Surge Guard - Need Vs. Cost

[obiwancanoli]

Having read posts on the advisability of having a 50A Surge Guard for my MH, Amazon has a variety ranging in price from around $90 to $400 +/-...

Lacking sufficient knowledge to make an informed decision, What exactly am I paying for when comparing similar items with a huge distance between low cost/high cost? What features make the more expensive models a better choice?

[DrewE]

The EMS-PT50X is indeed a good choice.

[Doody]

This post is very timely for me because in October 2020 I bought a 2002 Beaver Patriot Ticonderoga and it is my first Diesel and first 50 amp. I have admired Beavers for many years and finally got one. It has lot of features but no built in surge protection as far as I know. I looked at suppressors at Camping world and It seems to me that Progressive has good capabilities for the money. Here is a link to a Progressive chart
https://www.progressiveindustries.net/portable-hardwired-comparisons
I am considering getting the EMS-PT50X that currently sells for $345 and would like to know if you think that would be a good choice. These all have a lifetime guarantee.

[ncrowley]

I agree with getting the 50 amp Progressive portable power conditioner - not just a surge protector. It is SO worth the protection.

[obiwancanoli]

Gentlemen, this has been most informative, thanks for the education, and the reviews... I'll look into what's in my coach, and go from there....

[DSDP_Don]

dougrainer wrote:

DSDP Don wrote:

obiwancanoli wrote:
Having read posts on the advisability of having a 50A Surge Guard for my MH, Amazon has a variety ranging in price from around $90 to $400 +/-...

Lacking sufficient knowledge to make an informed decision, What exactly am I paying for when comparing similar items with a huge distance between low cost/high cost? What features make the more expensive models a better choice?

Somewhere around the time that your coach was built, by Newmar, they started offering combination transfer switch/surge guard units, made by SurgeGuard.

You need to look in your power bay and see if you have a straight transfer switch or combo unit. The combo unit made by SurgeGuard is actually a pretty good model. I have it in my coach. It protects against all the things the other quality unit, Progressive Industries does. The only drawback is that if there is an electrical spike and the SurgeGaurd takes a hit, you lose the SurgeGuard and the transfer switch. For that reason, I and others with this system, bought a $100.00 SurgeGurd portable unit that plugs in at the pedestal. If I take an electrical hit, only the $100 unit is lost.

If you don't have the combo unit, Progressive Industries makes a quality unit that protects from high and low voltage. In your coach, you have a lot of systems that can be damaged by both low and high voltage. If you're at a campground, running your air conditioning, the units can be damaged if the voltage drops below 100 volts. Both units described above, will shut down the power to your coach and protect the appliances.

If you have a trailer with a single A/C unit and a microwave, you probably don't need a high end surge protector. In your situation, it's worth the investment. They come in portable and hardwired. I prefer hardwired as it's one less thing to do and you don't have to worry about theft.

OEM's use the cheaper $300 Surgeguard Combo. Retail is $425. If you think it is more than adequate, why does Surgeguard sell a better unit(also Combo) for $800? I state my comments on 42 years of working on Motorhomes and the fact that I have replaced at least 100 Surgeguard combo units that came OEM. Most also had interior 120 appliance failures due to the Hit. My customers that have had the $500 stand alone in front of the Transfer box Surge Guard, I have never seen back because of a Electrical problem. BTW, the Biggest seller of the $500 Surgeguard is AFTER I have replaced the original Transfer or the Combo and the customer realized it is best to have a stand alone. Doug

Doug, I have no issue with your expertise and always trusted your advice, but my coach came, from Newmar, with the SurgeGuard 40350 $706.00 retail. It has all the features the Progressive unit I've owned in past had. I agree that a stand alone is a better idea, so I run a cheap SurgeGuard at the pedestal to take the hit. Before you lit me up, maybe you should have asked what I had in my coach.

[AllegroD]

I got the autoformer and PI EMS because it is still cheaper than replacing a fridge, AC or other item. The PI EMS also manages high and low voltage, with auto cutoff to protect against accumulative damage, shortening the life. I have been to a couple CG where, during the summer peak, power at my site quickly dropped to less than 95v before the PI cut off.

If I were looking today, I would also consider the Hughes Watchdog EPO.

[Bumpyroad]

John&Joey wrote:
Just make sure whatever you buy it has an auto reset feature.

I also want one with a "bypass" feature also since there are some things that can be run on low voltage.
'bumpy

[dougrainer]

DSDP Don wrote:

obiwancanoli wrote:
Having read posts on the advisability of having a 50A Surge Guard for my MH, Amazon has a variety ranging in price from around $90 to $400 +/-...

Lacking sufficient knowledge to make an informed decision, What exactly am I paying for when comparing similar items with a huge distance between low cost/high cost? What features make the more expensive models a better choice?

Somewhere around the time that your coach was built, by Newmar, they started offering combination transfer switch/surge guard units, made by SurgeGuard.

You need to look in your power bay and see if you have a straight transfer switch or combo unit. The combo unit made by SurgeGuard is actually a pretty good model. I have it in my coach. It protects against all the things the other quality unit, Progressive Industries does. The only drawback is that if there is an electrical spike and the SurgeGaurd takes a hit, you lose the SurgeGuard and the transfer switch. For that reason, I and others with this system, bought a $100.00 SurgeGurd portable unit that plugs in at the pedestal. If I take an electrical hit, only the $100 unit is lost.

If you don't have the combo unit, Progressive Industries makes a quality unit that protects from high and low voltage. In your coach, you have a lot of systems that can be damaged by both low and high voltage. If you're at a campground, running your air conditioning, the units can be damaged if the voltage drops below 100 volts. Both units described above, will shut down the power to your coach and protect the appliances.

If you have a trailer with a single A/C unit and a microwave, you probably don't need a high end surge protector. In your situation, it's worth the investment. They come in portable and hardwired. I prefer hardwired as it's one less thing to do and you don't have to worry about theft.

OEM's use the cheaper $300 Surgeguard Combo. Retail is $425. If you think it is more than adequate, why does Surgeguard sell a better unit(also Combo) for $800? I state my comments on 42 years of working on Motorhomes and the fact that I have replaced at least 100 Surgeguard combo units that came OEM. Most also had interior 120 appliance failures due to the Hit. My customers that have had the $500 stand alone in front of the Transfer box Surge Guard, I have never seen back because of a Electrical problem. BTW, the Biggest seller of the $500 Surgeguard is AFTER I have replaced the original Transfer or the Combo and the customer realized it is best to have a stand alone. Doug

[John_Joey]

Just make sure whatever you buy it has an auto reset feature.

[wa8yxm]

obiwancanoli wrote:
Having read posts on the advisability of having a 50A Surge Guard for my MH, Amazon has a variety ranging in price from around $90 to $400 +/-...

Spike, Surge and other proglems
The low cost units usually have led's or NEON lamps that indicate if the outlet is properly wired WHEN YOU PLUG IN (see story below) and clip spikes (Sudden and very short term peaks in voltage that in some cases can hit a thousand volts on a 120 volt line)

Very limited

The top end.. Monitors the voltage. if it goes so low it places your Air conditioners and the like at risk,, Shuts you off. If it goes high (Other than spikes) this is a genuine surge, Shuts you off, IF you plug into a 30 amp outlet "OH RVers use that outlet all the time) and find it's a 240 volt... It blocks power. Low/High Frequency may also be monitored and shut off.

These are the high end units

True story: I plugged into a properly wired 50 amp outlet
Then a wire burned underground and it was no longer properly wired.
Surge guard protected me. Also helped diagnose the problem.

Another thing. power blinks. happened to me in my apartment a few days back (Alas my motor home is no more) Very hard on Air Conditioners.. so the Surge Guard holds power off for about 2 1/2 minutes to let the A/C restart NORMALLY instead of trying to restart with a full head of pressure (Tears up compressor motor).

I've had A/Cs die due to a power spike. or blink... Thankfully it was a low cost unit. But replacing a rooftop. about twice the cost of the surge guard.

[DSDP_Don]

obiwancanoli wrote:
Having read posts on the advisability of having a 50A Surge Guard for my MH, Amazon has a variety ranging in price from around $90 to $400 +/-...

Lacking sufficient knowledge to make an informed decision, What exactly am I paying for when comparing similar items with a huge distance between low cost/high cost? What features make the more expensive models a better choice?

Somewhere around the time that your coach was built, by Newmar, they started offering combination transfer switch/surge guard units, made by SurgeGuard.

You need to look in your power bay and see if you have a straight transfer switch or combo unit. The combo unit made by SurgeGuard is actually a pretty good model. I have it in my coach. It protects against all the things the other quality unit, Progressive Industries does. The only drawback is that if there is an electrical spike and the SurgeGaurd takes a hit, you lose the SurgeGuard and the transfer switch. For that reason, I and others with this system, bought a $100.00 SurgeGurd portable unit that plugs in at the pedestal. If I take an electrical hit, only the $100 unit is lost.

If you don't have the combo unit, Progressive Industries makes a quality unit that protects from high and low voltage. In your coach, you have a lot of systems that can be damaged by both low and high voltage. If you're at a campground, running your air conditioning, the units can be damaged if the voltage drops below 100 volts. Both units described above, will shut down the power to your coach and protect the appliances.

If you have a trailer with a single A/C unit and a microwave, you probably don't need a high end surge protector. In your situation, it's worth the investment. They come in portable and hardwired. I prefer hardwired as it's one less thing to do and you don't have to worry about theft.

[Sjm9911]

The better ones are called electeic managment systems ( ems) and protect aginst low voltage and surges. I here more problums with low voltage rather then surges. Are they worth it? For me yes, as i dont want to replace an ac unit or fridge. Its not the money more then the time spent to do the atual work.

[ford_truck_guy]

I use the - Hughes Autoformer

It does low voltage and has built in surge protection.

ps... I didn't pay that much format either.... stop around, they can be had for mid $300's or a bit higher

[dodge_guy]

I was going to order from this place but forgot all about it after I ordered from Amazon. I ended up with the hard wire version. This one in the link is the portable style. I was going to put a connection in the compartment to keep it safe.

Watchdog 50A surge protector $250 w/free shipping