50 Amp RV surge protection

[StripesRef]

Wondering if I need a prtable protector. Have camped in New England for 9 years with out one. Am I living on borrowed time?
What would be best for a 50A RV that sometimes camps at CG's with only 30A supply?
I welcome you sharing your thoughts and experience. Thanks

[Magoogle]

You could still use a 50amp surge protector on anything 50 amps and under. Just use your adapters, 50 to 30, 30 to 15 for which ever you need.

As for specific surge protectors. That I cannot recommend.

[BFlinn181]

A 50 amp surge protector (I'd actually suggest a complete EMS to deal with more than just surges) will also work on 30 or 15-20 amp service. An EMS, as in the Progressive EMS deals with surges, miss-wiring (bad neutral or ground) and also low or high voltage that could fry the electronics and motors in the RV that a surge protector alone wouldn't catch. I also like the fact that my EMS is wired into the coach in a lockable compartment and not hanging on the service post where it could be taken.

Progressive gives a lifetime warranty, they really stand behind their products and are great to work with. EMS-LCHW50C

[vsheetz]

Progressive EMS

[Fred Cooper]

I've used the progressive hard wired 50 amp model for years. Great unit, and it has saved my coach from bad connections, over voltage, and undervoltage conditions several times. Put mine downstream of the transfer switch to protect from generator over/under voltage also.

Fred

[Zoafan]

I bought portable so I can take it from coach to coach. What I did to make it so I can keep the EMS locked up is cut the house cord and add a male adapter to this cord. I then added a female on the cut cord and used that as an extension cord so I plug that into the park socket then the EMS into the cord and the RV into the EMS. This way it's locked in the cargo bin.

[jzick]

I would not want to park anywhere without our EMS. Twice we have been in campgrounds where neighbors had severe electrical damage probably caused by power surges. Our protector was destroyed a couple years ago when lightening struck nearby. It was not a direct hit, but close enough that the protector sacrificed itself. To me, a more frequent issue is the protection a good system gives you when power is too low. Many times our system will shut down to protect us from low power, thus protecting things like air conditioners, etc.

[JohnT]

Progressive gives a lifetime warranty, they really stand behind their products and are great to work with. EMS-LCHW50C

I have it hard wired. Saved us a few times.

[RedWing Nut]

Originally Posted by Zoafan

I bought portable so I can take it from coach to coach. What I did to make it so I can keep the EMS locked up is cut the house cord and add a male adapter to this cord. I then added a female on the cut cord and used that as an extension cord so I plug that into the park socket then the EMS into the cord and the RV into the EMS. This way it's locked in the cargo bin.

Good idea. I just put my surge guard in between my cord and an extension cord. Then I run the extension cord to the electric plug. The surge guard stays in the bin.

Works great as long as I don't need the extension cord to reach the plug.

["007"]

Here is a link that will explain most of them, good for your protection of electronics in coach.

[GaryKD]

I purchased the portable model and have it inside the electric bay. It required a bit of wiring, but I can take the surge protector and/or the voltage regulator from the circuit, if needed.

Go to Electrical Bay Better Picture Of Surge Protector - iRV2.com RV Photo Gallery and see the installation.

[wa8yxm]

I do not like it when folks toss TLA's about epically when the same TLA is used to mean different things in the same forum.

EMS= (to police dispatcher me) Emergence Medical Service
EMS = (To many RVers) Energy MANAGEMENT system
EMS = (In this thread) Energy MONITORING system

TLA = Three Letter Acronym.

That said.. I'd go for the Progressive Dynamics one too.

NOTE: The term SURGE GUARD has been, for years, used improperly in the majority of cases.. (This is the exception by the way) as you can go to the store and get "Surge guard" outlet strips and even a "Whole house surge guard"

These devices are spike supressors, They are designed to clip a very fast voltage spike and they do a very fine job of it... But hit them with a real SURGE (one lasting more than a tiny fraction of a second) and it sounds a bit like the evening of July 4 around them with the MOV's blowing like firecrackers.

I was there when it happened, Had about a dozen of 'em scattered about when a true surge hit, Not a one survived. (But they did a fairly good job of protecting the more expensive stuff, Lost a computer power supply and a blower motor).

Thank you Detroit Edison for that.. (DTE also paid for the motor, They said it was as a courtesy due to my job as a police dispatcher,,,, I truly suspect it was my certificate in electronics that scared them into paying. You see, I know what "Normal voltage variation" means, and it does not mean 2x normal voltage).

[baloo]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

I do not like it when folks toss TLA's about epically when the same TLA is used to mean different things in the same forum.
...
TLA = Three Letter Acronym.
...
...like the evening of July 4 around them with the MOV's blowing like firecrackers.
...Thank you Detroit Edison for that.. (DTE also paid for the motor....

Good info.
But "MOV", "DTE" ?? whaaa dat?

[phinneyj]

While I was in town, I stopped by the Camping World in Rocklin, CA. I have been looking for a 50 amp hardwire unit. I was thinking about popping for the Progressive unit. That is until I found the TRC Model 34560 on clearance for $204. Cheapest I have seen online is Tweety's for $289. Sweet deal.

Now that I think about it I should have bought the other one on the shelf and sell it on Ebay for a profit.