Is RV Surge Protection Necessary?

We get asked this question all the time. You may have arrived at this question through a camping friends experience with power issues or reading about problems a fellow RV'er had in a forum. And the short answer is yes, rv surge protection is very important and here's why. Surge protectors act like an electrical gatekeeper to your RV. With high end units monitoring every aspect of power and lower end units just keeping out the most destructive. As power requirements increase and campgrounds power infrastructure doesn't, experiencing damage to your electrical and electronic components becomes much more likely. We go in-depth on what a surge protector is and how the different units can protect your RV in our article "RV Surge Protection 101".

The next question becomes "which one do you recommend" and that is not as short an answer.

We sell the top two brands of RV surge protection which are Progressive Industries and Surge Guard and have used both in our own RV's. They both work equally as well with only minor differences between the two brands. We offer a complete side by side comparison guide broken out in 30 or 50 amp and portable vs permanent units to easily see those differences. So for the most part selection between the brands comes down to brand loyalty and if you have none then price or potentially the dimensions of the units maybe determining factors.

The easier part of determining the right surge protector is first matching it up to the power requirements of your RV, either 30 or 50 amps. Having this knowledge we only have to determine which features you and your RV really need. If all your looking for is protection from lightening either by a direct strike or a surge though the power lines, then we recommend the Progressive SSP30 for 30 amp rv's which runs under $100 and SSP50 for 50 amp RV's which is just over $100. These units not only protect from lightening, but will also indicate issues with the campground power before plugging in your RV. They are both portable and very easy to use.

But with today's decked out RV's rolling off the assembly line with inverter/chargers, LED tv's, convection ovens, multiple AC units, home theatre and satellite systems, the smaller units just don't do enough. A bigger issue than lightening to today's electronic RV's is poor campground power. And more times than not it's low fluctuating voltage which can shorter or end the life of the electronics in those rv accessories. In this case we recommend the full featured units that both Surge Guard and Progressive Industries offer. With these units in place the power is cutoff to the RV when power is below 104 volts or above 132 volts and you would be surprised how often this happens if you have not monitored it in the past. These units will also protect from the wrong voltage, mis-wired power pedestals and so much more by not allowing power into the RV. These units also have voltage displays and some even include remote displays to view power issues from inside the RV. These full featured power monitors are the ultimate protection from potential power issues damaging your RV's delicate electronics.

While we are answer questions another one that comes up is "can I plug my 30 amp surge protector into a 50 amp power pedestal?" and the answer is yes. You will need a 30 amp female to 50 amp male adapter to do so. And conversely "can I plug my 50 amp surge protector into a 30 amp power pedestal?" and again the answer is yes. The unit will still offer the same protection but with only 30 amps of power. You will need a 50 amp female to 30 amp male adapter to make that connection.

For a wide selection and best advice on choosing the right rv surge protector for you, contact us today.

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On The Fence About Getting RV Surge Protection?

As an RV'er you spend a lot of time deciding what goes into your motorhome or camper.  You choose whether the 32" or 27" flat screen gets to travel along and if the microwave or toaster oven makes more sense for the trip.  You even decide if your husband or wife can come along :-)

So why allow someone else to have control over the electricity entering your RV?  
One of the risks of any campground is the quality of electricity provided.  There are many different factors that can influence the power flow including how many other RVs are plugged in, weather conditions, old wiring and more.  With surge protection, you have the ability to control the quality of electricity coming into your RV.

So What Exactly Does A Surge Protector Do?
Surge protectors will offer different features depending on what you are looking for but at the very basic level, they prevent voltage spikes from damaging your equipment.  A voltage spike is a very fast, short duration of electrical current or voltage to the electrical system.  Poorly maintained campground power outlets, lightning strikes or a mis-wired power pedestals can all cause uneven power flow to your RV.
Many upgraded surge protectors will also offer over/under voltage protection which is important in saving your equipment.  For example, on a hot day when everybody has their air conditioning on, the voltage can drop dangerously low and result in a brown out.  Anything above or below the UL standard of 102 to 132 volts is potentially harmful.  

What Should I Look For When Buying A Surge Protector?
The choice of features and different protection options will depend on what makes sense for your RV, the campgrounds you go to and your own personal taste.  Here are a few of the many features offered:

• Portable or Hardwire:  Would you rather have your surge protector built into your RV or would you rather plug it in every time?
• Protection Rating:  This will be measured in Joules, which is a unit for energy.  The higher the number, the bigger the spike it can safely handle.
• Unit Size:  Here you are looking at Amp rating which corresponds to the type of power when plugging in your RV.

Hereis a list of the RV surge protectors that we offer.  We hope you liked our guide!  If you have further questions, comments or need help making a purchase, please let us know!

At RVupgrades.com, we know RV Surge Protection, and can help you choose exactly the right one for your RV.  Feel free to contact us any time for more information.

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