When To Use A 30 Amp Surge Protector For Your RV

For as long as there has been surge protection available to RV campers, the 30 amp surge protector has been the device of choice. Whether you choose the portable unit with a ground fault, the portable unit without ground or the hardwire unit that fixes internally to your RV, these devices have protected RV equipment when plugged into the electric mains of campground jacks.

Today there are 50 amp units, but these are only necessary if your camper has more than one air conditioner. Some of the larger camper models may have this but for the most part any one of the 30 amp surge protectors will suffice for standard protection. Since most RV parks have fluctuating campground voltage readings at any of their electrical jacks, it is in the owner’s best interest to install one of these devices prior to plugging in for the night.

When setting it up you want to make sure all the electronics inside the RV are turned off. Then you connect the RV 30 amp surge protector at the camper side first before plugging the unit into the park outlet. Once you turn it on there will be a loud pop. That’s normal. It comes from varying levels of current flow in the park’s power source. Campgrounds are notorious for power spiking issues from dirty energy sources and damage to electronic appliances is commonplace.

Does this mean you need to have more protection and convert your RV to 50 amp protection? Not necessarily. If you intend on running a lot of energy sucking appliances at the same time it might be wise to make the conversion, but for the most part RV parks are only able to support 30 amp surge protection. Several parks only support 15 amp units making it impossible to connect a 50 amp surge protector as there are no adapters for that kind of conversion.

Larger RV’s are made for 50 amp connections. This is because a typical A/C unit will require 20 amps of power to run, leaving only ten amps free for other uses. In this case, 30 amps is not going to suffice should you need to run a hot water heater at the same time. As larger campers provide space for these kind of luxuries, it only makes sense for them to have 50 amp units. The problem, again, is finding an RV park to support them.

While the RV surge protector has been around for decades, the technology is still relatively unregulated. Until there is a standard for campgrounds supporting RV power jacks, you’re best bet is to stay with a 30 amp surge protector.