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Why You Need a RV Surge Protector

A burnt Travel Trailer that did not have a Surge Protector installed on their RV's electrical connection

Here are the important reasons why you need a RV Surge Protector

These are the important reasons why you need a RV Surge Protector. All it takes is one voltage spike (surge) on an unprotected RV to cause thousands of dollars of damage to the RV's appliances and electrical systems. So, investing in a Surge Protector or Electrical Management System for your RV makes financial sense, just like having an insurance policy on your RV.

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This video is a brief introduction on why your RV needs a Surge Protecter. We dive deeper into this topic in the article.

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Here is What Can Happen to Your RV Without a Surge Protector

Power Surges: A power surge can damage your RV's electrical system; it can burn out all your wiring and destroy the electrical appliances in your RV. In rare cases it can start a fire in your RV

Bad Campground Electrical System: Don't assume that the electrical hookups at an RV Campground are safe. Campground connections could have low voltage, high voltage, or a bad ground. If you plug your RV into a bad connection at the RV park, everything mentioned above in the Power Surge section can happen to your RV. If you have a RV Surge Protector connected to your RV, it will protect your RV from severe damage.

Lightning strike near some RVs

Lightning Strikes: Did you know that a Lightning strike can be up to 1 million Volts? Without a Surge Protector that voltage will travel through your RVs  electrical system. A Surge Protector will prevent that from happening.

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Types of RV Electrical Protection Devices

There are two types of Voltage Protection Devices you can get for your RV.

Woman plugging in an RV Surge Protector

Surge Protector: These devices provide basic protection of your RV's electrical systems from Power Surges (Spikes) caused by lightning Strikes on nearby power lines, etc. Normally these are simply devices that you plug into the shore power box directly and then plug your RV into the device.

These Surge (spike) Protectors such as the SSP Series from Progressive Industries There are 2 models available the SSP-50XL for 50-Amp RVs and the SSP-30XL for 30-amp RVs.

Progressive Surge Protectors Specs

  • PEACE OF MIND - UL Certified and Canadian Approved, Lifetime Warranty (excludes All Weather Shield Assembly)
  • SURGE PROTECTION - 5-Mode / 1650J / 45,000A. Ratings: 50A / 120V/240V / 12,000W. Operating Temperatures: minus 40C to plus 105C
  • FAULT DETECTION - Open Ground, Open Neutral and Reverse Polarity Detection, Miswired Pedestal and Surge Failure Indicators
  • RUGGED DESIGN - Designed for Outdoor Use, Weather Resistant, All Weather Shield Assembly, Thermally Protected, Rugged Pull Handle, Locking Bracket, Tough Lexan Housing, Brighter 3-Color LED Indicators
  • PORTABLE - Sleek, compact design makes unit easy to use and store. Simple Plug-and-Play application.

Electrical Management Systems: These provide the basic Surge Protection like the Surge Protector above, but in addition they provide:

  • Prolonged High low voltage protection.
  • Open neutral protection.
  • AC frequency protection.
  • 220 Volt protection in case you plug your RV into 220 Volts by accident.

These Electrical Management Systems are available in both portable and hard-wired versions.

There are two models of the Progressive RV Electrical Management System, you can just plug in to 30 Amp RVs and a 30 Amp Hardwired. 0ne you can just plug in to 50 Amp RVs and a 50 Amp Hardwired.

The plug-in Models Specs

  • PEACE OF MIND - UL Certified and Canadian Approved to give you confidence in its performance and safety
  • EMS SURGE PROTECTION - 5-Mode / 3,580J / 88,000A. Ratings: 50A / 120V/240V / 12,000W. Operating Temperatures: minus40C to plus105C
  • EMS FAULT DETECTION - Open Ground, Open Neutral and Reverse Polarity Detection and Protection, Over/Under Voltage Protection, Miswired Pedestal and Surge Failure Indicators, Accidental 240V Protection and A/C Frequency Protection
  • RUGGED DESIGN - Designed for Outdoor Use, Weather Resistant, All Weather Shield Assembly, Thermally Protected, Rugged Pull Handle, Locking Bracket, Tough Lexan Housing, Brighter 3-Color LED Indicators
  • PORTABLE - Sleek, compact design makes unit easy to use and store. Simple Plug-and-Play application.

The Hard-Wired Model Specs

  • PEACE OF MIND - UL Certified and Canadian Approved, Lifetime Warranty
  • EMS SURGE PROTECTION - 5-Mode / 3,580J / 88,000A. Ratings: 50A / 240V/120V / 12,000W. Operating Temperatures: -40C to +105C
  • EMS FAULT DETECTION - Open Ground, Open Neutral & Reverse Polarity Detection and Protection, Over/Under Voltage Protection, Miswired Pedestal & Surge Failure Indicators, Accidental 240V Protection and A/C Frequency Protection
  • INTEGRATED DIGITAL DISPLAY - Included display continuously scrolls through the power source information providing immediate updates
  • HARDWIRED PROTECTION - Protect your RV against voltage fluctuations, power surges, and incorrectly wired shore power

I hope that you now understand why you need an RV Surge Protector or Electrical Management System to protect your RV.

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