protection". I've had it six years. During that time it's shut off power twice due to low voltage (bad post that camp maintenance came out an fixed) and warned of reverse voltage a couple of times. Of course you won't know how many times it may have protected the RV from voltage spikes but in my opinion worth having for the protection it provides and the real-time read out of voltage and current. Over time you build some idea of what normal current draw is for different appliances which can be a help in energy management if you only have a 30 amp system.

[edatlanta]

I have two of the Progressive PT50X units. One is in service full time and the other is a spare. I started out with PT50C's 8 years ago and both of these sacrificed themselves a couple of times and the warranty replacements were the PT50X's.

Where I am hosting right now others were complaining about "power surges". Actually they were commenting on flickering lights, etc. My PT50X showed it was actually low voltage. This happened 5 separate times this past weekend.
The campground manager had the campground system checked and all is ok and now he is waiting on the power company to install a recording meter on the incoming power to isolate the problem. The campground is virtually empty right now since this is our slow season until the weather cools off a bit so it isn't a system overload issue. It always seem to happen immediately after rain starts so something is obviously getting wet that isn't supposed.

Obviously I vote for the Progressive EMS.

[cekkk]

Agree. Surge protector is inadequate. PI EMS.

[edatlanta]

At the campground where I'm hosting we had a massive thunderstorm early last evening and our power went out a couple of times and finally was out for about 4 hours. It came back on for a bit and then out again until 4:00am. I turned my main breaker off after the first couple of outages and just waited it out. I have a PT50X, but why tease the gorilla when you KNOW there are major line issues in your area. I fired up my generator a little bit ago for my first cup of the morning when the power was still out. After the first sip the power came back on. I waited 30 minutes or so to make sure it was stable this time and then switched back to shore power. Hopefully all is well again.

Did my PT50X save me from anything during the several on/off periods with shore power? I don't know, but I'm sure of one thing - all is working great this morning in my rig.

[Chet & Marie]

Thanks to 2edgedword for the advice. I bought a new Surge Guard 34830 from my dealer today as in our old age we are often using campgrounds with utilities rather than boonie camping. I paid $269 for it. I could have gotten it on line for a little less but I like my dealer and try to do business with him whenever I can.

[2edgesword]

Originally Posted by Chet & Marie

Thanks to 2edgedword for the advice. I bought a new Surge Guard 34830 from my dealer today as in our old age we are often using campgrounds with utilities rather than boonie camping. I paid $269 for it. I could have gotten it on line for a little less but I like my dealer and try to do business with him whenever I can.

In my mind it’s a small price to pay for the protection it provides and the information it provides about energy usage. Happy camping!

[smiley]

Progressive EMS-HW30C installed in 2013. Works great. Told me about ground faults at my house and reverse wiring at a campground. Survived a lighting strike at a campground. My two friends campers parked next to me were not so lucky. One blew out a main breaker and both have had some electrical problems since the incident....A/C units and refrigerators. Also, nice feature is to know how much AMP you are using.

[mia389]

Originally Posted by smiley

Progressive EMS-HW30C installed in 2013. Works great. Told me about ground faults at my house and reverse wiring at a campground. Survived a lighting strike at a campground. My two friends campers parked next to me were not so lucky. One blew out a main breaker and both have had some electrical problems since the incident....A/C units and refrigerators. Also, nice feature is to know how much AMP you are using.

I love the amp reading info. I have the HW50 version and I am able to run both my A/C's on a 30amp service. I found running front A/C on medium fan and having all my CBs off except for A/C breakers, I run between 28-30 amps.

I had someone at a camp ground tell me I should have a surge protector since the camp ground had some iffy wiring. I told him I did. The look on his face when he thought I was lieing to him since he could not see it. It was great lol. I did explain it was a direct wire unit.

[Les7h]

The campground we are now has one leg of our 50amp will drop to 90 volts 2 or 3 times a day for 10 - 15 minutes and 73 volts one time for about 4 hours hopefully they have figured out and repaired the problem
I am confident that our A/Cs and who knows what else would have been fried and a surge suppressor would not have provided the protection that we needed - I told my wife that we probably would be buying an A/C and finding a service location that could install it if they had one or could find one — VERY CHEAP INSURANCE at $400 ish. Les

[RAurand]

Here is my story. Read POST # 10.
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...ing-48571.html

[John H]

I installed a Progressive hard wired unit in our trailer and it may have just paid for itself the other day when we returned to the trailer and found it showing a low voltage fault code and it had shut down the power coming into the trailer, we had left the ac on because of the heat and the low voltage would have been hard on things. I know its working as it should.

[docdvm]

I bought a eagle HT fifth wheel and my first accessory was a 50 watt ems from Progressive. Travelled across Canada and found that many posts were too short so I had to rig it so it wouldn't lie on the ground and get wet when connected. In addition my cord has a disconnect handle so the plastic cover on the EMS does not close . Was not problem on our trip though but i can see the benefot of a hard wired ems.

[oldnnew]

Does anyone run a Hughes Autoformer? I've been looking for an EMS and I was pretty set on the Progressive hardwired unit, and then I stumbled on the Hughes Autoformer. It appears that now the Hughes pretty much does what the Progressive unit does, but instead of shutting down in a low power situation it boosts power to keep running? Seems like a win-win to me. Giving the Hughes a hard look now. Curious if anyone is running one and can comment on how they like it?