Portable surge protector

[two_travelers]

Looking to get the Progressive portable surge protector for our new RV. I see that they have a bracket for locking it up. Is theft of these units an issue? If so, what suggestions are there for locking it to the pedistal.

Thanks for all who share their knowledge.

[Campforever]

Recently my surge protector of 20 years (progressive) died. Replaced it with a Hughs that very much to my surprise I got $35 dollars cheaper through Home Depot.

Go online and check it out!

[pianotuna]

Consider getting an autoformer instead of just a surge device.

[wa8yxm]

Oh one thing this thread has not addressed.
progressive industries makes several "Surge Protectors"

You wnat the top end units. portable or hard wired the PT50 or the HW50 The ones with a display that shows volts and amps and fault codes (Either local on the portable or on a remote for the Hard Wired)

You do not want the ones with just a few indicator lights. (The cheap ones)

I had the competetiors unit (TRC/Southwire Surge Guard) and I can't tell you how useful it was.. helped me not only by protecting from over/under but at two different parks the fault codes told me what the problem was with the park's wiring. (one park had a screw loose.. (Perhaps more than one) the other .. it was a major (Thousands of dollars) repair)

[AllegroD]

We do not lock ours. You might also look at the Hughes Watchdog.

[mfinnerty]

I had a portable unit for a while until it was submerged during a tropical storm on the outer banks, NC. Didn't realize the water on our site had gotten that deep. Water got in the unit where the female cord entered the unit. I replaced it with a hardwired unit. First thing I did with our new coach was put in a 50 amp hardwired unit.

[HappyKayakers]

Fulltimer since 2006. Started with a Surge Guard and locked it religiously the first few months, then stopped locking it. Replaced with a PI EMS. Never locked. Nothing stolen. I think it's more of a problem for units in storage, along with regular power cords.

[rhagfo]

wa8yxm wrote:
While I've not heard of any thefts. I went with a hard wired unit... WHY?
Well out of sight, out of mind. and you NEVER say "Oh i'm only here for the night, why bother"

X2!
We have a hard wired unit in our 5er, display panel, I will say our next purchase will be an UPS for our dish receiver and TV. We have had issues with low voltage a couple times this winter, and the EMS cuts power at less than 103 volts. Then it takes about 20 minutes for the receiver to recover, the UPS would keep it powered during the blip.

[JKJavelin]

In my signature you can see over 400 nights spent in our rv, and over 300 of them were plugged in with our PI PT50X. When I bought it I also got a cable and lock, and used it at first, then stopped bothering. Nothing ever got stolen and I've never heard of one getting stolen.
JK

[wa8yxm]

While I've not heard of any thefts. I went with a hard wired unit... WHY?
Well out of sight, out of mind. and you NEVER say "Oh i'm only here for the night, why bother"

[Janss]

I've used a Progressive portable surge protector for many years. I've never had it stolen. I RV alot...mostly in the West, but I have been across the country and into Canada. More times than not, I don't lock it to the pedestal. But when I do, I use a length of loose chain link with padlock (or bicycle chain/lock). Thread the chain through the bracket that comes with the unit and anywhere around the pedestal that seems secure. Sometimes I find something sticking out from pedestal to put it through, sometimes I just wrap it tight around the pedestal and hope it's secure.

[dodge_guy]

If you can I would mount it in the storage compartment. Maybe cut the RV cord and install a male and female connector. Then you could install it in there. That’s what I was going to do with my Watchdog, but I couldn’t find the portable anywhere so I went with the hardwired version!