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If you’ve ever plugged your RV into shore power at a campground, you’ve probably wondered if you need a surge protector. The answer is a resounding yes!
RV surge protectors can help protect your expensive RV electronics from damage caused by power surges, spikes, and other electrical problems.
So what’s the best RV surge protector? For years, we’ve recommended the Hughes Power Watchdog. But now we are recommending something new! The Watchdog is still a great product, but now there is a new technology that provides more comprehensive RV protection.
Keep reading to learn why Hughes’ Watchdog Power Center is now the best RV surge protector.
Contents
The Best RV Surge Protector (and Voltage Booster)
Watchdog Power Center by Hughes Autoformers
The Watchdog Power Center is now our recommendation for the best RV surge protection because it combines surge protection, a full electrical management system, and a built-in voltage booster into one unit.
This product is made by Hughes Autoformers, and it replaces multiple power protection devices at your campsite.
Quick note before we go any further: This product was sent to us by etrailer. That said, this is a product we would have bought, and our recommendation is based on our thorough research and our experience.
Also important to note: The Watchdog Power Center is available in both 30-amp and 50-amp versions. The features and protection are the same, but you need to make sure you buy the correct version for your RV.
Why We Updated Our Recommendation
The original Hughes Power Watchdog surge protector focused on surge protection and electrical monitoring. While it could detect low or high voltage, it could not boost the voltage.
Low voltage is one of the most common campground power problems, especially in older parks or when everyone is running their air conditioners. And low voltage is dangerous. It can quietly damage air conditioners, refrigerators, and other appliances without ever tripping a breaker.
The Watchdog Power Center solves that problem by combining surge protection and voltage boosting into a single unit. It doesn’t just shut the power off when conditions are bad. It actively works to keep your RV in a safe voltage range.
What Makes the Watchdog Power Center Different?
Most RV surge protectors only start working when something goes wrong. They react to bad power and shut everything down.
The Watchdog Power Center works differently. It’s constantly monitoring your power, watching for issues, and stepping in before those problems can damage your RV. It doesn’t just protect against surges. It helps manage voltage in real time, which really matters if you camp in older parks or anywhere power isn’t perfect.
Surge Protection and Electrical Management
At its core, this is product is a surge protector and EMS.
The Watchdog Power Center will automatically shut down power to your RV if it detects unsafe conditions, including:
- Low voltage
- High voltage
- Open ground
- Open neutral
- Reverse polarity
- Open circuit
If something goes wrong, it cuts power immediately to protect your electronics and appliances. Once conditions return to safe levels, it reconnects automatically.
It also includes an Emergency Power Off feature, which shuts everything down if a serious fault is detected.
Built-In Voltage Booster
When campground voltage drops, your RV appliances compensate by pulling more amps. That extra amp draw creates heat and stress, especially on air conditioner compressors.
The voltage booster automatically increases the voltage going to your RV when demand is high at the campground. It converts the increased amps into usable volts to keep your electrical system running safely.
If the voltage drops below a usable threshold, the system automatically shuts power off entirely to prevent damage.
Replaceable Surge Module
Another feature we love is the replaceable surge module. If the surge protection module ever wears out due to a major event like a lightning strike, you don’t need to replace the entire unit.
The surge module can be replaced, which helps justify the investment long-term. You’re not throwing away a big piece of equipment just because it did its job once.
Smart Monitoring with Bluetooth and WiFi
The Watchdog Power Center also connects to a free smartphone app using both Bluetooth and WiFi.
From the app, you can monitor:
- Voltage
- Amperage
- Wattage
- Power status
You can also set customizable voltage ranges and receive push notifications if power goes outside of acceptable limits.
This is especially nice if you leave pets in the RV or just want peace of mind while you’re away. We always have notifications turned on so we know our dog, Ted is safe while we are away from the RV.
There’s also an LCD display on the unit itself that shows fault conditions, input voltage, output voltage, amp draw, and frequency.
Other Notable Features
A few final things worth mentioning:
This is not the cheapest option on the market, but it’s also not trying to be. It’s designed to protect a very expensive RV from very common electrical problems.
Thanks for reading our complete guide to the best RV surge protector.
Check out our complete list of must have RV camping gear for more RV safety essentials.
Happy Camping!
Christina Pate is a seasoned full-time RVer who, along with her husband Justin, has journeyed across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Drawing from her extensive travels, RV repairs and RV renovations, she founded Travels with Ted to guide and inspire fellow RV enthusiasts. Christina is also the co-author of The Owner’s Guide to RV Maintenance and the creator of My RV Log Book.
