Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Thor Forums > Thor Community Forums > Thor Owners Community Discussions
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-16-2019, 09:09 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Fish and Dear's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: Arkansas
Posts: 515
THOR #11266
Surge protector thoughts...

I ALWAYS used a basic surge protector in the past with inexpensive TTs. In our Class C I never could determine if the transfer switch offered surge protection as well. The class A we just got has transfer switch and an inverter. I understand there is surge protection built in, but the Surge Guard with PMS also provides over/under voltage and other things. It's sacrificial, so I assume it is still best to use this and stop the problem before it gets to any coach component. Better to replace that than work on the rig is my thought. Plus a double layer of protection. Shoot me your thoughts.

__________________
Jeff and Melissa - Roodie and Jaxson
US Navy Vet - Good Sam Life Member 804274173
2019 Hurricane 29M
2015 Ford Explorer XLT Toad
Fish and Dear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 12:32 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
coachray's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Quantum RQ29
State: Ohio
Posts: 1,296
THOR #13648
I never used surge protectors with TT in the past, but bought one for our new class c after reading a lot of posts. Used it on our first trip and the information it gave me was reassuring.
__________________
coachray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 12:50 PM   #3
I Think We're Lost!
 
Bob Denman's Avatar
 
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
Our new rig supposedly has one built-in...
But we're buying one of Progressive's smart ones, and will be hooking it up at the power pedestal.
Better safe: than sorry!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
Bob Denman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 12:55 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Fish and Dear's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: Arkansas
Posts: 515
THOR #11266
I currently use one for my 30 amp Class C. It's the Surge Guard model with EMS (smart technology). What I am wondering is with this new class A the transfer switch is also a surge protector. BUT...do I still need the surge/EMS on the pole to protect against low voltage and such that a basic surge protector does NOT do?
__________________
Jeff and Melissa - Roodie and Jaxson
US Navy Vet - Good Sam Life Member 804274173
2019 Hurricane 29M
2015 Ford Explorer XLT Toad
Fish and Dear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 01:04 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
paulwadley's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Miramar 37.1
State: California
Posts: 2,460
THOR #12698
Surge Protector

I never used a surge protector on my Class B when I had it. When I bought my 2018 Thor Siesta Class C I decided to buy the Surge Guard to use at the pole everytime I hooked up. I read all of the posts and thought this was cheap insurance to protect my coach. We are leaving next week for a 6 week road trip from Calif to Florida stopping many places along the way. The Surge Guard with EMS was expensive but I would rather have it go then my only transportation while on the road away from home. I just make sure to secure it to the pole eveytime I use it with a cable and lock. There were many posts out there about incidents with high/low voltage at various camp sites.
__________________
paulwadley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 01:18 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Long & Winding road's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Axis 25.4
State: Arkansas
Posts: 2,669
THOR #12231
In installed the Surge Guard (30 amp version) on my Axis in January.

I was also concerned about HI and LOW voltage as well as any surges.

I think its worth while ..... plus now I dont have to mess with one at the power pole. I had the cheap $99 at the pole orginally so I was not too worryed about theft but in order to get full protection you spending over $200 so I rather have that one installed "inside" the RV.

Plus it will protect the RV when on the generator.

Easy to install but make sure (if your under your bed like mine) you put down some sound absorbing materal first then bolt to the top of that (I didnt take a picture of that).

These surge protectors hum a little (even with nothing on). Not noticable during the daytime but at night when all is quiet I could hear it and it dove me crazy. So I put down some leftover dynomat plus a self stick 1/4 thick rubber mat under the surge guard and that absorbed about half the noise so its not so bad now.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_5222.jpg
Views:	118
Size:	124.1 KB
ID:	16719   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_5228.jpg
Views:	203
Size:	101.9 KB
ID:	16720  

__________________
2017 Axis / 25.4: Big Foot Levelers, Aims 1200 Watt inverter, Ceramic Window Tint, Full River AGM 6V batteries, Front Hellwig Sway bar / Rear Track Arm, Safe T Plus Steering Stabilizer, PD 4655 converter, Hard Wired Surge Guard, WEboost + WiFi Ranger, LED Headlights/Driving lights, TPMS, Surge tank, Tornado flush, Viair Compressor
Long & Winding road is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 05:35 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
coachray's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Quantum RQ29
State: Ohio
Posts: 1,296
THOR #13648
I use the progressive ems and plug it in to the shore line pole first thing. It tells me if the if there is anything wrong with the shore power before I would connect to the rv. Yes, they are not cheap, but it's better than ruining your appliances or electrical system. It was reading about them on this website that I learned about them.
__________________
coachray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 05:41 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 34J
State: Florida
Posts: 189
THOR #14384
I can not recommend progressive more. The customer service is spectacular, the warranty is forever, and its made in the USA.
__________________
apr67 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 05:44 PM   #9
I Think We're Lost!
 
Bob Denman's Avatar
 
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
If you think that they are expensive: try figuring out the cost of replacing all the electrical components, that you can burn out...
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
Bob Denman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 06:02 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2016 Thor Outlaw 29H
State: Tennessee
Posts: 668
THOR #13869
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman View Post
If you think that they are expensive: try figuring out the cost of replacing all the electrical components, that you can burn out...
$200 + $150 + $65 + Labor + loss of use (16 weeks)… LOL

Another thing I think I should look into!
__________________
.....
Rusty
10scDust is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 09:39 PM   #11
Junior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 29.3
State: Alaska
Posts: 28
THOR #6077
I've had two Progressive built in surges fail leaving me without shore power! Took them out and no use a dongle so if it fails I still have power available.
__________________
naturescott49 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 09:46 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Fish and Dear's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: Arkansas
Posts: 515
THOR #11266
That was my thought. If my outside protector blows I have AGS, so all should be good.
__________________
Jeff and Melissa - Roodie and Jaxson
US Navy Vet - Good Sam Life Member 804274173
2019 Hurricane 29M
2015 Ford Explorer XLT Toad
Fish and Dear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 10:07 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 34J
State: Florida
Posts: 189
THOR #14384
Quote:
Originally Posted by naturescott49 View Post
I've had two Progressive built in surges fail leaving me without shore power! Took them out and no use a dongle so if it fails I still have power available.
Progressives have a non-electronic manual by-pass that should work even if the surge suppressor is blown.. However at the point my EMS is blown I am thinking I don't want to plug into your crappy pole any more.
__________________
apr67 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 10:12 PM   #14
I Think We're Lost!
 
Bob Denman's Avatar
 
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
Quote:
Originally Posted by apr67 View Post
However at the point my EMS is blown I am thinking I don't want to plug into your crappy pole any more.
They say that the definition of sanity, is when you keep doing the same thing over and over: hoping for a different outcome.

Congratulations on being sane!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
Bob Denman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 10:18 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Mo_Mike's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 25.2
State: Missouri
Posts: 1,038
THOR #4687
Quote:
Originally Posted by Long & Winding road View Post
In installed the Surge Guard (30 amp version) on my Axis in January.

I was also concerned about HI and LOW voltage as well as any surges.

I think its worth while ..... plus now I dont have to mess with one at the power pole. I had the cheap $99 at the pole orginally so I was not too worryed about theft but in order to get full protection you spending over $200 so I rather have that one installed "inside" the RV.

Plus it will protect the RV when on the generator.

Easy to install but make sure (if your under your bed like mine) you put down some sound absorbing materal first then bolt to the top of that (I didnt take a picture of that).

These surge protectors hum a little (even with nothing on). Not noticable during the daytime but at night when all is quiet I could hear it and it dove me crazy. So I put down some leftover dynomat plus a self stick 1/4 thick rubber mat under the surge guard and that absorbed about half the noise so its not so bad now.
So, did you install the SURGE PROTECTOR between the TRANSFER SWITCH and the BREAKER PANEL?
__________________
2016 25.2 VEGAS with 2017 Jeep Wrangler AND Two Dogs; Norwegian Elkhound & Morkie (The RV is actually the Dog's)
Mo_Mike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 10:56 PM   #16
Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 24.1
State: Florida
Posts: 70
THOR #14807
Surge-Guard (30 amp model)

I installed Surge-Guard's 30 amp model along with their remote monitor.
I cut the 120v main feed between the transfer switch and the main circuit breaker box figuring I'd have protection from shore power & generator.
The install was fairly straight forward but there is a couple of annoying quirks that I still have not gotten used to.


First, the unit has a 20 second delay from the time you apply power until the time it turns on. Then, it has another 127 second delay while it goes through some kind of analysis before actually turning on power to the coach.
If you purchase the remote display you can watch the seconds count down.
To make matters a bit more annoying, any time you lose power to the coach, you have to go through the same wait.
That initially doesn't seem like that much of a bother BUT I was using the coach last week & a storm came through & everything got a thorough soaking. This caused a "ground fault" somewhere, probably at the pedestal, and my power cut off. I had to reset the power numerous times before clearing the fault and I spent better than a half hour, total time, waiting on this unit to do its 2-1/2 minute count down. Let me remind you that each time I had to reset the power, I had to walk outside, at night, in the rain, to reset the pedestal circuit breaker.
The unit does claim to have an automatic built-in reset but apparently it doesn't try resetting with ground faults because it never did try to come back on until I removed power.
To those of you that have installed this same unit, Does this sound like proper operation?
__________________
Latest rig: 2019 Vegas 24.1
Thor-Machine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2019, 11:07 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Fish and Dear's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: Arkansas
Posts: 515
THOR #11266
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor-Machine View Post
I installed Surge-Guard's 30 amp model along with their remote monitor.
I cut the 120v main feed between the transfer switch and the main circuit breaker box figuring I'd have protection from shore power & generator.
The install was fairly straight forward but there is a couple of annoying quirks that I still have not gotten used to.


First, the unit has a 20 second delay from the time you apply power until the time it turns on. Then, it has another 127 second delay while it goes through some kind of analysis before actually turning on power to the coach.
If you purchase the remote display you can watch the seconds count down.
To make matters a bit more annoying, any time you lose power to the coach, you have to go through the same wait.
That initially doesn't seem like that much of a bother BUT I was using the coach last week & a storm came through & everything got a thorough soaking. This caused a "ground fault" somewhere, probably at the pedestal, and my power cut off. I had to reset the power numerous times before clearing the fault and I spent better than a half hour, total time, waiting on this unit to do its 2-1/2 minute count down. Let me remind you that each time I had to reset the power, I had to walk outside, at night, in the rain, to reset the pedestal circuit breaker.
The unit does claim to have an automatic built-in reset but apparently it doesn't try resetting with ground faults because it never did try to come back on until I removed power.
To those of you that have installed this same unit, Does this sound like proper operation?
The purpose of the countdown is to protect your AC and give proper diagnostic time.
__________________
Jeff and Melissa - Roodie and Jaxson
US Navy Vet - Good Sam Life Member 804274173
2019 Hurricane 29M
2015 Ford Explorer XLT Toad
Fish and Dear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2019, 12:04 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,883
THOR #6826
I’ve been using the same Progression 30A pole mounted model for years without a problem. I did devise a chain lock that I can wrap around the post. I don’t usually bother locking it unless we will be away from camp a lot.
__________________
Pete'sMH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2019, 12:30 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31D
State: Virginia
Posts: 137
THOR #5638
I had mine before I had the coach. Been on the end of the shore power cord since April 2011. Cheap insurance either as a fuse for a lighting strike or other such powerlem but also to sense power problems and protect the coach. High/low volts, open ground or neutral, incorrectly wired and such.
__________________
2006 Hurricane 31D built on a 2006 Ford F53
Sweetbriar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2019, 10:38 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
Dbadger777's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 34J
State: Michigan
Posts: 238
THOR #6009
Here is an interesting article on Surge Protectors. https://www.rvtravel.com/surges-and-...nd-movs-oh-my/
__________________
Dbadger777 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Thor Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.




All times are GMT. The time now is 12:01 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2