Surge Protection

[jec9017]

I am fairly new at this and the DW asked about surge protection after searching reviews on the internet still confused are these things worth the investment? the best i can tell the less expensive units are worthless what do yall think
Thanks
JECRG

[davel1971]

yes, the less expensive units are worthless. You want/need total protection from anything that you can and will encounter. The Progressive EMS series of units offers the most protection and the only brand with a lifetime warranty.

[ov845]

Originally Posted by davel1971

yes, the less expensive units are worthless. You want/need total protection from anything that you can and will encounter. The Progressive EMS series of units offers the most protection and the only brand with a lifetime warranty.

X2


Happy Camping!

2012 Ram 1500 Crew Cab
Engine 5.7L Gear 3.92
Airlift 1000
2015 2809W WindJammer
Husky Centerline WDH

[campingbaba]

Stay with Progressive Ind best on the market

[chuckw5kav]

X3, hooked up to a power box that had over voltage, installed the
one of Progressive EMS series units when i bought the trailer. It
saved me from a major electrical repair.

I will never own a trailer without a Progressive EMS series unit
installed in it.

[raspivey]

Yep. Hardwired 50A on mine. I left it plugged in with the AC on two days ago. Noticed it had a PE6 flashing (line 2 low voltage). Told my wife and she said the power had pulsed a few times that morning...just enough to reboot a computer and reset one clock. Who knows? It might have saved my trailer AC from short cycling. Worth the money to not have to worry about it.

[Wiscampsin]

Another vote for Progressive Industries. If you're going to do it, do it right the first time.

[windsurfdog]

Originally Posted by jec9017

I am fairly new at this and the DW asked about surge protection after searching reviews on the internet still confused are these things worth the investment?

Progressive Industries EMS...either hardwired or portable.
Don't think of it as an investment...think of it as insurance...and "don't leave home without it..."

[ShermanD]

Originally Posted by davel1971

yes, the less expensive units are worthless. You want/need total protection from anything that you can and will encounter. The Progressive EMS series of units offers the most protection and the only brand with a lifetime warranty.

sorry to inform you but the Camco line surge protectors also has a lifetime warranty for materials and workmanship.

Their 55301 30 AMP Power Defender Voltage Protector has a 2450 Joule rating while the Progressive industries EMS PT-30C only has a 1790 Joule rating.

The main thing everyone needs to know is the higher the joule rating the better.

The low voltage drop off on the Camco is a 102 while the power defender is a 104 which is negligable considering they are both within the UL listing required voltage range for electiric devices.

Amazon Prime price for the Camco 55301 is $199.95
Amazon Prime price for the Progressive Industries EMS PT-30C is $248.25

When comparing apples to apples, the Camco is by far the better deal

[BandJCarm]

Camco made in China. Not sure if P.I. is or not.

[Mr Havercamp]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

Camco made in China. Not sure if P.I. is or not.

Everything with Camco on it is a hit and miss product. Its just rebranded imported stuff. Some good, some not so much. I like the Camco deflappers and some of the sewer products but I have bought enough Camco stuff over the years to know I would never buy anything electronic with that name on it.

As far as Joules thats all a marketing ploy the same as decibel ratings on a genny. Their are many different methods/formulas used to come up with the number that go's into a specification or on a box. I'll believe one is better than the other when I know they used the same method to determine it.

If you want to be cheap, then be cheap. I have had PI stuff on 3 different trailers and now on the 4th. I wouldn't recommend anything else and their customer service is outstanding. Power Protection and electrical is Progressive Industries only business. They do not sell paper towel dispensers, garbage cans, patio mats, tacky lights, and toilet paper.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Mr Havercamp

Everything with Camco on it is a hit and miss product. Its just rebranded imported stuff. Some good, some not so much. I like the Camco deflappers and some of the sewer products but I have bought enough Camco stuff over the years to know I would never buy anything electronic with that name on it.

As far as Joules thats all a marketing ploy the same as decibel ratings on a genny. Their are many different methods/formulas used to come up with the number that go's into a specification or on a box. I'll believe one is better than the other when I know they used the same method to determine it.

If you want to be cheap, then be cheap. I have had PI stuff on 3 different trailers and now on the 4th. I wouldn't recommend anything else and their customer service is outstanding. Power Protection and electrical is Progressive Industries only business. They do not sell paper towel dispensers, garbage cans, patio mats, tacky lights, and toilet paper.

X'2 and thanks for my morning laugh..

[mcnabbwr]

Started with a SurgeGuard, ended up installing a hard wired Progressive and haven't look back. While some compare prices of different makes or models just remember you typically get what you pay for.

[ShermanD]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

Camco made in China. Not sure if P.I. is or not.

Brand Progressive Industries
Item Weight 4 pounds
Product Dimensions 17.1 x 5.6 x 5.1 inches
Origin China
Item model number PT30C
Manufacturer Part Number PT30C
Folding No


So much for Progressive being an American made product
anymore, now who has the last laugh?

[ShermanD]

Originally Posted by Witch Doctor

X'2 and thanks for my morning laugh..

Please do not mislead fellow RVers by saying that Joules is just a marketing ploy for it isn't, Just like a circuit breaker, each are designed to operate effectively a set number of times. When it comes to a surge protector, the higher the joule rating, the more times the surge protector will handle an over or under voltage condition.. maybe you are loyal to a specific brand even though it has a lower joule rating and a higher price but I will choose the product that offers the most most protection the most number of times.

now who has the last laugh?

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by ShermanD

Brand Progressive Industries
Item Weight 4 pounds
Product Dimensions 17.1 x 5.6 x 5.1 inches
Origin China
Item model number PT30C
Manufacturer Part Number PT30C
Folding No


So much for Progressive being an American made product
anymore, now who has the last laugh?

As I said, I didn't know.

For sure, do get something that protects your unit.........

[ChateauV10]

I'll be the dissenter here...In 20 years of RV travel in California, the West Coast and across the country, through six different rigs, I have never used or needed to use any power protection device. Granted, I have not been to big rallies with questionable power, or skanky old campgrounds in the middle of Summer with everyone's AC going full blast or anything like that.


But: Some people swear by them, just not everyone. I do not think they are essential. To me, the risk is very low. YMMV-Good Luck!

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by ChateauV10

I'll be the dissenter here...In 20 years of RV travel in California, the West Coast and across the country, through six different rigs, I have never used or needed to use any power protection device. Granted, I have not been to big rallies with questionable power, or skanky old campgrounds in the middle of Summer with everyone's AC going full blast or anything like that.


But: Some people swear by them, just not everyone. I do not think they are essential. To me, the risk is very low. YMMV-Good Luck!

Well, I get that........

but........

I haven't ever had to use my life insurance yet, either! But I still have it...LOL

[raspivey]

Originally Posted by ShermanD

Brand Progressive Industries
Item Weight 4 pounds
Product Dimensions 17.1 x 5.6 x 5.1 inches
Origin China
Item model number PT30C
Manufacturer Part Number PT30C
Folding No


So much for Progressive being an American made product
anymore, now who has the last laugh?

Originally Posted by ShermanD

When it comes to a surge protector, the higher the joule rating, the more times the surge protector will handle an over or under voltage condition.. maybe you are loyal to a specific brand even though it has a lower joule rating and a higher price but I will choose the product that offers the most most protection the most number of times.

now who has the last laugh?

Won't matter the Joule rating after a lightning strike. They're both probably toast.

Now, I think whatever online retailer the origin info came from is wrong. PI's website states they are made in the US.

Just glancing at the two units, it looks like the PI model has a number of features the Camco doesn't (but not a lot) for the price difference. It has digital amp and volt readouts, error codes (current and previous ) and, if it's like my hardwired unit, the surge board is removable and can be replaced without having to buy a new unit which is much cheaper. I believe it also kills power for open neutral/ground and reverse polarity, whereas the Camco shuts down for over/under voltage and just warns for the rest. It's a little more expensive, but has a few more bells and whistles.

[BandJCarm]

My P.I. will not even feed juice if it's an open ground........

and again, I know nothing about the other unit, not trying to compare.