Surge protector recommendation?

[Antique Pedaler]

Before buying a surge protector, I'd like to hear members recommendations on the portable ones. I see various brands priced from the $60 to $250 range.

The RV park where we spend our winters is getting long in the tooth and electrical problems are increasing. A couple of neighbors have experienced damage which I want to avoid.

Is a basic surge protector sufficient or do I need a deluxe one?

[HowieE]

What was the damage and what makes you think a protector may have stopped it?

What do you have in the trailer that is suspectable to fluctuations in city power? The AC is suspectable to low voltage but a protector will do nothing against that.

[dkottum]

We use this one to provide a variety of power problems. Low voltage results in high current flow which can damage equipment, electronics. It's on sale now.

Portable Surge Guards With LCD Display - 30 Amp - TRC 34730-001-LCD - Surge Protectors - Camping World

[Antique Pedaler]

More comments? Damages I've seen include fried electronic equipment and fried wiring at the power cord connector on the RV. RV park compensated one resident with free rent.

[SteveSueMac]

While Howie is right that a surge protector doesn't address low voltage situations, there are combination units that do surge protection, low/high voltage shutoff, AC compressor slow start, polarity check, etc.

I use this one: http://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems_pt30c.htm

Last year, we were at a campground in a very hot/humid weekend and everyone was taxing the power grid. Several times this unit detected low voltage that would have harmed my AC and shut it down until the voltage rose back to a sufficient level.

Recently I had a problem with the shape of the campground pedestal bumping out such that the contact wasn't solid at the pigtail. That heated up one of the blades and oxidized it. I talked with Progressive Industries about it - it's not damaged. I've filed off the oxidation and will be sure to connect tightly even if that means Velcro straps around the pedestal.

Check the link and see what you think. Good luck!

[ghaynes755]

Or the ones from Surge Guard. Campingworld has some great prices on them from time to time. I bought a permanent install 30A model with remote and had it installed when I did the solar install.