John Wayne
Long Beach, Ca
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Joined: 02/13/2001
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That is the way I did mine. I have a 50amp I cut my main power cord and made it an extension cord. Now if I have 50amp service I use this cord. If I only have 30amp service I use the 30 amp extension cord (power no longer has to run through the 50 amp cord before getting to coach like it did the old way). I don't have a transfer switch so the surge guard is used even when using the generator.
The portable unit stays inside the elec. bin. I did this instead of the permanent unit because I had the portable. If something goes wrong with the unit it is easy to bypass.
John & Carol
01 31'Sea View single slide, F53 V-10
96 Toyota 4-Runner auto 4x4 (Remco, M&G brake system)
KF6HCH
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MGO BLUE
CAPE CORAL FL
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Joined: 08/23/2007
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I have an exterior 50 amp surge guard for over three years and have used it 24/7 never had a situation...In the beginning I saw reports of internal burn outs and would rather not have that IN my bus....I asked one time if ANYONE has had one stolen and never got a response....last week end at the CG where I was staying the 50 amp breaker burned out on half of it my guard switched from 50 to 30 amps shut down one a/c ...contacted security and had it fixed in 20 minutes....well worth the money...Jim K
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brobox
Sunny SW. Florida
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Joined: 11/18/2003
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Maanpa wrote:brobox,
You did great on the time it took you to install yours. Think I spent around three hours on mine. Worthy every minute.
I cheated, I bought and 18 inch piece of #6 jumper wire from Lowe's and had the ends stripped ready to install when the Progressive arrived. I had already read the instructions online, took the cover off of the transfer switch and knew where everything was going to go before I started. Once the unit arrived, it was connecting nine numbered and color coded wire ends, screw the unit to the wall, plug it in to test it. Opened a cool one and admired my work OK 30 minutes if you figure in stripping the jumper wire a few days before.
Chuck
02 Travel Supreme, 2 street side slides
02 Jeep Liberty Toad
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B's Bunch
Shelbyville, TN. USA Why live any where else?
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Joined: 10/31/2003
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I installed the hardwired from CW. on sale.Bought it a couple months ago. Wired it for camp power and generator. Only problem was location in the power compartment. I have the power cord reel and had to move the cord storage bucket to make roon. other than that about a 30 minute install start to finish. I like it it keeps you from just applying power without turning off AC as I have done before. There is a built in time delay to help prevent damage to components. Get one Cheap insurance I believe. Travel safe Larry
Larry,Brenda,Travis,Jarred & MEME the Boston Terrier The BUNCH 05 Dutch Star 4024 Antelope.Toad 08 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited Four Door Rescue Green Love It!US Gear brakes 06 Ultra Classic Man What a Ride If at first you don't succeed don't try sky diving
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livingaboard
Everett wa
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Joined: 09/06/2006
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I have the 50 amp portable surge guard and when I use it outside I use the locking bracket (optional) and feed it through a large black garbage bag.
The instructions state that it has to be hung in an upright position in order to remain water resistant and not void the warranty.
I would not get a portable unit again, but I got a really good deal on this one. I would get a hardwired unit.
Dave
Everett, WA
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U, F53 Triton V-10
Firestone air bags with Quad control air gauge
Pressure Pro
Banks Exhaust
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Bea PA
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Joined: 12/28/2000
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We use the portable with a lock cause hubby trades hardwired items with the coach. This one will go with us.
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dleslie125
Southern Ontario/Palmetto FL in Winter
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Joined: 03/21/2003
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livingaboard wrote:I have the 50 amp portable surge guard and when I use it outside I use the locking bracket (optional) and feed it through a large black garbage bag.
The instructions state that it has to be hung in an upright position in order to remain water resistant and not void the warranty.
I would not get a portable unit again, but I got a really good deal on this one. I would get a hardwired unit.
I've had the 50 amp portable and WOULD get it again. First use was with our Journey. Then with our Ambassador and now with our Jayco Greyhawk, which cannot, from what I can see, very easily take a fixed unit given the power cord connects on the outside and there isn't much room inside in that area. My point is that I'd have purchased 3 of them by now if I'd used the fixed unit.
As to the need for a surge protector - absolutely. Have had it shut down with 260+ volts in two situations (FPL had to reorg a power grid in one case as a result of our call) and recently had a couple of situations where it continually shut down when power dropped below 102 volts on a 30 amp supply. It kept shutting down and we had to use our generator.
What forced me to get a surge protector was seeing a relatively new MH sitting on a dealers lot and when asking why they had it back (thinking it was for sale) I was told it had suffered from a large surge and the repair cost was about $18k.
Don, Bev & Phil
07 Jayco 32SS on Kodiak May 07 Yahoo Kodiak Group
06 HR Amb 40PLQ ISC 330/950 9/05-5/07
04 Winnie Jrny 39W CAT C7 7/04-9/05)
00 Triple E Commander 5/03-5/04
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jomarfl
Tampa
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Joined: 01/27/2007
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Had the dealer hardwire a 30amp model and no worries here since
Papa John & Mother Mary
Living The Good Life In Tampa, FL
Retired Military, USAF
2008 Fleetwood Fiesta LX, 34N w/bunks
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JasonD
Annapolis, MD
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Joined: 07/26/2003
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We used a 50 amp plug-in Surge Guard on our last coach. It died in the first year from water damage on the inside. The company replaced it under warranty, telling us not to lay the unit on the ground...it must hang vertically. I don't remember now, but I don't think there was any warning on the unit not to lay it on the ground.
Present coach has a hard-wired unit. It's the only way to go.
2008 42' Foretravel Nimbus CE
2007 Chevy Tahoe toad
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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You can mount the surge guard anywhere between the post and your automatic transfer switch.
In fact, depending on the location of said switch, you can take the proper mounting kit for a Hughes Autoformer and install it. This kit (Which you can "home brew" if you wish) consists of an outlet (either 30 or 50 amp) a matching plug and a short cord. You remove the shore power leads from the ATS and route them to the outlet, hook the short cord to the ATS shore inlet, and put the plug on the end of the cord. Then to install either a surge guard or hughes auto-former (or other auto-former) you plug into the outlet and plug the cord into the device...
Advantages of this type of install.
1: Forget it, No,you can't it is there all the time so if you forget it, well, it won't matter
2: Theft prevention: Outta-site, Outta-mind Plus, depending on the location of your ATS, (mine is INSIDE the house, not the basement) the thief has you to go through (Not only can he not see my autoformer.
3: (in the case of power guard systems) if the ATS is inside the house that means the power guard RESET is also inside the house where you can push the control button in a driving rain without getting wet. Very nice.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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