2011 Journey surge guard??

[studmuffin1]

Does a 2011 Journey come with a surge protector?? Can not find in writeup, or by looking. Heck, I can not even find the inverter. If none, how do the cheaper units work, don't feel like $6-800 for a Hughes, but if I have to I will. Thanks.

[studmuffin1]

Ok found the inverter, but still need info on protection. Thanks.

[twinboat]

Inverters invert battery 12 volts into 120 volts.

They don't offer any protection from shore power.

Surge guards don't cost $600 to $800. More like $80 to $325.

Hughes are autoformers. They protect AND boost low power.

[2Newsomes]

Your surge guard if there is in the transfer switch located in the electrical bay. Google the model number on the black box your shore power cord terminates in. Each model offers different protections.

[Skip Y]

Don't think Bago's come with surge protection. Call Bago Techs at 800.537-1885 to confirm.

[Digger29]

Our 14 Meridian 42E came with a Surge Guard system and I run a Progressive Industries 50amp surge protector wherever we are plugged in, even at home because you just never know.

[jerichorick]

Originally Posted by studmuffin1

Does a 2011 Journey come with a surge protector?? Can not find in writeup, or by looking. Heck, I can not even find the inverter. If none, how do the cheaper units work, don't feel like $6-800 for a Hughes, but if I have to I will. Thanks.

No. We don't has surge protection. The EMS does a good job for protecting us from most electrical problems like neutral/ground out of balance or a low voltage situation. But, under load, if the neutral fails (happened to me) damage can happen.
When the neutral went open on me the A/C was running. A few wires got burned and a couple of relays in the control boxes in the units on the roof. Fixed that. But the boards got damaged in the generator start area. When I try to set the gen in Auto Start, when the compressors run it signals the gen to start even though I have shore power.

If I had a surge protector this may not have happened. For this type of failure the surge protector would have survived most likely. I will be in serious trouble if I do get caught in a true "surge" condition where the voltage takes a sudden spike because a transformer fails or lighting strikes the lines.
As I write this I am starting to convince myself that it may be time for a surge protector.
I do have a Hughes type (not same brand) voltage booster. That has come in very handy. But, it could be fried in a line event. Yup. Surge guard might be in order.

[NeilV]

Originally Posted by studmuffin1

Does a 2011 Journey come with a surge protector?? Can not find in writeup, or by looking. Heck, I can not even find the inverter. If none, how do the cheaper units work, don't feel like $6-800 for a Hughes, but if I have to I will. Thanks.

They did not come from the factory with a Surge Protector and if it does have one it will have been installed by a dealer or prior owner either being a portable brick type unit or mounted inside the power bay between the power cord and the transfer switch.

A Surge Protector and a Hughes Low Voltage Correction Transformer which also has some Surge Protection are two different things. The Surge Protector protects against surges and low voltage by shutting you down leaving you without power while the Hughes will only shut you down after a high surge but will correct low power keeping you running along with preventing low voltage damage to your equipment.

I found that moderate low voltage at campgrounds that still was not low enough to trigger the Surge Protectors Low Voltage Shutdown was costing me enough to justify the cost of getting the Hughes Autoformer.

So being a belt and suspenders type when it comes to electrical protection I have had both a Surge Protector and a Hughes Autoformer for well over a decade and have not since installing the Autoformer had another 120 volt component fail in my 2001 Adventurer.