Surge Guard Model #34730 TRC

[Larry Geese]

Need sage advice from you experienced folks with Motorhomes. I have a 2005 Windsor with energy managements system. Seems the engergy managment just controls air conditioners and such.
Do I really need a 'Surge Guard" Model #34730 at about $300.00 from Camping World.
My neighbor has one and noticed he only had one leg of 50amp power. Got the maintance guy to change the plug an breaker at the power post. Works great now. Without the Surge Guard I would most likely just plug in the 50amp, switch the post breaker to on....and wonder what was going on. It seems lot of folks don't have one.
What to do you folks think...need one or not. What kind of disaster can happen without one.
The Goose

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Geese What to do you folks think...need one or not. What kind of disaster can happen without one.

The Goose, When I was in Forest City, IA I was struck by lightning via my CB antenna. The energy went through by electrical system backward and tripped the 2P-50 Amp breaker in the pedestal.

In my case it fried the Surge Guard but I expect that it didn't have a choice since they are designed to be directional.

On the very next morning I went to the Surge Guard vendor and I went and bought a replacement unit as soon as he opened. After people saw what happened to me that vendor sold out of hard wired 50A Surge Guard units!

There are better units that do good work and have a digital display to boot which monitors and displays the values on each leg in reference to frequency and voltage. I have a lot of friends that use that particular surge guard system. I believe it's a unit made by Progressive Systems.

[GaryKD]

Hi Larry,
There are several brands one can purchase. The bottom line is I would not leave home without a surge protector. I also would not leave home without a voltage regulator. Consistent low voltage (not enough to trip the surge protector) is a problem one will see much more than a surge of power. However, a surge of power will do the electric appliances in immediately. Consistent low voltage will do the appliances in more slowly. Sort of like dying quickly from a heart attack or slowly from a cancer. Either way the appliance(s) are dead. This is what I have in my coach.

Portable Surge Guard - 50 amp at RVUpgradeStore.com - Specializing in quality camper parts and RV parts and supplies - Product Search - Showing All

and a little farther down the page

Surge Guard Voltage Regulator - 50 amp at RVUpgradeStore.com - Specializing in quality camper parts and RV parts and supplies - Product Search - Showing All

Pedestal shore cord to the voltage regulator to the surge protector to the coach.

[Route 66]

The model you mention is a 30Amp unit, but you imply you have a 50Amp rig, so you would need a 50Amp unit.

I agree that an EMS is essential.

I have a Progressive Industries unit and RV Upgrades has both.

["007"]

There are any number of Surge Protectors on the market. All are good to protect all your electronics and appliances.
Had a Transfer Switch board blow with power surge in campground. I have the 50amp hard wired with Gen and shore line through it. Have not had any further problems since.
The Progressive is a good one also, you will just have to decide how much to spend but I would get one to be safe.
If you visit Quick Tips you'll see how some have wired theres.

[Diplomat Don]

Larry......I have the built-in 50A SurgeGuard on my coach and it works great. The first time I used it, it told my my house wiring was wrong at my RV pedestal. Even though I have the SurgeGuard model I would buy the Progressive Industires model if I had to replace mine. The PI model has more features for the same price.

I would also go with the built-in model because it's less hassle and you don't have to worry about anyone stealing it.

[ShapeShifter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Geese Need sage advice from you experienced folks with Motorhomes. I have a 2005 Windsor with energy managements system. Seems the engergy managment just controls air conditioners and such. Do I really need a 'Surge Guard" Model #34730 at about $300.00 from Camping World.

They are two very different systems.

Your built-in energy management monitors how much power your rig is consuming, and if it gets too high, it will turn off some of the heavier loads. The intent is to automatically budget your power usage, and prevent you from tripping the campground pedestal breaker (or your own main breaker.) That's all that system does.

Then there are the add-on surge protectors. There are a variety of different types, with different prices and capabilities. While there is some variation in details, they monitor the voltage going into your system, and will cut off the power before high or low power can cause damage to your rig's internal equipment. They can also check for wiring faults like an open ground, or an open neutral (which can be devastating to a 50 amp rig.) They will also offer some protection from power surges, although nothing can really protect from a direct lightning strike. So, essentially, they don't control how much power you use, but they protect you from a variety of electrical problems. These are a popular add-on.

Finally, there is a power conditioner, often called an autoformer. These will actually boost or lower the supply voltage to counter bad voltage. But they generally don't protect against other types of problems. These seem to be less commonly used.

Personally, I have the built in energy managment system, and I wouldn't be without it. But it isn't enough for me. I added a Progressive Industries HW-50C surge protector. It has saved me from several wiring faults, a couple campgrounds with low voltage, and even one with high voltage. In each case, it cut the power before any damage could happen, and even before I was aware there was a problem. (Including the time the voltage climbed to over 140 volts during the night -- while I was sleeping it caught the problem and saved my systems.)

All of the different system types have their purposes. Personally, I wouldn't be without my add-on surge protector.

[powerboatr]

i have a installed surgegaurd with panel in our unit.
frankly wouldn't go without one now days, to many times we have plugged in and found bad power.

[Larry Geese]

What a great web site, iRV2. Thanks to all of you for your great input. I will get a 50amp surge protector tomorrow.
Thanks a lot.
The Goose