Southwire Surge Guard 34850

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Model 34850

50A Surge Guard

Portable Device with LCD Display

For technical assistance, please call 1-800-780-4324 x 20311

Manufactured by Southwire Company, LLC, 5250 140th Avenue North, Clearwater, Florida 33760

Surge Guard* RV power protection devices protect your RV from low quality or incorrect shore power.

Normally shore power should be around 115 –120 Volts AC from L1 or L2 to Neutral, or 240V from L1 to L2. When power

falls too far outside this range it represents a poor or hazardous condition to your RV’s electrical system. Surge Guard

RV power protection device provides protection to your RV by turning off power when the line voltages L1 or L2 fall below

102 Volts AC or goes above 132 Volts AC.

These devices also protects your electrical system from a reverse polarity condition which indicates that the hot and

neutral lines of shore power are swapped or reversed. This can be hazardous to equipment and safety. Your device will

not connect power to your RV until the reverse polarity fault is corrected.

In the event your Surge Guard device is not functioning as expected, perform the following troubleshooting steps in order

to determine and correct any malfunctions. Note: Testing should be performed with AC units and electrical appliances

turned off, then veried with appliances turned on.

Connect the shore power cord to a 240V, 50A power source. The LCD screen will display “DELAY” for 128 seconds while

the Surge Guard device is monitoring the incoming power. Note that this guide also applies if using 120V, 30A power

with a suitable adapter.

PROBLEM TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS

Coach powers up after 128 seconds but then turns off after another

8-10 seconds.

The device may be operating properly, and you may have a low voltage

condition. In this case, turn off as many loads as possible. It is not

safe to operate some equipment with low voltage. Verify that the input

voltage is greater than 102VAC with loads turned on and off.

Coach does not power up after 128 seconds after connecting to shore

power.

Check the LCD display and the Caution When Flashing light (Red LCD).

Check voltage with voltmeter at connection.

LCD shows a fault such as L1 or L2 Low or L1 High and the Caution

When Flashing light is blinking.

There could be an open conductor or unsafe power. Check the input

connections, shore power cord, and adapter (if applicable).

L1 and L2 are within range (102 – 132VAC) and there is no power. Call Southwire Technical Support at 1-800-780-4324.

LCD screen displays “REVERSE POLARITY” and the Caution When

Flashing light is blinking

Shore power connections are reversed and you have an unsafe

condition. In this case notify your park of the condition in order to

correct the fault.

A fault occurs such as a low or a high voltage during normal operation

when shore power is within good operating range

The device will turn off power to the RV and will display a fault message

on the LCD display. If the power returns to normal, the device will

display “DELAY” on the LCD screen and will wait 128 seconds before

turning power to the RV back on.

506-00018B

1. Low Voltage – If the input voltage drops below 102VAC for more than 8 seconds, the power will be removed protecting your electronics. This

condition may be caused by overloading the park’s power grid. Try reducing your loads. Otherwise, do not operate until power is restored to

safe levels.

2. High Voltage – If the input voltage increases above 132VAC for more than 8 seconds, power will be removed. In Generator mode, check for

load balance. Check the generator’s voltage regulator and adjust to safe operating levels.

3. Line 1, Line 2 or Neutral Open – Check all input wiring to the device. Check the shore power cord and wiring from the generator if applicable.

Check/replace adapter if reducing down to 120V, 20A service. Notify park for shore power problems if applicable.

4. Caution When Flashing Light – If the caution light is on bright, there is high voltage on the ground or neutral wires. If the light is dimly lit, there

is a low voltage on the neutral wire. It is not uncommon for 2 to 3 volts to be on the neutral wire with respect to ground.

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Southwire Surge Guard 34850 and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

50 A Surge Guard Portable Device with LCD Display

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Steps to resolve issues like no power after 128 seconds or blinking caution lights.

Troubleshooting Error Codes

Surge Expended

The Surge Guard's surge protection is sacrificed to protect equipment; unit needs replacement.

Open Ground

Check ground and neutral wires for voltage. If not -0-, find another power source.

Reverse Polarity

Hot and neutral lines are swapped. Check for voltage on ground or neutral; should be -0-.

High Voltage

Voltage exceeds recommended operation. Lower voltage from power source to below 132V.

Low Voltage

Voltage is under recommended operation. Raise voltage from power source to above 102V.

High Neutral Current

Neutral return voltage exceeds 65A. Verify neutral voltage; find another source if voltage exists.

Current High

Current exceeds recommended operation. Check connections and voltages; find another source if abnormal.

Over-Temperature

Temperature exceeds recommended operation. Disconnect unit, cool down, and find another power source.

The Southwire SURGE GUARD Model 34850 is a 50A portable RV power protection device equipped with an LCD display, designed to safeguard recreational vehicles from low quality or incorrect shore power. Its primary function is to monitor incoming AC power and disconnect the RV's electrical system if conditions are unsafe, thereby protecting sensitive electronics and ensuring safety.

Function Description:

The device continuously monitors the line voltages (L1 and L2) from the shore power source. It is designed to operate within a normal range of 115–120 Volts AC from L1 or L2 to Neutral, and 240V from L1 to L2. If the line voltages fall below 102 Volts AC or rise above 132 Volts AC, the Surge Guard will automatically cut off power to the RV. This prevents damage to appliances and systems that are not designed to handle such voltage fluctuations.

Beyond voltage protection, the Model 34850 also detects reverse polarity conditions, where the hot and neutral lines of the shore power are swapped. Reverse polarity is a hazardous condition that can damage equipment and pose a safety risk. In such an event, the device will not connect power to the RV until the reverse polarity fault is corrected.

Upon connecting to a 240V, 50A power source (or 120V, 30A with a suitable adapter), the LCD screen will display "DELAY" for 128 seconds. During this period, the Surge Guard monitors the incoming power to ensure it is safe before allowing power to flow to the RV. If a fault occurs during normal operation, such as a low or high voltage condition, the device will disconnect power and display a fault message. Once the power returns to normal, it will re-enter the 128-second delay cycle before reconnecting.

Important Technical Specifications:

Power Rating: 50 Amps
Voltage Compatibility: 240V (operates with 120V, 30A using an adapter)
Low Voltage Disconnect: Below 102 Volts AC
High Voltage Disconnect: Above 132 Volts AC
Delay Time: 128 seconds upon initial connection or after a fault correction
Surge Protection: Built-in surge protection (indicated by "Surge Expended" error when protection is sacrificed)
Display: LCD screen for status and error messages
Indicators: "POWER ON," "CAUTION WHEN FLASHING," and "SURGE" lights

Usage Features:

Automatic Protection: The device automatically disconnects power when unsafe conditions are detected, requiring no manual intervention from the user.
Diagnostic Display: The LCD screen provides clear, real-time feedback on power status and specific fault conditions (e.g., "L1 Low," "L2 High," "REVERSE POLARITY," "OPEN GROUND," "NEUTRIP CUR=65A," "CUR HIGH," "PLUG OVERHEAT," "REPLACE SURGE"). This allows users to quickly understand the nature of any power issues.
Fault Messaging: Detailed error messages help users identify and address problems, such as "Surge Expended" when the surge protection has been used up, or "Open Ground" indicating a missing ground connection.
Delay Function: The 128-second delay ensures that the power source is stable before connecting to the RV, preventing potential damage from intermittent power fluctuations.
Portable Design: As a portable device, it can be easily connected and disconnected, offering flexibility for RV owners who frequently change locations.

Maintenance Features:

Troubleshooting Guide: The manual provides a comprehensive troubleshooting guide with common problems and corresponding steps to diagnose and correct malfunctions. This includes advice on checking input voltage, connections, and reducing loads.
Error Code Explanations: A dedicated section explains each error message displayed on the LCD, along with recommended actions. For instance, if "REPLACE SURGE" is displayed, it indicates that the built-in surge protection has been sacrificed and the unit needs replacement.
Self-Correction for Transient Faults: If a fault like low or high voltage occurs during normal operation, the device will disconnect power and display the fault. Once the power returns to normal, it will automatically re-initiate the 128-second delay and reconnect if conditions remain safe.
Technical Support: Southwire provides a technical support hotline for assistance with complex issues, ensuring users can get expert help when needed.
Indicator Lights: The "CAUTION WHEN FLASHING" light serves as a visual alert for specific issues. A bright light indicates high voltage on ground or neutral wires, while a dimly lit light suggests low voltage on the neutral wire. This helps in quick visual assessment of certain conditions.
Load Management Advice: For low voltage conditions, the guide recommends reducing loads in the RV, suggesting a practical step users can take to mitigate power issues.
Connection Verification: The troubleshooting steps emphasize checking input connections, shore power cords, and adapters, guiding users through basic checks to resolve common problems.

The Surge Guard Model 34850 is a robust and user-friendly device that provides essential protection for RV electrical systems, combining automatic fault detection with clear diagnostic feedback and comprehensive troubleshooting support.