Portable surge protector

[Stormrider151]

I'm in search of a portable surge protector for my trailers. I don't need a hard wired system because I have two trailers. I've been shopping on the net but there are tons of them. What's a good one that won't require a second mortgage ?

[pwrstroke2012]

I have a surge guard 30A model 34830 I ordered from Camping World for around $250.00. Had it for 3 seasons and seems to work well. What state did you retire from as a FF. I am on in Ohio

[gashog]

I've heard that the Progressive Industry ones are top of the line.
RV Safety Accessories Inc has them at a decent price:
30 Amp Smart Surge Suppressor - SSP30 are 89.00
50 Amp Smart Surge Suppressor - SSP50 are 118.00
30 Amp Portable EMS with Integrated Display are 230.00
50 Amp Portable EMS with Integrated Display are 315.00

I'm getting ready to order the 50 Amp EMS from them. I'm more concerned about voltage too low, pedestal wired incorrectly, so on so forth than surges only, so I'm going with the EMS..

[Wiscampsin]

Just get a Progressive Industries EMS and don't look back, or worry.

[Stormrider151]

Originally Posted by pwrstroke2012

I have a surge guard 30A model 34830 I ordered from Camping World for around $250.00. Had it for 3 seasons and seems to work well. What state did you retire from as a FF. I am on in Ohio

After 35 years I guess the boss's figured I had done my part. That or it was cheaper to put me in retirement. Made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Georgia, just south of Atlanta. Miss it every single day.

[Stormrider151]

I'm considering PI but their technical support got under my skin last week over a simple question. Their answer was "call an electrician". Wow...thank you very little.

[lbrjet]

And the question was???


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[Stormrider151]

I'm building a teardrop camper from scratch. I installed a converter in the trailer and asked them do I need to ground the converter to the chassis. Now that I think about it though Is progressive dynamics and progressive industries the same company? If not I have yet again put my foot in my mouth. I got the answer here on the forum by some very smart folks.

[chriscowles]

They are not, a fact of which I became aware only recently. One makes surge supressors/electrical monitoring systems. The other makes AC-to-DC converters and power panels.

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk.

[asquared]

Do you need 50 amp or 30 amp? I have the surge guard 34750 and have been happy with it. It was reasonably priced. I do understand the PI has a lifetime warranty and covers a little more than the surge guard but you do pay a little more for that. Here is a comparison chart of surge protectors (both 30 and 50 amp). Both surge guard and Progressive Industries are both well respected, it just depends on your desired level of protection and your personal price point.

[LANShark42]

We have the Progressive Industries EMS-PT30C. Love the feeling of security it provides.

[davel1971]

Progressive Industries EMS units are the only way to go

[TURBS]

Progressive 100%

One company resides in Michigan and the other resides in North Carolina.
Two individual companies.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "2 nights"

[Stormrider151]

Someday, someone will come out with flavored shoes. Pineapple I hope. Or maybe a peach cobbler. My apologies to Progressive Industries. With that I'll have to give them my business and get the EMS-PT30C. It looks like it will cover everything well and isn't that bad price wise.

Thanks guy's for your help. I can always count on the forum.

[Stormrider151]

I'm guessing these surge protectors are water proof. Probably a dumb question but I had to ask.

[lbrjet]

I cover the top half of mine with a plastic bag, but yes they are supposed to be waterproof. Mine is 6 years old now.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[Ford Idaho]

Good little unit, got it from the dealer the day we picked up the lite.

[westom]

Originally Posted by Stormrider151

My apologies to Progressive Industries. With that I'll have to give them my business and get the EMS-PT30C. It looks like it will cover everything well and isn't that bad price wise.

It does not cover everything. In part because a surge can be a low voltage, a high current, a low current, or a high voltage. Other anomalies include reversed polarity, open neutral, harmonics, frequency variation, power factor ... and others may exist.

That Progressive will protect from fewer and typical anomalies seen in a camp ground. For example, low voltage (ideal for electronics) can be harmful to motorized appliances (refrigerator, air conditioner). Open neutral can create potentially harmful high voltages. None of these are surges - except in a world where layman are taught by sales brochures; want to be told what to buy without first learning the threats. So yes, some of the more common anomalies are addressed by the more expensive Progressive units.

Another anomaly is a surge. These cannot be stopped or blockes - as so many buy protectors to do. These are averted when a surge protector is as close as possible to the pole's earth ground. (Those would be water proof.) That separation between protector and trailer increases protection. So, are you concerned for protection from surges such as lightning? These may occur once every seven years. But are so destructive.

Again, know each threat before a best solution can be provided. So many do not know what a surge is. Many if not most surge protectors do not protect from surges that really are surges. For example, a floating ground is not a surge. But many buy a 'surge protector' to protect from that anomaly.

Usually our help line people get frustrated by consumers who do not first learn the threats - but want a solution. In your case, the help line guy was probably sending you to an electrician to teach some simple electrical concepts that everyone should have learned after high school. Appreciate his frustration when you cannot first define which anomaly is a concern.

[Stormrider151]

Usually our help line people get frustrated by consumers who do not first learn the threats - but want a solution. In your case, the help line guy was probably sending you to an electrician to teach some simple electrical concepts that everyone should have learned after high school. Appreciate his frustration when you cannot first define which anomaly is a concern.

Well, I may not be a rocket scientist. This I freely admit. However I do have some knowledge of the subject. I did wire the trailer up and tested everything and there were no problems found except a bad GFI outlet. I just ask a simple question that was not addressed in the install instructions and received an answer that was rather smug and completely useless. If the guy gets frustrated reading an e-mail he probably has bigger issues. I just know now that contacting their customer service is a waist of time. Oh well. No big deal. I've got this forum. I don't need them.

[whj77372]

I have two 50 AMP SurgeGuards. One was having issues so they said to send it back and they gave me a reworked one. I bought a second one for use while they had the one I sent back. Very good service.