If you own an RV or travel trailer, a surge protector is one of the most necessary purchases you’ll make to support your rig. Electrical surges at campsites are common and can fry your electronics and the delicate circuitry in your RV’s refrigerator and air conditioner.
A reliable surge protector can cost anywhere from $80-$350 but will save you thousands of dollars in damages. Believe it or not, different RV surge protectors offer different levels of protection. Knowing which style fits your needs is crucial to keeping your RV and electronics safe.
RV surge protectors generally cost $80-$150 and protect your RV or travel trailer from surges in voltage.
Electrical management systems protect your rig from high and low voltage and reverse polarity, open ground and open neutral. A good EMS can save your RV from faulty park power sources for $250-$350.
Hardwired RV surge protectors are mounted onto your RV, whereas plug-n-play models plug into the park’s power source externally.
Plug-n-play models are typically more expensive but require less effort to install. One significant advantage of hardwired units is you don’t have to worry about theft.
You’ll need to know whether your RV or travel trailer requires a 30-amp or 50-amp connection.
30-amp plugs typically have three pins, including a flat 120-volt pin, a flat neutral pin and a round ground pin. 50-amp plugs have four pins, including two flat 120-volt pins, a flat neutral pin and a round ground pin.
If you’re unsure what kind of plug your RV uses, consider reaching out to the manufacturer for clarification.
The surge rating is how much energy the surge protector can absorb before it fails. 30-amp surge protectors generally have a surge rating of around 2,000, whereas many 50-amp surge protectors can handle 4,000 joules of electricity or more before they fail. Getting a surge protector with a high surge rating saves you the hassle of replacing your unit down the line.
Hughes Autoformers Power Watchdog Smart Bluetooth Surge Protector
This Bluetooth-capable electrical management system allows you to monitor park power conditions in real-time from your smartphone and offers 2,400 joules of surge protection. The Power Watchdog shuts off entirely if the park’s voltage is unsafe and turns back on when it remains safe and stable for 90 seconds. The surge protector is available as a plug-n-play version or hardwire version.
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Southwire Surge Guard Portable 120-Volt Surge Protector
If theft is a concern, Southwire’s Surge Guard model can provide you with additional peace of mind thanks to a security ring on the cord that lets you lock it in place. This EMS is compatible with Surge Guard’s wireless liquid crystal display that allows you to monitor park power conditions from inside your rig.
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Camco 55301 RV Power Defender Voltage Protector/Monitor
Camco’s convenient EMS offers an impressive 2,800 joules of surge protection and has a convenient grip that makes it easier to plug and unplug. Although this model doesn’t allow you to monitor power conditions from inside your RV, it has easy-to-understand LED diagnostic lights to make you aware of potential faults.
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Progressive Industries Portable RV Smart Surge Protector
This surge protector isn’t technically an EMS, as it doesn’t shut off when the voltage goes above or below the acceptable range. It offers a wide range of capabilities nonetheless. The SSP-30XL’s LEDs indicate open grounds, miswired pedestals and reversed polarity, in addition to surge failures.
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Hughes Autoformers Power Watch Dog Surge Protector
Much like the SSP-30XL, this surge protector indicates open grounds, miswired pedestals and reversed polarity with its built-in LEDs or convenient smartphone app.
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Hughes Autoformers Power Watchdog Bluetooth Surge Protector
This advanced EMS has an impressive 4,800 joules of surge protection. The 50-amp Power Watchdog EMS is smartphone-compatible, just like its 30-amp counterpart, making it easy to monitor real-time power conditions.
Sold by Home Depot
Camco RV Power Defender Voltage Protector/Monitor
Camco’s 50 amp EMS packs 4,200 joules of surge protection into an easy-to-use piece of equipment. The simple LED indicators tell you everything you need to know about park power conditions. If the voltage is risky, it shuts off until it’s safe for a full 140 seconds.
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Progressive Industries Portable RV EMS Surge Protector
At 3,580 joules, the surge rating on this EMS is slightly lower than most 50-amp electrical management systems. Still, its lifetime warranty, scrolling display and rugged design make it an excellent choice for nearly any RV.
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This durable EMS continuously monitors and displays voltage and amp draw, which is pretty handy if you’re at a park that charges per kilowatt-hour for electricity.
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Hughes Autoformer Power Watch Dog 50 AMP Surge Protector
This smartphone-compatible surge protector offers 4,800 joules of surge protection. Should you get hit by an exceedingly significant surge, the surge/spike unit is replaceable. Therefore, you won’t have to replace the entire unit.
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Surge Guard 44270 Entry Level Surge Protector
Surge Guard’s RV surge protector has 4,200 joules of surge protection. This unit’s design includes easy-to-understand LED indicators that alert you if your power source has an open ground, open neutral or reversed polarity.
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Cody Stewart is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
