Surge Protector

I'm sure a genset voltage/frequency problem can happen, but never heard of it and believe it is rare. As a result, I wired my surge protector on the incoming shore power cable to also protect the transfer switch.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

Modern RV generators are "Smart" devices. Now portables may or may not be but for example ONAN's monitor their output and if it does anything strange. STOP. (Shut down).. So I'd not worry about Generator power.

Plus should the unit ever fail as my vintage portable did. You still have the Generator power while you repair/replace.

I would investigate autoformers before you leap to a surge protector.

“I would investigate autoformers...” x2

I suffered a lightning strike in Billings Montana...actually it struck a tree about 20 yards from the coach...but it fried the surge protector, my middle A/C, the microwave and a couple other small things. I can only imagine what else would have gone without the surge protector. I wired around the surge protector so I could use shore power but no genset until I was able to get it repaired. It was under warranty so I didn't want to repair it myself. I use both the wired surge protector and Hughes Autoformer no matter where I am.....Dennis

I have read infrequent posts of a voltage regulator getting out of adjustment.
And have read many posts of a bad connection in the transfer switch causing voltage issues.

2 years ago, we installed the surge protecter in line with the shore power chord, no problems since.

A surge protector and an autoformer are two different things with different functions.

ScottG,

Hughes now includes surge protection and "fixes" low voltage. An autoformer is a much better choice. The Hughes does cost more.

I chose a Sola Basic autoformer and have added better surge to it than what is in the PI, SG, or Hughes.

Cost was less than any of the three, but it does require being able to do some quite basic wiring (at the level of adding a male and female plug).

Executive wrote:
I can only imagine what else would have gone without the surge protector.

No surge protector protects from all anomalies called a surge. For example, some surge protectors protect from a low voltage. Others may protect from a reverse polarity. Since the term "surge protector" is subjective, than all those are called surge protectors. And make no claim to protect from lightning.

Then naive consumers assume it protects from all anomalies called a surge.

A surge protector that protects from lightning must be attached to the pole. Since that protection only exists when a low impedance connection to earth ground electrodes is that short.

A surge protector for campgrounds typically address completely different anomalies called surges including open neutral, missing safety ground, reverse polarity, and low voltage. None even detect a missing earth ground - which is necessary to protect from lightning.

The expression 'surge protector' typically says nothing useful. No decision or conclusion can exist until after every unique feature for that protector has been discussed - with numbers.