Southwire Surge Guard RV Surge Protectors

What does a Southwire Surge Guard RV surge protector do?

A Southwire Surge Guard monitors incoming shore power and disconnects your RV from the pedestal when it detects dangerous conditions: voltage spikes, low or high voltage, open ground, open neutral, or reverse polarity. Campground power is notoriously inconsistent, and a single surge or miswired pedestal can damage your converter, AC unit, refrigerator control board, and other 120V electronics. The Surge Guard sits between the pedestal and your rig and shuts power down before that damage reaches your systems.

Do I need a 30 amp or 50 amp Surge Guard?

Match the Surge Guard amperage to your RV's shore power inlet. If your rig plugs into a 30 amp TT-30 pedestal, you need a 30 amp model. If it plugs into a 50 amp 14-50 pedestal, you need a 50 amp model. Do not size down with an adapter, the protector must match the full amperage your RV is rated to draw. If you regularly travel between parks with mixed pedestal types, browse our RV plug adapters to pair with the correct Surge Guard for each trip.

What is the difference between a portable and hardwired Surge Guard?

Portable Surge Guards plug in at the pedestal between the power post and your shore cord, which makes them easy to move between rigs and easy to inspect. Hardwired models install inside the RV on the load side of your transfer switch, which protects against theft at the pedestal and keeps the unit out of the weather. Hardwired units typically include automatic reset and remote display options. Both lines offer the same core protection against high/low voltage, open ground, open neutral, and surges.

Will a Surge Guard protect my RV air conditioner during startup?

The Surge Guard protects your AC from incoming power faults, but it does not reduce the inrush current the compressor pulls on startup. If you are running on a generator or a weak 30 amp pedestal and the AC struggles to start, pair the Surge Guard with the Coleman RV air conditioner soft start kit to cut startup amp draw by up to 75%. The two devices solve different problems and work well together.

How do I read the fault codes on my Surge Guard?

Portable Surge Guard models use indicator LEDs on the face of the unit. A steady green light means power is good and the unit is passing through to your RV. Flashing or red indicators correspond to specific faults, open ground, open neutral, reverse polarity, high voltage (over 132V on each leg), or low voltage (under 102V). The unit will not pass power to your RV while a fault is active. Refer to the model-specific manual for the exact LED pattern, or text our team at 817-984-1852 with your model number and we will walk you through the diagnosis.