surge guard wireless lcd display free sample

No longer will you have to go out to the campground pedestal to view the status of your power source. Southwire Surge Guard Wireless LCD Display provides total visibility to your source power when connected to either the 30-amp or 50-amp wireless communication-capable Surge Guard portable surge protectors. View current power data, fault notification, and previous fault viewing. Multiple displays can be connected to a single Surge Guard.

A quality, highly protective RV surge protector can appear at first glance to be a bit pricey. But when you consider the cost of replacing your RV’s electronics, the cost of surge protection becomes inconsequential.

Plugging your RV into unknown power sources like those at RV parks, campgrounds, state parks, etc. is always risky. Any power pedestal could have issues that even the park owner isn’t aware of yet. When you consider the large number of power sources we connect our RVs to, a high-quality surge protector is an absolute must.

A good RV surge protector offers protection from an electrical surge that can come through the power pedestal into which an RV is plugged. An electrical surge can damage RV electronics and appliances (both those that came with the RV, and anything plugged into a 120V AC outlet).

A high-quality RV surge protector has the ability to cut the power coming in from the power pedestal automatically when any dangerous electrical event occurs.

A good surge protector will also automatically restore power to your RV once power is detected as being safe and the electrical event is no longer a threat.

And finally, some high-quality RV surge protectors will even display the fault so you’ll know exactly what electrical event took place to cause the unit to shut down the power coming into your RV from the power pedestal.

Any interruption in the power grid is capable of causing a power surge. This could happen when lightning strikes a power line, for example. If powerful enough, a power surge could fry every electronic device and appliance in your RV, which is why a surge protector is extremely important.

You can see how important it is to have a high-quality portable RV surge protector to address all of these types of potential issues, especially if you plug your RV into a variety of power sources as you travel.

When you plug your rig into a power pedestal without high-quality surge protection, you’re risking every electronic device, receptacle, and appliance in your RV.

There are a few things you need to know before you shop for an RV surge protector and a few things you want your surge protector to have, so let’s take a look.

First, you need to know whether you have a 50-amp RV or a 30 amp RV so you can match your surge protector. Most reasonably-sized RVs are designed to use either 30- or 50-amp power service (while smaller rigs may have only a 15/20-amp connection, like a standard household plug).

A portable unit doesn’t need to be installed at all… you simply plug it in between your RV’s power cord and the campground’s power pedestal. But there are a couple of things to consider with portable surge protectors:

All surge protectors will indicate the level of protection they provide. That rating is listed in Joules and should be clearly noted on the product box or description. The joule rating is important because it tells you how much energy the surge protector can safely absorb before it will fail.

Most surge protectors run somewhere in the range from 825 to 3,580 joules. Some (like the Power Watchdogs noted below) offer between 2,400 and 6,100 joules of protection depending on the unit.

Let’s take a look at three of the best brands of 30 amp RV surge protectors and 50 amp RV surge protectors to keep you from frying your RV’s electronics, and why they’re the best.

As you’ll see below, we’re putting Hughes in the hands-down #1 position for a reason. During our nearly 20 years of full-time RVing, we’ve owned two RVs and a number of different surge protectors. Once we discovered Hughes, there was no going back to lesser brands.

This 30-amp Power Watchdog Smart Surge Protector offers 3,000 Joules of advanced surge protection and automatically shuts off power in the event of an emergency. Please note that it appears that the 30-amp model with 3,000-joule protection is only available directly through Hughes here. (There are other units on Amazon, but at the time of the writing of this post, the models offered on Amazon offer only 2,400 joules of protection.)

The Power Watchdog has a replaceable surge/spike module which is not something you’ll often find in most other RV surge protectors. So, if your rig gets hit with a large electrical surge and the surge module sacrifices itself to protect your RV’s electronics (which is what it’s supposed to do!), you don’t have to replace the entire surge protector. You can simply buy a new surge/spike module from Hughes for a fraction of the price and replace it yourself.

You can actually monitor electrical conditions at your power pedestal on your smartphone via Bluetooth using the free mobile app provided with the Watchdog. The ability to monitor voltage, amperage, and wattage in real-time is a great feature to have. The wireless fault alerts sent right to your smartphone make you aware of any hazardous power conditions at the power pedestal.

All Power Watchdog models (as all surge protectors) are compatible with dogbone adapters. (See our “Dogbones 101: Plugging In an RV post for more information on dogbone adapters.)

Make sure your RV is protected from low voltage, bad RV park wiring AND power surges when connecting to shore power with a Power Watchdog and/or Hughes Autoformer. We never hookup without ours (we...Show More

Make sure your RV is protected from low voltage, bad RV park wiring AND power surges when connecting to shore power with a Power Watchdog and/or Hughes Autoformer. We never hookup without ours (we have both), and know our RV"s electrical system and all our electronics are being protected.

There are a number of versions of the Hughes Power Watchdog on Amazon (some of them may be older models), so you’ll need to check the features of any you find and make sure you’re getting all the features you want in an RV surge protector.

A bit more expensive than the Power Watchdog, the Southwire Surge Guard offers 2,450 joules of protection in the 30-amp version and 4,200 joules in the 50-amp version. Complete protection with both line and load monitoring is available, and all units offer automatic reset when power is restored after an event has occurred.

These units are easy to use, and Southwire now offers an optional (extra cost) battery-operated Bluetooth LCD display that allows for remote monitoring of your Surge Guard (similar to how the Hughes Power Watchdog allows you to use an app on your smart devices for monitoring).

Southwire’s Surge Guard 30- and 50-amp models, as well as the separate Bluetooth display, are available through TechnoRV here, and you can save 5% by using the RVgeeks discount code:

They’re also available on Amazon, but once again – be sure to take a look at the specs and reviews to make sure you’re getting the surge guard product you want and need.

Progressive Industries has a variety of EMS units from which to choose, all of which offer either 3-mode or 5-mode surge protection. They offer both hardwired options as well as all-in-one portable surge & testing units.

These models offer anywhere from 1,650 to 3,580 joules of surge protection for your RV. All models will protect from open hot, open ground, open neutral, and reverse polarity situations, and all of them come with a lifetime warranty (with the exception of the Weather Shield protective housing).

In testing, this surge protector was one of the best at preventing extra voltage from reaching its outlets. It also safely stops all power once the protection wears out, and it has 12 AC outlets plus coaxial and phone ports.

If you want a surge protector for your home office or entertainment setup, the Tripp Lite Protect It 12-Outlet Surge Protector TLP1208TELTV is your best choice. It has a critical auto-shutoff feature, more than enough outlets to keep all your gadgets powered, and both coaxial and telephone connectors. It offers great protection against household surges that come from other equipment in your home or fluctuations from the power company. Plus, it has a generous 8-foot cord, and it feels sturdy and robust.

For light-duty powering, such as under a nightstand or end table, the Accell Power Air is the way to go to protect gadgets such as phones, tablets, or alarm clocks from surges. It offers two USB ports and six AC outlets in a round package that’s smaller than a dinner plate. The USB ports put out a combined 2.4 amps, enough to charge one smartphone or tablet at a high speed or two devices at low speeds. The circular outlet layout makes the Power Air usable with a variety of plug sizes. Its 6-foot cord is 2 feet shorter than that of the Tripp Lite 12-outlet model but should still be plenty long for most people. The Power Air performed almost as well as our top pick against individual surges, though it might not hold up to as many surges over its lifetime given its lower joule rating (which describes roughly how much energy it can absorb before it dies—the company estimates it’ll withstand about 1,080 joules of use, whereas many larger models are built to handle more than 2,000 joules).

Tripp Lite’s three-outlet SK30USB has an auto-shutoff feature and offers almost as much surge protection as full-size models. Plus, it has two 2.1-amp USB ports.

The Tripp Lite Protect It 3-Outlet Surge Protector SK30USB offers the portability of our favorite small power strips for travel but with even more protection. It has an auto-shutoff mechanism, making it one of the few three-outlet options we’ve found that will disconnect the power when the surge protection wears out. In addition to the three AC outlets, it comes equipped with two USB ports that offer a combined 2.1 amps to charge a phone, a tablet, or a couple of low-power devices. It performs well compared with other small options we’ve tested, blocking almost as many volts as larger models. In contrast to many comparable models, its compact size, grounded (three-prong) plug, and optional screw in the center of the unit help keep it firmly attached to the wall outlet, which is important for preventing electrical fires or shocks. We’d choose the SK30USB for protecting a few small household appliances—say, an essential oil diffuser, a Nintendo Switch dock, and a coffee grinder—and a couple of smartphones, or even for tossing in a carry-on when we’re traveling.

Tripp Lite’s eight-outlet TLP825 has a 25-foot cord, which is three to four times the length of most surge protector cords. It has fewer outlets than our top pick and no extra ports, but it performed almost as well in our surge tests.

With a cord measuring 25 feet, the Tripp Lite Protect It 8-Outlet Surge Protector TLP825 has the longest cord of any of our picks, making it the ideal choice for a garage, a basement, or any room where wall outlets are few and far between. It performed about as well as Tripp Lite’s 12-outlet TLP1208TELTV (and better than Accell’s Power Air and Tripp Lite’s three-outlet SK30USB) in our surge tests. Since it’s unsafe to plug a surge protector into an extension cord or to daisy-chain multiple surge protectors together, you should get this model if the devices you want to protect are more than 8 feet away from an outlet. It has four fewer outlets than our top pick and no additional ports (coaxial, phone, or USB), but that’s a small sacrifice if you need the extra cord length.

Overkill unless you have high-end home theater, office, or media equipment, this unit knocked down surges better than any other model we tried, including surge eliminators costing twice as much.

Our top pick will protect most equipment in most cases. But the Furman Power Station 8 (PST-8) goes further, providing the best surge suppression of any model we tested—enough to give owners of high-end electronics peace of mind. It turned a 5,000-volt surge into just 40 volts, thanks in part to a shutdown circuit that turns off all power when a surge is detected. The PST-8 actually let less voltage through in our tests than high-end series mode surge eliminators that can cost hundreds more. But common equipment, such as a computer monitor, will be fine protected by one of our less expensive picks, so this model is best for people who insist on extra protection for particularly precious gear. Plus, it has a sturdy aluminum body and an 8-foot cord.

In testing, this surge protector was one of the best at preventing extra voltage from reaching its outlets. It also safely stops all power once the protection wears out, and it has 12 AC outlets plus coaxial and phone ports.

If you want a surge protector for your home office or entertainment setup, the Tripp Lite Protect It 12-Outlet Surge Protector TLP1208TELTV is your best choice. It has a critical auto-shutoff feature, more than enough outlets to keep all your gadgets powered, and both coaxial and telephone connectors. It offers great protection against household surges that come from other equipment in your home or fluctuations from the power company. Plus, it has a generous 8-foot cord, and it feels sturdy and robust.

For light-duty powering, such as under a nightstand or end table, the Accell Power Air is the way to go to protect gadgets such as phones, tablets, or alarm clocks from surges. It offers two USB ports and six AC outlets in a round package that’s smaller than a dinner plate. The USB ports put out a combined 2.4 amps, enough to charge one smartphone or tablet at a high speed or two devices at low speeds. The circular outlet layout makes the Power Air usable with a variety of plug sizes. Its 6-foot cord is 2 feet shorter than that of the Tripp Lite 12-outlet model but should still be plenty long for most people. The Power Air performed almost as well as our top pick against individual surges, though it might not hold up to as many surges over its lifetime given its lower joule rating (which describes roughly how much energy it can absorb before it dies—the company estimates it’ll withstand about 1,080 joules of use, whereas many larger models are built to handle more than 2,000 joules).

Tripp Lite’s three-outlet SK30USB has an auto-shutoff feature and offers almost as much surge protection as full-size models. Plus, it has two 2.1-amp USB ports.

The Tripp Lite Protect It 3-Outlet Surge Protector SK30USB offers the portability of our favorite small power strips for travel but with even more protection. It has an auto-shutoff mechanism, making it one of the few three-outlet options we’ve found that will disconnect the power when the surge protection wears out. In addition to the three AC outlets, it comes equipped with two USB ports that offer a combined 2.1 amps to charge a phone, a tablet, or a couple of low-power devices. It performs well compared with other small options we’ve tested, blocking almost as many volts as larger models. In contrast to many comparable models, its compact size, grounded (three-prong) plug, and optional screw in the center of the unit help keep it firmly attached to the wall outlet, which is important for preventing electrical fires or shocks. We’d choose the SK30USB for protecting a few small household appliances—say, an essential oil diffuser, a Nintendo Switch dock, and a coffee grinder—and a couple of smartphones, or even for tossing in a carry-on when we’re traveling.

Tripp Lite’s eight-outlet TLP825 has a 25-foot cord, which is three to four times the length of most surge protector cords. It has fewer outlets than our top pick and no extra ports, but it performed almost as well in our surge tests.

With a cord measuring 25 feet, the Tripp Lite Protect It 8-Outlet Surge Protector TLP825 has the longest cord of any of our picks, making it the ideal choice for a garage, a basement, or any room where wall outlets are few and far between. It performed about as well as Tripp Lite’s 12-outlet TLP1208TELTV (and better than Accell’s Power Air and Tripp Lite’s three-outlet SK30USB) in our surge tests. Since it’s unsafe to plug a surge protector into an extension cord or to daisy-chain multiple surge protectors together, you should get this model if the devices you want to protect are more than 8 feet away from an outlet. It has four fewer outlets than our top pick and no additional ports (coaxial, phone, or USB), but that’s a small sacrifice if you need the extra cord length.

Overkill unless you have high-end home theater, office, or media equipment, this unit knocked down surges better than any other model we tried, including surge eliminators costing twice as much.

Our top pick will protect most equipment in most cases. But the Furman Power Station 8 (PST-8) goes further, providing the best surge suppression of any model we tested—enough to give owners of high-end electronics peace of mind. It turned a 5,000-volt surge into just 40 volts, thanks in part to a shutdown circuit that turns off all power when a surge is detected. The PST-8 actually let less voltage through in our tests than high-end series mode surge eliminators that can cost hundreds more. But common equipment, such as a computer monitor, will be fine protected by one of our less expensive picks, so this model is best for people who insist on extra protection for particularly precious gear. Plus, it has a sturdy aluminum body and an 8-foot cord.

The APC 1500VA UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector is by far the best value for the quality. With a crisp, clear LCD screen and ten outlets, your tech equipment will be safe not only from surge protection but also from power failures and spikes. Adjustable voltage is a huge bonus, too. The swappable batteries also make this the best power surge protector on the market.

Rebecca Isaacs is a tech writer who has worked with Lifewire since 2019. She has survived blizzards, derechos, and a plethora of other Midwestern weather-related incidents that have attempted to take away her precious electricity. Thankfully, after years of researching and using various power surge protectors to keep her laptops and TVs safe, she understands the specs on a surge protector and how to choose the best one for a home.

Joules - Joules measure how much a protector can take during a power spike. The higher a joules rating, the higher the threshold a protector can withstand. Once the joules reach that threshold, be it one massive spike or a series of smaller spikes, the surge protector isn’t as effective, so higher is better.

Outlets - Will you need to charge your cell phone on this surge protector? If so, it might be in your best interest to look for one with USB ports. Swivel outlets are also important because setting up multiple cords can sometimes be tricky depending on the plug-in’s bulk. For example, a Nintendo Switch charger could take up less space if used on a swivel outlet.

Outlet protection types - Depending on the power surge protector, a light may indicate when the threshold of joules has been met, which means it’s time for a surge protector replacement. Some protectors don’t have these lights though, so it’s important to take a look and see if the surge protector that’s caught your eye can indicate whether it’s time for a replacement.

In short, yes. A power strip offers the amenities of extra outlets without the safety of a surge protector. You can look into a power strip, but when the next storm or spike hits, your gear’s safety is not guaranteed.

If you enjoy the amenities of your computer without having to worry about it breaking down, then yes, a surge protector is very important. One power outage or surge could take out your computer or even your smart TV, so if you like the peace of mind and keeping your home tech safe, get a surge protector. Your home tech will thank you when devices are still running after the next storm.

When a thunderstorm or power spike hits, it can cause a surge of current in the electrical system. That current hits your home items, which are not equipped to handle the spike and can short out electrical items, such as computers or smart TVs. A surge protector stops the excess current from coming into contact with your tech and redirects it back into the grounding wires or uses other dissipation methods to keep it from harming the items in your home.

RV electrical systems are very sensitive. Costly damage can be done if these systems are exposed to surges, but there are a number of other electrical issues that a simple surge protector cannot defend against. That is why an electrical management system (EMS) is a better choice to protect your RV investment.

While surge protectors are designed to protect RVs from voltage spikes, electrical management systems are designed to protect the RV from voltage spikes and other electrical damage such as: low voltage, open ground, open neutral, reverse polarity, accidentally plugging into a 240 volt outlet.

Power or voltage surge.This happens when the power grid experiences a disruption that causes an increase in voltage. It can be an increase of 1 volt to thousands if, for example, lightning strikes a power line. These surges can damage any electrical device that you have in the RV, including anything you have plugged into an outlet. Surges can also start electrical fires.

The latest Surge Guard product will protect the RV when there is high or low voltage, misfired pedestals, open ground, open neutral, reverse polarity, high neutral current, surges, overheating plug or receptacle. Read the operating and installation instruction for more details.

Similar to the portable EMS, the hard-wired version is installed in your RV. It does not come with a built in display, but a separately sold display can be installed on the inside of the RV in order to monitor voltage and amp draw along with any power issues.

Camco also makes a portable voltage protector that will shut off power to the RV when low or high voltage is detected. The display will show other electrical issues, but will not stop power from going to the RV.

The Hughes Autoformer is a power booster with built-in surge protection. When the input voltage is below 113 volts, the Autoformer will go into boost mode to increase the output by 10%. It does not draw power from the campground or any source the RV is plugged into.

The newest product from Hughes Autoformer is the Power Watch Dog Surge Protection with EPO. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to monitor real time power conditions on your smartphone.

Surge Protector Outlet Strip, Total Number of Outlets 4, Color White, Cord Length 15 ft, Communication Port None, Rated Joules 1,410, Application Hospital and Medical Facility, Housing Material Metal, Max. Amps 15 A, Power Indicator Yes, Receptacle Configuration Hospital Grade NEMA 5-15R, Plug Configuration Hospital Grade NEMA 5-15P, Wire Size 14 AWG, Number of Transformer Outlets 0, USB Charging Port 0, Medical Facility Use Patient Care (UL 60601-1), Number of Conductors 3, Voltage 120V AC