I am going to purchase a surge protector like the EMS-LCHW50C or other similar recommended unit. Should I wire it after the transfer switch to protect the 50A input and the generator (Onan 8KW diesel)? Or do it the easy way and just protect the 50A input? I know the plug in units just protect the input.Thanx

You should wire it at the input of the power cord, it has nothing to do with the generator.

FREQUENCYMost "miracle" power deciders, rely on 60hz. What happens to the "miracle" (never mind the gizmo), should it ever see say 45 hertz loaded as the generator spins-down due to a fault? I remember seeing my first "Todd Industries" 75 amp switched high frequency charger. My neighbor called me over one morning."I wanna show you a 75 amp charger than is one tenth the size of that 200+ amp monster you have under your dining room table""Tah-Dah!"Cough-gag-sputter went his genset. Turned out to be a clogged fuel filter."Say, can you come back over and give me a hand figuring out why the new charger won't charge. I got the generator running again OK, but no charge".SMOKEDWhen you connect ANYTHING AT ALL to a standard generator, figure out if the load is frequency sensitive somehow. Some regulators now have cornering frequencies lower than 55 Hz. and a generator can fault and spin down leaving voltage available but frequency very low. I do not now if the miracle power gizmos were designed with this in mind. You should be able to get a straight answer from the gizmo manufacturer.

Wire it between the transfer switch and the breaker box. Contrary to some opinions, generators, being man made objects, can and do fail. Protect from bad electricity from shore and generator.There is upside but no downside to this arrangement.

I have mine after the transfer switch. As posted above the generator can fail. I would rather replace a burnt up transfer switch than the electronic after the transfer switch.

I agree the genset can fail. But honestly I consider the risk of the genset frying everything very slim vs. a surge coming form the pedestal.I want the protection as close the pedestal as possible. Maybe I may fry my 50 amp cord if a large surge strikes However everything after the EMS 50 should be protected.If surge is installed after the transfer switch than the transfer switch itself could fry along with more internal wiring if the pedestal produces the surge. I'll take my chances with the genset and focus protection to issues coming from the pedestal.

Suge Protect 50A and Generator ? | Good Sam Community

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
Power systems before the transformer meaning line transmission and distribution have cutout relays to shunt lightning strikes to ground. A bad secondary strike can blow a transformer off a pole, turn park wiring incandescent, make a Hughes Autoformer, or "Energy Management System" look remarkably similar to a turkey baked in an oven 36 hours, and fry a lot of circuits downstream from that.

I tune an AM radio off-station. If I hear crackling getting louder the plug gets yanked.
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 13, 2013
I agree with installing between transfer switch and the breaker panel.
Protecting the transfer switch is overrated IMO. Easy swap if you carry a spare.
otoh there are posts about generators that produce bad voltage. You can't carry a spare everything else if the voltage regulator goes wonky.
Pirate1
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
After the transfer switch. Protect all of your valuable AC products in the RV. My first RV had a gen that failed and output 160v. Luckily, I had wired my PD after the transfer switch. Even then, it managed to fry the microwave before it tripped.

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