Surge Protectors

I use progressive industries portable.

The Progressive units not only have a lifetime warranty but they are made in the good old USA. I do not understand why you would buy something with a shorter warranty that is made overseas. In my experience the purchase cost is normally close. But it's your money.

Here's link to an article that should give you an unbiased assessment of several units available today:
http://www.fmcmagazine.com/back-issues/2012/july-59795/2887-power-protection.html

We were on the fence as to which one to buy a few years ago. Fortunately at the time Technology Research Corp was introducing some new models. Our local Camping World was liquidating the older models at fire sale prices. We were able to pick up the Surge Guard 34650 hardwired version for $89.00

It does protect against power surges, and both high and low voltage. The big difference is that it has to be sent back to the factory for repairs. However in our case the price was the determining factor.

10forty2 wrote:
After a couple of low voltage campsite pedestals, I figure I need SOMETHING to keep me from ruining my electronics on-board.

Then it sounds like you need an autoformer.

A vast majority of RV.net-ers will tell you to go with a Progressive hard wired, beefiest one you can afford with all the bells and whistles and read outs available.

Personally, when we had the option in our camper, I did finally go with a Progressive, but used the pedestal plug in model and put it inside the camper, so (IF) it ever fails, I have a very easy disconnect and can still plug in without a protector and not have to do any special re-wiring to disconnect a hard wired one.

Progressive gives a live time replacement warranty, which is why most folks like the Progressive over any other.

Some folks are just (insane) (in my opinion), monitoring ever power flux or variation down to the 100 millionth of a millionth of a millionth variation. For me, that's not an enjoyable vacation, especially if I have to worry about about and fret over every variation that occurs. I prefer to plug and go and forget. If the protector detects a damaging variation in power, then it should shut down and THEN I can check and see what happened. So a simple read out is more than sufficient for me. So I don't have one that has all the bells and whistles. BUT, some folks live for these moments ... and as always ... we all enjoy our own style of camping.

It really boils down to what you want and feel you need and what you want to monitor and the numbers you want to see. For me, the easier the better.

But, something to think about, if you have a space inside your camper, is a pedestal in-line protector that can be unplugged inside your camper easily (a matter of personal convenience).