Surge protection

[sambam]

Anyone have information on surge protection? We are upgrading to a fifth wheel and now need a 50 amp protector. I'm seeing a pretty wide price range and am wondering what is necessary. I had a 30 amp on my TT, but don't remember now what I paid for it. It served it's purpose, I never had any surge issues. I'm just starting to research this a little and wanted to get some feedback as to what others are using.
Thanks for any information.

[bncinwv]

Progressive Industries HW-50C internal hard-wired electrical management system here with remote readout inside the rig. May be considered to be a little pricey, but is more than just a surge protector, but well worth it to me. Here is a link for info:

Progressive Industries HW50C

Bingo

[mtheo]

I have a Progressive Industries HW-50C internal hard-wired electrical management system, and after this last wnter on the way to Quartzite a few aquintances alos have them. Frinds were staying out side Indio and they had a low voltage occurance that cost a coulpe of them to loss TV's and refrigitators along with other things. Not sure what happen to them but I know three people that now have the Progressive Industries HW-50C internal hard-wired electrical management systems.

Mark

[8.1al]

We have had the Progressive Industries 50 amp portable for 7 yrs. now and it is worth every penny and you won't find better customer service anywhere else

[kylec2]

We also have the Progressive Industries HW-50C in our fifth wheel. We previously owned a portable Surgeguard 50amp unit, a good unit but I got tired of lugging it around on the end of the cord. Like Bingo, we also used the remote display which shows voltage levels, current draw, and any error codes that arise.

[sambam]

It looks like a good unit and I'm not looking to cheap out on this, just want to do what's best. Did you guys wire them in yourselves?

[bncinwv]

I did and posted a thread on the installation as well that I did in the basement area of our 3750FL. Your location may differ depending on your model and the fact that I have an autoswitch because of the generator installation, but the principle is the same. Here is a link to the thread with the photos, hope it helps:
EMS Installation - 3750FL
Bingo

[bigred715]

We also have the 50 amp portable model and are using it here in Arizona this winter.

[maximo]

I am using the Surge Guard Portable with LCD Display 50-Amp. It works just fine and is easy to use.

Frank

[WeBeFulltime]

Another vote for the Progressive 50A hardwired with remote display. Has saved us a few times and is very convenient.

[richfaa]

We have the progressive Industries PT 50C Portable system. Would not leave home without it. It has saved us on more than one occasion. Hard wired or portable they are NOT cheap but then neither was your Montana. They are a very good investment.

[Countryfolks]

I hard wired mine in using 50A plugs/sockets. Its the hardwire unit with remote readout and I added the plug and socket for ease in removing if/when needed.

[RickW]

Another vote on the Progressive Hard Wired unit. Wired it myself. Not a difficult task.

[sambam]

Thanks for all the responses, as well as the link on the self-install. One thing's sure: whichever way we go, portable or hard-wired, it will be a Progressive Ind. unit. We're picking the Montana up on Friday (finally!). Looking forward to putting it thru the paces. Stay tuned for more questions..........

[woodtic]

I picked up the Surge Guard portable a few weeks ago. I like it. I would have went with the progressive Ind portable if there had been one in the store at the time because of the lifetime warranty. Thought hard about a hardwired unit. Two things that kept me from going that route. 1) I'm on the road and I would have had to pay someone for the install. 2) If the unit fails it's much bigger problem restoring power to the trailer..... Portables have their drawbacks also. Thieves, etc..

[snfexpress]

We have the SurgeGuard portable unit that connects at the shore power pedestal. If we had it to do over again, we would go with a hard wired one at the AC distribution panel because we had a shore power cord that lost its neutral and caused a lot of damage to our electronics.

[bncinwv]

If the progressive industries unit fails, there is a switch to bypass the unit. If there is a meltdown, obviously it may or may not help. If it totally fails, then it would have to be taken out for return and eventual replacement. Ours is approaching six years old and we have not had a problem with it. It has been in both of our Montana's.
Bingo

[sambam]

After reading responses and looking at these different models, I've decided like most of you, to go with the hard-wired Progressive Ind. unit. Since this has to be wired in before the transfer box, does anyone know how accessible it is in a 2010 3455SA? I don't have the trailer here, so I can't look around. All I know is that the electrical connection for shore power is in the rear of the trailer. Again, thanks for all your help.

[RickW]

Do you have a generator installed? Generator prep or generator pre wire?

Generator pre wire is the most common. It does not include a transfer switch (or at least it did not on my 2009). Basically the pre wire is just a wire ran from the generator compartment to under the stool closet on my 2009. There is where they would have installed the transfer switch if I had the full generator prep or an actual generator installed. My electrical panel is in the stool closet. They had more than enough of the shore power wire there for me to install both the transfer switch and PI EMS box. The hardest part was running the control wire for the read out up the wall next to the other trailer controls in the hall way.

For me the biggest advantage of the hard wire is I never get lazy and do not hook it up like I might with a portable unit. It is rare but I have had a couple of sites that due to bad grounds, naturals or low power that the EMS would not send power to the trailer. Even when I am on generator power it goes thru the EMS.

[sambam]

No generator on this trailer. Generator prep I'm not sure of. It's not mentioned anywhere. So I guess w/o a generator, there would be no transfer switch (learning all the time), which leaves me to tie into the main feed from shore power.