The 8 Best 30 Amp Surge Protectors

Editor's Notes

September 29, 2020:

Designed for motor homes with 30-amp service, these surge protectors will help ensure your appliances, gadgets, and air conditioner will remain free of damage in the event of problems at your campground’s power base. Today’s update sees the addition of the Hughes Autoformers PWD30-EPO, which provides 2,400 joules of surge protection. Its circuit analyzer will cut power to your RV if a dangerous even occurs, and in turn it will also send an alert to your smartphone. The downloadable companion app also allows you to monitor your power usage. Unlike many others, this device only has a four-second delay when it powers on after you’ve plugged it in. In the event it’s powering on after a fault has occurred, it will wait 90 seconds to protect your air conditioning unit. In all, it can detect scenarios like open ground, open neutral, reverse polarity, and open circuit, as well as problems with miswiring.

In this update, we also replaced an older Sure Guard model with the Southwire Surge Guard 34930, a weather-resistant portable choice that’s equipped with an anti-theft lock on its cord. Like the newly added Hughes model, it can safeguard your appliances and gadgets from things like voltage spikes, open neutral, and more, and this selection also features an LCD that shows you the status. We still like the Progressive Industries HW30C, a comprehensive hardwired model that can identify miswiring, safeguard against power spikes, and more. You can monitor the status with the handy remote control that provides a continuously scrolling display. Since it’s hardwired, you won’t run the risk of leaving it behind. It’s UL certified and backed by a lifetime warranty, so you can purchase it with confidence. For another comprehensive device, but a portable one, look to the Progressive Industries EMS-PT30X, which can protect your gear from power surges, voltage problems, lightning strikes, pedestal malfunctions, and incorrectly wired shore power. It’s compact and easy to store, provides a digital status panel, and works in a wide range of temperatures.

For the safety of your appliances and devices, it’s a good idea to turn all of them off before you plug your RV into the campground pedestal. Once you’ve plugged in to the pedestal, you can then switch them back on. If you’re going with a hardwired energy management system, it’s best to leave the setup to a licensed electrician.

February 06, 2019:

Budget-friendly, entry-level surge protectors essentially have one job – to cut the power to your RV in the event of a spike that could damage or destroy your appliances, electronics, or A/C compressor. For a higher price, you can acquire a more comprehensive Electric Management System (models listed here include the Surge Guard 34830 and Progressive Industries HW30C and EMS-PT30X) which will also protect you from additional problems with a campground’s power base, like reverse polarity and open and neutral ground. In addition, both types of systems also come in hard-wired options that are installed in the bay of your coach as well as portable ones which do the job from outside. Our list covers all of these types of models, so you can choose based on your budget and needs.