What 50 amp surge protector do you recommend, and why?

[Sandy___Shirley]

There was an electrical issue on one of our last camping trips. The 50 amp service went off and on 3 times, one of those was a power surge. Our 50 amp extension cord plug was fried and the power inverter for our refrigerator has stopped working.

We are now looking for a surge protector, what do you recommend? And why? What features should we look for?

[CFerguson]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
We have the Progressive Industries 50 Amp and are very satisfied with it. We had two SurgeGuard units before the PI and both failed, one pretty spectacularly. Water intrusion was their downfall.

The PI has been going strong for about 3 years now.

I agree with the brand, but would suggest a permanent install.

Link

Mine was installed at the DRV factory. Full-time for 5+ years with ZERO issues.

PI + permanent install = no worries imo.

[wa8yxm]

There are two products that are highly competive Now a couple of years ago I'd have said "Progressive Industries HW-50C with time delay set to LONG" and if you don't wish to install he PT-50C

The reason. They had a limited lifetime warranty (So long as YOU owned it)

The Competitor then was the TRC Surge Guard Line They had a one year warranty but they were bought out by Southwire and .. I'm told it's not a limited lifetime. IT is also easier to install the installed version (I know I have one) Camping world had one very good sale)

ALso PI has a new portable unit PTX I think is the prefix)

Finally.. there are many other products. The ones I recommend are the top of the line units

Lower cost units are spike supressors with some added diagnostic but they do not do all that much for you.

The one I use and the PI- 50Cs protect as follows
Spike supression (Short term spikes can easily hit 1,000 volts, these clip them instantly)

Low voltage
High voltage
OPPS plugged into a 30 amp 240 volt outlet protection
Electrician screwed up 30 amp outlet protection
Time delay (between 2 and 3 mintues) at power restore in the event of a campground wide power fail (Happened to me this very day)
This delay means the voltage roller coaster ride when everybody's A/C tries to re-start is over by the time yours kicks in

Also get the remote display The HARD wired one is .. hard wired, THE portable one uses Blue Tooth.. I used the Hard wired (That's on teh TRC)

Why Hard Wired: Well what are the odds I will forget it (Can't happen)
What are the odds of someone thinking "I want it" and taking it when I'm not looking (likewise since it is INSIDE the RV)

And of course it is 100% easier to wrangle once it is installed as I need do nothing at all.

THings I have expierenced in the last year
OPEN GROUND warning.. park had a screw loose (More than one but one that was signifiant)
Power "Blink" These like one second power fails are not good for Air Conditioners.. but the 2+ minute delay takes care of that.

Open leg (50 amp service.. Major fail of park electrical system)

And that's just since January 1

[smarty]

Sandy and Shirley: do you have a water pressure check valve? If not this is another item you may want to invest in.

[time2roll]

+1 for a hard wired Progressive Industries. Get the full EMS or don't bother.
I have one for 10 years now and it just works. Finds something every year.

[Lwiddis]

You need surge and low voltage protection...Progressive.

[Cummins12V98]

rhagfo wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
We have the Progressive Industries 50 Amp and are very satisfied with it. We had two SurgeGuard units before the PI and both failed, one pretty spectacularly. Water intrusion was their downfall.

The PI has been going strong for about 3 years now.

I agree with the brand, but would suggest a permanent install.

Link

Mine was installed at the DRV factory. Full-time for 5+ years with ZERO issues.

[ford_truck_guy]

Sandy & Shirley wrote:
There was an electrical issue on one of our last camping trips. The 50 amp service went off and on 3 times, one of those was a power surge. Our 50 amp extension cord plug was fried and the power inverter for our refrigerator has stopped working.

We are now looking for a surge protector, what do you recommend? And why? What features should we look for?

I have a Progressive industries EMSPT-50X that I used 1 season... I sent a PM

[JKJavelin]

I have the Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X, but this video opened my eyes.

https://youtu.be/8qTMpc9aTa0

[cavie]

https://rvmentor.com/2019/11/24/ems-vs-surge-suppressor/

https://www.technorv.com/articles/do-you-need-an-rv-surge-protector/

[pianotuna]

X2 on EMS.

I'd consider an autoformer which will correct the voltage.

[bob213]

You want an EMS not a surge protector.
I have and like the Progressive Industries EMS units. Mine is right after my autoformer before going into trailer. A rising star is the Hughes Power Watchdog combined with the Hughes Autoformer. The combination protects from low voltage as well as all the benefits of an EMS.

[2edgesword]

You want a unit that will provide surge protection as well as protection against high/low voltage, reverse polarity, ground faults and a display that will provide information on any problems at the pedestal and a readout of voltage/current.

Some hardwired units (installed in the RV) will have a remote display so you can locate the display in a convenient location to monitor the status. I have a Surge Guard unit but one thing I like about Progressive is there is a way to bypass their EMS if a problem develops with the unit. You can bypass the hardwired unit and substitute a pedestal mounted unit until you can have it replaced.

[rhagfo]

fj12ryder wrote:
We have the Progressive Industries 50 Amp and are very satisfied with it. We had two SurgeGuard units before the PI and both failed, one pretty spectacularly. Water intrusion was their downfall.

The PI has been going strong for about 3 years now.

I agree with the brand, but would suggest a permanent install.

Link

[CA_Traveler]

PI HW50C, same one since 2004.

THE MAIN PROTECTION FOR ANY 50A RIG IS PROTECTION FROM AN OPEN OR PARTIAL OPEN NEUTRAL.

First trip after installation we had 160V at 10:30PM on a 30A pedestal, not common but it happened.

So what was the cause?