Community Forums

DKRITTER · 02-18-2021, 03:40 PM

We have a Surge Guard 34951 that goes on the pole outside and into the end of your cord.

I would like to hardwire this into the power cord bay so that it’s not subject to the elements. Is it possible to put a male and female plug in and be able to just plug it in?

If so where should the cord be cut/removed?

cavie · 02-18-2021, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKRITTER

We have a Surge Guard 34951 that goes on the pole outside and into the end of your cord.

I would like to hardwire this into the power cord bay so that it’s not subject to the elements. Is it possible to put a male and female plug in and be able to just plug it in?

If so where should the cord be cut/removed?

Before the ATS.

DicknBambi · 02-18-2021, 03:56 PM

I have a Autoformer in my electric bay. The cord was cut about a foot before the transfer switch with a male plug on it. The cord to the pedestal receiving the female plug so you should be able to add the surge protection to it or just plug the cord the way it was. Good luck

Luv2go · 02-18-2021, 04:07 PM

I used a 9' 50A 4 wire range cord as a stub to the transfer switch in the electrical compartment. Then added the female end to the power cord that used to be end in the transfer switch. This gave me a short cord to connect to my box when in the RV tent at home and a way to connect the Surge Guard and keep it protected in the compartment while plugged in at campgrounds.

Alpine36 · 02-18-2021, 04:12 PM

Yes, in series between the cord reel and ATS. Ideally somewhere easily accessible where you can still monitor the surge guard.
If that's not possible or a major pita, hardware in a Progressive Dynamics unit with a remote monitor panel and sell the surge guard.

sramer · 02-19-2021, 07:07 AM

I installed mine but I also installed a Hughes Autoformer.

To accomplish this I installed a 50A female receptacle after the Power Reel and a 50A male pigtail hardwired into the Transfer Switch.

The Autoformer plugs into the receptacle coming off the Power Reel. The male end of the Surge Protector plugs into the Autoformer and the female end of the Surge Protector plugs into the pigtail hard wired into the Transfer Switch.

To do what you want to do you would do to the same, install a 50A male pigtail hard wired into the Transfer Switch, then the 50A female receptacle coming off the power reel.

Quite frankly, since you are going through all that I would recommend installing the Hughes Autoformer, it's well worth the money. But even if you don't, it will still be wired where an Autoformer would be easily pluged in anytime in the future. Here is what I did.

Cory2 · 02-21-2021, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sramer

I installed mine but I also installed a Hughes Autoformer.

To accomplish this I installed a 50A female receptacle after the Power Reel and a 50A male pigtail hardwired into the Transfer Switch.

The Autoformer plugs into the receptacle coming off the Power Reel. The male end of the Surge Protector plugs into the Autoformer and the female end of the Surge Protector plugs into the pigtail hard wired into the Transfer Switch.

To do what you want to do you would do to the same, install a 50A male pigtail hard wired into the Transfer Switch, then the 50A female receptacle coming off the power reel.

Quite frankly, since you are going through all that I would recommend installing the Hughes Autoformer, it's well worth the money. But even if you don't, it will still be wired where an Autoformer would be easily pluged in anytime in the future. Here is what I did.

Doesn't the autoformer have surge protection built in? If I read correctly the surge board is around $55 if it needs replaced. Why have another surge protection on the back side of the autoformer when it performs that role already and if the board needs replaced, it's a lot cheaper than replacing to downstream separate surge protector.

Maybe I'm missing something?

Luv2go · 02-21-2021, 09:49 AM

There are many threads on iRV2 regarding this for your reading pleasure.

Hittntheroad · 02-21-2021, 10:10 AM

I got the Hughes Power Watchdog. You monitor it through an app on your phone. Shows voltage, amps, watts and energy. You can mount it anywhere.

cavie · 02-22-2021, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hittntheroad

I got the Hughes Power Watchdog. You monitor it through an app on your phone. Shows voltage, amps, watts and energy. You can mount it anywhere.

That is a surge protector only. Not an EMS. Low voltage is the problem with campgrounds. Surge only will not protect from low voltage.

cavie · 02-22-2021, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cory2

Doesn't the autoformer have surge protection built in? If I read correctly the surge board is around $55 if it needs replaced. Why have another surge protection on the back side of the autoformer when it performs that role already and if the board needs replaced, it's a lot cheaper than replacing to downstream separate surge protector.

Maybe I'm missing something?

https://rvmentor.com/2019/11/24/ems-...o0_1M3_i4tQ-P0

https://thecampingnerd.com/rv-surge-...30-amp-50-amp/

https://www.technorv.com/articles/do...rge-protector/

https://hughesautoformers.com/run-yo...arding-nfpa70/

scbwr · 02-22-2021, 05:28 AM

I posted this back in 2020:

Another option is to remove the coaches power cord from the transfer switch. Replace it with an electric range cord. Install female plug on the end of the power cord. Then, you can have the range cord connected to the EMS and the EMS connected to the power cord. That's what I did and it has worked well. If necessary, you can bypass the EMS unit if you had to due to it failing.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-55353-F...5794258&sr=8-2