value of voltage regulator compared to surge protector

[campingman55]

Right now I am using a 50 amp voltage regulator for the motorhome. I am looking at purchasing a surge protector because it seems that it would be easier to use and more convenient. There is a 50 amp surge protector with voltage protection or a smart RV 50 amp surge protector. Which do you think would be the better purchase. The surge protector alone is $100 alone and the protector with voltage protection is $312 both from Camping World. Do you think that the voltage protection is overkill or do you think it would be valuable?

[Bumpyroad]

gee, my multi function surge protector only has small LED lights to tell me what is going on. worked fine the last 10-20 years. tell me again why I must have a LCD display.
bumpy

[AllegroD]

wa8yxm wrote:
There are two types of Surge Protetors.. One does not have an LCD display, it is not what you need, but it is built into your Autoformer voltage regulator.
The other has the LCD, it is much more expensive, and it IS what you need

Park---Autoformer (Voltage regulator)---Progressive EMS----RV.

x2
We have the Hughes Autoformer.

[wa8yxm]

There are two types of Surge Protetors.. One does not have an LCD display, it is not what you need, but it is built into your Autoformer voltage regulator.
The other has the LCD, it is much more expensive, and it IS what you need

Park---Autoformer (Voltage regulator)---Progressive EMS----RV.

[Bumpyroad]

blw2 wrote:
I recently installed teh 30A version of that progressive industries unit. I missed that about the blue jumper wire.... didn't catch that it had a bypass.
I thought about wiring in a bypass, but then figured why would I want to bypass it? I suppose as the stated on their web site, in the event of failure of the unit...... Hopefully that would be a rare event.
To the OP's question, personally I would like to have both as we camp a lot in state parks and the posts are often old and suspect. The autoformer is heavy and expensive, so I don't have it high on my want list currently. As is, the PI unit should protect me and then if I ever run into a low voltage situation I will wish taht I had the autoformer.

why a bypass? if campground juice is iffy you can still operate a lot of stuff safely. surge function still works also.
bumpy

[blw2]

I recently installed teh 30A version of that progressive industries unit. I missed that about the blue jumper wire.... didn't catch that it had a bypass.
I thought about wiring in a bypass, but then figured why would I want to bypass it? I suppose as the stated on their web site, in the event of failure of the unit...... Hopefully that would be a rare event.
To the OP's question, personally I would like to have both as we camp a lot in state parks and the posts are often old and suspect. The autoformer is heavy and expensive, so I don't have it high on my want list currently. As is, the PI unit should protect me and then if I ever run into a low voltage situation I will wish taht I had the autoformer.

[Bumpyroad]

Dennis M M wrote:
Get one of these from Progressive Industries and relax.

Saved us from bad power posts a couple of times.

the "bypass" feature of that seems a little primitive, a blue wire has to be inserted. I prefer the key operated one in my SP.
bumpy

[Dennis_M_M]

Get one of these from Progressive Industries and relax.

Saved us from bad power posts a couple of times.

[Bumpyroad]

a $100 surge protector is inadequate. spend $250 and up for a multi-function surge protector. if you frequently park in shabby RV parks with inadequate electrical service an autoformer would also help.
bumpy

[ScottG]

Your really talking about two different functions - both can be important.

[bob213]

Although I only have 30 amps I use both. A PowerMaster autoformer followed by a Progressive Ind. EMS 30. If I had to choose between the two the Prog. EMS would be my first choice (in order of importance).
Just FYI..The Progressive units have a Lifetime warranty compared to the Surge Guard 1 Year(or 1 event) warranty.

[Mandalay_Parr]

Look at Progressive Industries. I have had the 50 amp for 10 years now. They have the best specs.

[gsf35099]

Voltage protection is crucial in my book. If the voltage gets too low, you can loose AC's in a hurry. They don't like to run on low voltage. Burns them up & they are what, ~$1500 each.