The 10 Best RV Surge Protectors of 2021: Brand Buying Guide & Reviews

It might not seem big, but this little equipment can save your life and your RV. So let’s take a look at the best surge protectors for recreation vehicles available in today’s market. If you’re ever thinking of getting one for your RV, you might want to consider these great products. They won’t let you down.

THE TOP RATED RV SURGE PROTECTORS OF 2021

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING SURGE PROTECTORS FOR YOUR RV

In order to have the luxury of electrical appliances on your RV, you need to have a reliable power source for them. Since you’re moving from places to places, you’re not in control where and how your appliances receive power so you can’t really guarantee that they’re all safe from power surges or faulty sources. This is why having a protector is a must.

A protector can ensure that all your devices are safe. You can guarantee that they won’t blow up from too much power from the sources and that no damage will come to them.

There are many factors to consider when buying surge protectors for your RV. One type of protector doesn’t fit everyone so you need to think about your needs before putting your foot down on a particular model.

Try to consider the following before purchasing anything:

UNDERWRITER LABORATORIES(UL) SEAL

The UL seal is a certification that guarantees strength and durability. If a product is fortunate enough to catch this certifying body’s attention, then they must be top of the line and extremely high-quality.

If you see surge protectors that have the UL seal, go for them. The seal proves that they’re good and tested. You RV is guaranteed to be in good hands with products approved by this certifying body.

APPLIANCES

You should also consider what particular appliances you would hook up in your protector. Appliances consume power differently, and a sudden power surge would affect them all differently.

Try to make a mental list of the things that you’d hook up to a protector. A telephone won’t be as demanding from a power protector but a refrigerator would be. If you think that you have heavy appliances onboard, shop for a strong and reliable surge protector. It’ll guarantee the safety of all of those appliances for you.

GUARANTEED SAFETY

You need to really pay attention to those features. You don’t really need protectors that have way too many features. You just need one with the right features and a fast reaction. It needs to be able to alert you immediately in the event of a failure or any other problems.

Focus on those that can detect more problems, those can shut themselves off, and the ones with bright and clear indicators. Those features should be high on your list when looking for a good surge protector.

PRICE

Sure, you need a good surge protector, but you don’t need to give up half your savings for it. There are really good surge protectors out there that would still fit in your budget.

Of course, don’t go for the cheapest one. You’ll just end up needing a new one soon enough. Go for a mid-priced unit that can still guarantee your safety and your protection without costing too much. Don’t buy those units with too much added features. The basic units with all the right indicators have been protecting many RVers for years. If it worked for them, it’ll for work you too.

POWER RATING

This factor is important. Before buying anything, you need to find out the amount of electrical power used to run your RV. It’s going to be important once you start looking for appropriate protectors.

Once you already have your numbers, be sure to find a protector that can handle way above the amount that your RV needs. This is just to make sure that the protector can easily handle your RV’s current needs, and that it has more than enough space in case you ever go over that amount.

PORTS

Surge protectors often come with 4, 6, 8 or 12 ports. It’s important to know how many ports to determine whether or not you’ll get a second protector. To determine how many ports you need, take a look inside your ride. If you see many electrical appliances, choose a protector with many ports. If you think you only have few appliances that runs on electricity, then the minimum four ports is fine.

JOULES

This is mentioned a lot in the list of products that we recommended for you. Joules can be considered as a protection measurement. The higher the joules, the more electricity your rig can handle and the better protected you’ll be. Of course, the price goes up along with the amount of joule a rig can handle so try to find one that can handle a lot but not too much that it’s excessive.

LCD MONITOR

Not every protector has an LCD screen. Majority of them just have indicators on the device itself to warn you of danger. Of course, those units are still good enough to protect you, but if you can find that has a monitor, then that’s much better.

You’ll see statuses much clearer with a screen. Just make sure that it’s readable, and that it has its own light at night.

EASE OF INSTALLATION AND SETUP

When shopping for a protector, try to take a look at the installation instructions. Imagine yourself following those steps and determine if you found them easy to hard. The point is to avoid units that are too complicated to set up. Remember that these rigs cost a lot and making a mistake when installing them might damage them permanently. Just go for a unit that you think you can easily handle.

TYPE

There are two types of surge protectors available on the market today, the portable ones and those that are hardwired. You probably know all about the portable, we mentioned it a few times in the list of recommended products above. The hardwired, on the other hand, is the opposite. You need to install it on your RV. Unlike the portable, you can’t unplug it and move it around.

Of course, the portable has the great advantage of easy installation. You just plug it in the right sources, and then it’s good to go. You can unplug it when you don’t need it, move it around and plug it back in. It’s that easy. Plus, it’s easily replaceable. Once you’re done with it, you can just as easily get a new one.

The second type, the hard wire, has to be installed on your vehicle. You have to decide its permanent place in your vehicle and hook it up to your vehicle from there. You won’t be able to move it around after that. It’s best to put it near your power wheel. A great advantage to this unit is it can take away the worry of messing anything up by unplugging and plugging, which can sometimes damage your rig.

Hard-wired protectors are placed inside the vehicle. You don’t need to worry about their ability to survive the weather. They are not exposed outside. Plus, you’re sure that no matter what happens nobody could steal them. They’re too hidden in the RV, and they’re hooked to it pretty tight that people will have a hard time getting it out.

NOISE

Some protectors produce a loud noise when they operate. This could be really distracting and annoying especially since you’re out on the field with other people. Vendors won’t really tell you this if you asked if a particular rig is noisy or not. Try to read reviews about a certain product before buying to make sure. Your best sources of information for products like these are people who bought them before.

It can’t be helped that protectors would produce some kind of noise when they operate but at least get one that makes the least amount of noise.

WHY GET ONE FOR YOUR RV?

Surge protectors can protect the appliances inside your recreational vehicle in the event of a power surge. It can guarantee your safety on the road and by shielding you from any spikes in voltage that might happen. There are more than one definition for surge protectors.

The first is the basic one. The usual surge protectors are inserted between your RV and all of the appliances in it and whichever power source you’re going to get electricity from. Since there are no guarantees that these sources are safe, having a protector can eliminate all the dangers for you. It can protect your RV in case there’s a sudden surge in electricity coming from the power source.

Sometimes power surges comes from sudden lightning, electrical lines that carry power, or even by the power source that you’re plugging your RV into. In any case, the main purpose of this product is to stop any of the surges from entering your vehicle and blowing up your appliances.

The second is the more advanced one. The newer RVs fall into this definition. They don’t just block surges, they also help RVers with other things like protection from high or low voltage and thermal heat.

These new units have the ability to protect themselves. For example, when the source starts running at a really low voltage, the unit would shut itself down. This is to protect you and your devices from sucking in that low electricity and damaging your appliances.

These new features can really help you alot. It can ensure your protection even if you miss the warnings on the indicators. That makes them valuable and also expensive. But if you’re really serious about bringing appliances on nature trips, you might want to start investing in them.

HOW CAN THEY PROTECT YOU?

The biggest purpose of having this product on your RV is to protect your vehicle from sudden power surges when you plug it in a new power source. RVs go everywhere, and their main power source are parks and camping sites. You can’t really guarantee those sources to be safe or well regulated. You need a protector to look into the wirings and determine if it’s safe to get power from a source or not.

Surge protectors protects you from high and low voltages. It also helps you deal with reversed polarity. It can watch over power surges for you and alert you with its indicators. In this way, it functions like the breaker in your house that you use to control everything electrical with.

Surge protectors that are specifically made for RVs comes in either 30 or 50 amperes. You usually get a kit with them that could help you wire your device to a public power source. Protectors for RVs are conveniently designed to be easy to plug and unplug to power sources since RVs move around a lot.

To make sure it works properly, plug the protector to your vehicle first. Turn your breaker on and then let it power on properly for sometime. Then, plug it in the new power source.

The device examines the voltage, the condition, polarity, the grounding, and frequency of the new power source. It also continually checks the power’s condition for any sudden surges. All these are done to make sure you’re safe and so is your RV.

Any sudden changes and danger will make your device shut itself down. This is to avoid channeling all that power into your RV and your appliances. This way, you’re sure that no hard damage could come to your devices, and that you could comfortably hook anything to your power sockets without worrying.

TYPES AVAILABLE TO BUY

Below are the different types of protectors. Before heading to a shop, try to read through each of them and retain even just a little bit of information about them. That will come in handy once you’re already on the store.

PRIMARY SURGE

When we say surge protectors, those small, portable boxes attached to power sockets probably popped-up in your mind. You’re not wrong. Those are also surge protectors. But for RVs this primary protector is different. It’s what keeps their sockets safe from getting fried when connecting to new power source.

These protectors are big. They are space consuming and, depending on your model, could be a little bit difficult to install, but they get the job done. These boxes protect your RV from power surge and keep your appliances safe from damage.

SECONDARY SURGE

Now this is what you were thinking of the first time. This little protector is the most common type of surge protectors. It’s small enough to just plug into your outlets without being too much of a bother.

It not as effective as the primary one but it is convenient, and if you’re only protecting a small appliance, it should get the job done.

POWER STRIP

The power strips function almost the same as secondary surges. It’s also not as powerful like the primary, but it can give you at least a measure of protection. This little device is plugged directly into your sockets. It has multiple outlets where you can hook up your appliances.

It’s ability to stop the flow of electricity in the event of a surge, is a features that make it valuable and helpful. It can help protect your devices from being fried.

UNINTERRUPTED ELECTRICITY

This protector comes in different types. You can get it in power strips. The main difference that sets this from the rest of the items on this list is it’s battery operated feature.

This also has the feature to shut itself down when something goes wrong to save your appliances from damage.

HARDWIRE

This particular type we’ve mentioned above. The hardwire is a protector that you install in your compartment where your wirings are. It can’t be moved from place to place and is really hard to take off once it’s plugged in.

The best thing about this is you can’t lose it. Even thieves would have a hard time getting it given it’s connected to all your wires. It’s also safe. This device doesn’t stop working until you turn everything off.

PORTABLE

This is the best and easiest option for a protector. When we say portable, we meant that it doesn’t need installing. You just need to plug this device in the right sockets, and then it’s good to go. This device is designed to be easy to plug in and to use.

Portables like these are just as functional as hardwired ones. They can also detect dangers and warn you almost immediately about them. It can tell if a power source is good, if it’s bad or when it has power surges. Portables can give just as much protection as hardwired ones to you and your devices.

WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RV?

If you’re really determined to have access to electricity on your RV, then having a protector is really important. Protection is the number one reason why you should always have surge protectors on board. It can keep your devices save and save your wirings from possible damage.

Protectors also keep your RV’s wiring in check. We all know how dangerous fluctuating voltages are and having a protector to handle it for you means that none of your devices will have to be damaged from it. Plus, surge protectors are mostly weather proof, especially portable ones. You can take them anywhere and subject them to any weather conditions. They’ll hold up really well.

Newer models of protectors keep getting more and more added features. Many of the best ones on the market today can detect more than just high and low voltages. They can tell you almost anything and everything about your wiring’s status and the condition of the power source you’re attaching it to. Some can even detect the rise and fall in power coming from a source and protect your appliances and your RV from it.

New surge protectors also have the ability to shut themselves down if they think you’re connected to a source that could only damage your devices. This is handy, especially since RVs usually get their power from public places where the source is shared among many other RVers. Having an unstable connection could damage your appliances. New protectors will power off to avoid channeling that low power to your devices. It would only start up again when the power stabilizes.

Here is a list of things that protectors can detect and protect you from:

BAD WIRING

Most RVers rely on parks for electricities. RV parks have almost have everything you’d need today. Don’t worry about most of them since they have good, code-complying wirings but if by chance you find yourself in an old RV park, then expect the wiring to be faulty.

These parks are old. Their wirings have been barely touched, and nobody really bothers to correct their bad wirings anymore. You can try and see the condition of the power using your own voltage meter, or you can just leave it to your protector and let it do its job.

FLUCTUATING VOLTAGES

The best thing about having a protector is its function as a shield for your RV in case the power source that you’re trying to hook up to is bad or faulty. This security can protect your devices from damage. It can handle fluctuating voltages so your appliances don’t have to. In the event of a power surge, there’s almost no way for you to do something about it given how fast it goes. You’d be thankful for having a protector in your RV then.

In the absence of a protector, the only chance that you have to protect your device is to quickly pull your plugs. But you’d be totally defenseless from low voltages. There’s no way of determining when that’s happening unless you have a protector. This is why it’s more effective to just have one hooked up to your RV.

Low voltages are rampant in the summer months. This is when most people go on vacations, and parks are almost surely full. It doesn’t help that many people plug into power sources to power up their air conditioners. They eat more than their fair share of the power in public places.

Having a protector is really a smart move. Imagine the amount of protection and peace of mind that it can give you. Just think that without it, all your devices could be fried at any moment and what’s shelling out a little money for a protector than trying to replace all the broken appliances.

It can guarantee that you’re safe from power surges and fluctuations. It can save your RV from fault and bad wirings and save it from changing power levels. There’s really no substitute for the protection that a protector can give you.

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR

To maximize your money’s worth and have the best experience you get from a protector, be on the look for these features:

LED MONITOR

This piece of equipment is not found in many surge protectors, but if you can find one that has it, then that’s better. A monitor can help you see statuses better and help you better understand indicators. Having a monitor means you get to see more information about your wirings than a few lights in the equipment can tell you.

Just find one that has clear and bright enough details that you won’t have a hard time reading. Also, make sure it has its own light at night, and you don’t have to flash a light on it just to see it. You also have to see that it’s big enough for all the information that you need. Most monitors come with the indicator lights that are usually found attached to surge protector’s main box.

With this setup, you can easily see when and where something’s wrong. You’d also be updated on the condition of your wires, the power that your RV is receiving and the current status of the power source.

SELF RESTART AND SHUTDOWN

A great feature that came with the new protectors is the self-shutdown. It really brought RV protection to an entirely new level. Instead of just getting an indication when you should do something, this time the protector itself moves to protect you. It shuts itself down to make sure nothing bad happens to your devices.

This new line of devices also has a sensor that brings power back to the unit once it detects that the power condition is stable again. There’s really no need to do anything more, just let the machine do its job.

WEATHERPROOF

RVers are very familiar with the road’s changing weather. You can have sunny skies one moment and the next thing you know it’s raining. Luckily, protectors are mostly weatherproof. You can take them wherever you go. They can withstand any weather condition and still function perfectly.

This feature is most helpful when you find yourself braving the storm while you’re traveling. It can save you from trouble and keep you away from danger.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SURGE PROTECTORS:

ARE THEY WATERPROOF?

No, not really. It would depend on which model you’re planning to get. Although, given the tough competition in today’s market, most of the top protectors are waterproof. Some are even weatherproof. You can put them under any conditions, and they’ll just continue to work perfectly.

HOW LONG IS THE TYPICAL WARRANTY

The answer really depends on the manufacturer of the protector. Progressive industries is very generous with their warranties. They give out lifetime warranties to people who buy their products, and it’s not limited warranty too. It includes parts, services, and materials. Anything and everything with the product is included in the warranty. Some companies, on the other hand, can’t afford to do that. The typical warranty for a protector is about 3 years to 5 years.

ARE THEY REALLY THAT NECESSARY?

Of course. These protectors could mean life or death, especially to avid travelers. It’s the best piece of protection you can give your RV and yourself while you’re traveling. It can improve your experience while traveling and transform your RV to feel like a home with all the appliances. This is why you shouldn’t be cheap when buying protectors.

Remember that while you’re on the road, the only change you have at electricity will come from public places like parks and camping grounds. You’ll be lucky to find a park with a decent power source but one mistake and your entire setup is fried, with all the devices attached to it. That’s what getting a protector is for. It’s to eliminate any chances of this ever happening to you.

FINAL WORD

If you really read through the entire article, you’d have a better understanding of how surge protectors work and how important it is to have one in your RV. Of course, you have to be critical when getting yourself one. Try to follow all the tips and factors we mentioned in this article and weigh the pros and cons of each product before putting your money on the counter.

Thanks for reading all the way through, and we hope you find a protector that will really work with you and your RV.