What do you use for surge protection?

smkettner wrote:

synergy_58 wrote:
Okay, so as I understand this whole thing, with my limited knowledge of electrical terminology and hands-on, instead of wiring the EMS unit (30A for me too) at the end of the main power cord, like i see most people are doing in the few illustrations on-line, I need to find the transfer switch (no idea where its at or what it looks like) and then hard wire the EMS between the switch and the generator. Will I be able to determine the current flow easily? between the switch and genny I mean?
and so doing it this way, I leave the transfer switch unprotected, meaning that this switch could become damaged. How vulnerable is this switch to things like low current, spikes in current, or the nuteral condition, things that the EMS protects against?

are there any illustrations that you know of which shows the installation process for this procedure, between the switch and genny, on-line? This would help me out a lot.

Thanks!

You do not want to install between the generator and switch. Protection goes just before the breaker panel.


Cord----> Transfer switch ----> Surge protector ----> Breaker panel
Generator----^

If your RV uses the cord to plug into the generator then you have no switch because you are the switch.

Easiest IMO is remove the main romex from the breaker panel (hot,neutral&ground). Connect this romex to the Surge protector input. Get a new piece of romex (proper size) and connect the output of the protector to the breaker panel where the oem wire was removed. This will allow you to remove the protector and restore the RV back to original configuration if you decide to sell and take the protector with you.

The transfer switch is more likely to create an issue than to be harmed by something else. Better to be protected from the switch than worry about protecting the switch.

Yes the remote display will show voltage and amperes flowing into the RV.

Ok, you're correct in saying that I have no switch. I have to plug the generator in and unplug it when I'm on shore power.

So then, I should install the protector right at the main breaker box, okay. I'll check all this out.
I can easily see why some (many) people go with portable protectors, but I don't want to worry about pluging in the protector everytime I connect to shore power.

Thanks for the input!