southwire surge guard or Progressive industries

I have been using the same 30 amp and 50 amp SurgeGuards for many years. Both have proven to be reliable and effective.

I also have a Hughes autoformer for when I run into low-voltage situations that I intend to operate in for a while. It, too, has worked reliably and effectively over the many years I've been using it.

For what its worth, PI has phone support. I called on Memorial Day Weekend, and they called back within an hour and walked me through some stuff.

There is more to it than just a joule rating.

The PI EMS is rated for a peak surge current of 44,000 amps. The Surge Guard is rated for only 6,500 amps. The Hughes autoformer doesn't list a peak surge current and only the joule rating (2400). The response time of the MOVs is also a factor.

In a "whole house" application as a comparison, it is recommended that surge suppressors have a rating of at least 40,000 amps.

The Hughes autoformer and the portable surge suppressors mentioned by the OP are not UL listed (but their hardwired versions are).

If looking at strictly surge suppression, I would opt for the PI portable unit. But why not get an EMS unit that protects against other potential power problems like low voltage, open ground, open neutral, etc.

pianotuna wrote:

I would buy neither and get a Hughes autoformer instead.

+3

Cost about $150 more but newer ones are more versatile and provide higher joules protection than PI surge guards.

pianotuna wrote:
PI used to have a better warranty that the SG

I would buy neither and get a Hughes autoformer instead.

I do not know the current warranty since PI sold the product. but.. What The Fish of 88 Scales said.

I would rather have

Park--Autoformer---HW-50C---ATS--RV

In my view this is a far better choice:

https://hughesautoformers.com

Shop online for the best price.

I've been very happy with the Progressive EMS units I own. I used a portable 30 amp unit for about 10 years and bought the 50 amp model when we bought our Bay Star last May. And....they have saved me from having potentially costly problems on a couple of occasions.

higher joules, means more energy absorbed in case of voltage spikes, like lighting strikes, utility transformer shorts etc..

I had a SurgeGuard 50 amp unit and it fried itself, and I thought the pedestal too, due to water intrusion. The unit simply wasn't sealed well enough to keep all the water out. It was never immersed in water, but it spent a lot of time outside in the elements.

I think the Progressive unit has a better design and seems less likely to suffer from the ailment that killed my SurgeGuard. And the Progressive has a limited lifetime warranty, and the SurgeGuard only had a 1 year warranty. I believe the new SurgeGuard has a limited lifetime warranty also, but could not swear to it.

+2 on the Hughes.