I was just reading through the installation manual for the surge suppressor I'm going to have put on my new gasser and found that it can be wired in before the transfer switch or after so that it protects for both benny and shore power.Is there any downside to the latter? protection after the transfer switch seems to be wise, but since I have no experience with coaches with a benny, I may be missing something.

Hi,It would be best to put it before the transfer switch.The generator is a known power source and can be monitored for voltage when in use. It is unlikely that there would be a surge from the genny.

Plus putting it before the transfer switch protects that box from shore power issues.

cKarlGo wrote: I have no experience with coaches with a benny, I may be missing something.Is that a genny?

Also if you put it after the transfer switch you have to wait through two delays. I don't do patient.

Install after the transfer switch. Plenty of posts of a transfer switch bad neutral causing the over voltage issues. Also the transfer switch itself is fairly tolerant of over voltage and surges. Plenty of posts where the generator voltage regulator has issues.

Surge suppressor: before or after the transfer switch

wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 19, 2014
Personally I trust my generator so when I get it finally set up the sequence will be

park----Inlet---Hughes autoformer---Surge guard--_Transfer switch--Rest of RV.
Pirate1
Explorer
May 19, 2014
Ok. Definately after the ATS. You need protection from both sources of power.

I had a generator circuit board fail once. It output 160V. Luckily my surge system was after my ATS but I still lost my microwave.
SCVJeff
Explorer
May 19, 2014
pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

It would be best to put it before the transfer switch.

The generator is a known power source and can be monitored for voltage when in use. It is unlikely that there would be a surge from the genny.
I see surging non-inverter generators in news trucks all the time at work (especially the older ones) and the generator man makes a pretty good living off them.

The delay in the surge guard is whatever you set it to: Instant or 2 min. I'm not that impatient.
time2roll
Nomad
May 19, 2014
Install after the transfer switch. Plenty of posts of a transfer switch bad neutral causing the over voltage issues. Also the transfer switch itself is fairly tolerant of over voltage and surges. Plenty of posts where the generator voltage regulator has issues.
gemert
Explorer
May 19, 2014
Also if you put it after the transfer switch you have to wait through two delays. I don't do patient.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 19, 2014
cKarlGo wrote:
I have no experience with coaches with a benny, I may be missing something.
Is that a genny?
bob_nestor
Explorer III
May 19, 2014
Plus putting it before the transfer switch protects that box from shore power issues.
pianotuna
Nomad III
May 19, 2014
Hi,

It would be best to put it before the transfer switch.

The generator is a known power source and can be monitored for voltage when in use. It is unlikely that there would be a surge from the genny.

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Surge suppressor: before or after the transfer switch

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