# Surge Guard — user reviews > 54 indexed App Store user reviews of Surge Guard by Southwire Company, rated 1.51/5 from 73 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surge-guard/id1622872744/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surge-guard/id1622872744.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 8 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 62 ## What do users think of Surge Guard? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Works when firmware updated - 👍 Convenient status view inside RV - 👍 Responsive support team (for some) **Cons** - 🐛 App crashes on pairing - 🐛 Bluetooth connection issues - 🐛 Incorrect/no power data displayed - 🐛 RV shows as powered down - 🐛 Firmware update required (inconvenient) - 🐛 Device not connecting - 🐛 Incorrect device identification - 🐛 Basic interface and information - 🐛 No history of issues with date/time - 🐛 Bluetooth not enabled as advertised - 🐛 Paid for feature not working - 🐛 Unit not connecting to app - 🐛 Display issues on surge protector **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes when attempting to connect - Bluetooth won't connect - Device not connecting to app - App shows RV as powered down - App shows no power usage or data - App identifies device incorrectly (e.g., 34951 as 34931) - No pairing code displayed - App shows L2 data only - App does not show L1 data - App shows 'No BLE PEERS' - App says RV power is off - App connects but doesn't show correct information - App shows zero values - App crashes upon pairing attempt on latest iOS - Firmware update required for connectivity - App doesn't connect even when close to device **Most requested features** - Log energy use by day/date - Note power interruptions without new session - Display date and time for detected issues in history log - App can update firmware - Record and display history of monitored parameters ## Newest reviews (14 of 54) ### 1/5 — Bluetooth does not connect *2024-11-10* I have tried on different iOS devices and found I cannot connect the application ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2024-10-15, version 1.0.4* Sees my 34951 as a 34931 and absolutely refuses to connect to it. ### 1/5 — 34951 *2024-10-09, version 1.0.4* App detects my very expensive Surge Guard 34951 and says it’s connecting but never connects. ### 1/5 — Does not show L2 only L1 *2024-09-27, version 1.0.4* The app only shows info for L1 ### 1/5 — Connecting to…. *2024-09-11, version 1.0.4* Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. Connecting to…. ### 1/5 — Southwire Needs to keep up! *2024-09-06, version 1.0.4* I used the app to pair. No code was displayed, as the app instructed the unit to enter to complete pairing. My iPhone shows a Bluetooth connection was made, but the unit still says “No BLE PEERS”, which, according to the troubleshooting guide, means no Bluetooth connection was established (model 34941 only). However, no electrical data is displayed, and the app says the RV's power is off. This is pretty useless, considering competitors offer similar products with well-connected apps for monitoring and troubleshooting faults. Southwire. Step up your game! ### 1/5 — Waste of time *2024-07-03, version 1.0.4* -1 Star A year later and still no resolve. App recognizes my 34931 but fails to provide a connect code or connect to the unit ### 1/5 — Glad this is a free app since it doesn’t work *2024-05-11, version 1.0.4* Waited over 30 minutes for this to pair. Then I saw it was trying to link to a 34931 when I have a 34951. My phone was literally within 12” of the siege guard. I guess it would be so bad if the remote display would link with the siege guard. Guess I’ll concentrate on that since I have money tied up in it. Southwore was kind enough to offer firmware updates on my surge guard and remote. They wound up sending me 2 new units. But no luck getting them to talk to each other. ### 1/5 — No good *2024-05-07, version 1.0.4* Everything reads zero. Tried reconnecting but same results ### 1/5 — Would not pair *2024-05-04, version 1.0.4* Product pairs, but reads power is off due to firmware I’m assuming. Why put out a product if we have to return and send it all the way back to you? Leaving us without surge protection. ### 1/5 — Firmware update *2024-03-14, version 1.0.4* My understanding I have to send my unit back to be updated,,,,, Southwire. Can you see your reviews??, I live full time on the road, now I have to be without a surge protector. I now have a 50.00 surge protector that I bought for a lot more. Lesson Learned !!!!!! ### 1/5 — Terrible *2023-12-05, version 1.0.4* This does not work….. shows RV not online…. Yet full quality power to RV. This Bluetooth App is junk. Fix it Southwire. Save your money and buy another brand ### 1/5 — Very disappointed *2023-11-02, version 1.0.4* I paid the extra money for the 34951 to track my usage via the app. The app connects but shows no power to the rv and reads nothing. The display on the 34951 desolate all the info as advertised. The app does not work. I paid the extra money over the Hughes Watchdog. ### 1/5 — App is worthless *2023-09-21, version 1.0.4* New 34931 purchased this summer. App found it, but never connected. Support said an app update would fix it. 3 months later, still doesn’t work. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Still broken *2026-01-24, version 1.0.6* App doesn’t work. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2025-10-22* It will connect but doesn’t show the correct information ### 1/5 — Bluetooth won’t connect *2025-09-26* Can’t provide a proper review because the SurgeGuard will not connect to the app on my iPhone. I followed the instructions in the app. Kindly provide guidance so I can use what I paid for. ### 1/5 — not helpful *2025-08-02, version 1.0.6* just not helpful at all 😭 nothing showed up at all lmaoo ### 1/5 — Junk *2025-08-01, version 1.0.6* The RV dealership sells these and recommended it , I purchased because was supposed to be blue tooth well as the other reviews it doesn’t connect spent plenty of money on something that doesn’t do as advertised I don’t recommend this product.The best part is the company does nothing to help or rectify the issue ### 1/5 — Junk *2025-05-27* The RV dealership sells these and recommended it , I purchased because was supposed to be blue tooth well as the other reviews it doesn’t connect spent plenty of money on something that doesn’t do as advertised I don’t recommend this product. ### 1/5 — Bluetooth Inop *2025-04-04, version 1.0.6* The Bluetooth will not connect on my 34951. No way to update firmware. Nice idea but doesn’t work! ### 1/5 — App not working *2025-03-27, version 1.0.6* Will not connect ### 1/5 — Pain in the butt to work with *2025-02-03, version 1.0.4* The app when it you can get it connected and when it works is ok. The interface is ok but basic information. Looking for a history of issues for troubleshooting gives a fault but no date/time of when it occurs. When the time comes to rep it I will be looking elsewhere. ### 1/5 — Buy a Watch dog *2024-12-11* This app is worthless. Can’t track how much power you’ve used. Doesn’t give date or time of errors just states low or high on line one or two. Plus it wasn’t Bluetooth/app enabled even though the box stated it was. Had to pay to ship it back for a “free” software upgrade. Horrible app and company. DO NOT RECOMMEND buy a Watchdog. Which unfortunately when we went to get they only had these. Probably because nobody wants it. Complete waste of money. ## Most praised reviews (9 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Works well! *2023-10-24* The app connected to the Surge Guard via Bluetooth just fine! Gave me voltage and watts data! Easier to see it’s status from inside of our RV. Thank you! ### 5/5 — Persistence Pays *2023-04-29, version 1.0.2* I had the same issue as the other reviewers but I found the support team very responsive and helpful. Firstly, if your unit has a date code less than 2232, its firmware will need to be upgraded, which requires reaching out to the manufacturer and following their RGA process. Chris and Kerri were very helpful with this. Secondly, the latest iOS (16.4.1) also causes the app to close upon pairing attempt, but I was able to pair successfully using my wife’s phone which is still at iOS 16.3.1. Chris has reported the issue and Tom (app developer, I believe) will be fixing it as soon as he has access to that updated version’s developer kit. ### 5/5 — Works as described!! *2023-04-20* I also found my app didn’t work. At the RV show I purchased it at I found out some mfg dates 22## units don’t have latest firmware!! Exchanged mine and it works now!! ### 4/5 — Feature Request *2024-04-20* I’d like to see the date and time when a issue is detected in the history log. ### 4/5 — It works just fine if you have the right firmware. *2023-12-01* Like others here I had problems connecting the app to the surge guard. So I reached out to the company. I saw reviews here that mentioned the firmware issue and that they were stepped through a firmware update on the surge guard to get it to work. When I contacted Southwire, they told me I had to return it and they would do the the firmware update at no charge. It was returned shortly and all is working now. Here is the firmware versions you need to get the software to work with the app. You need firmware version 13b or later to connect the 50 amp surge guard (model 34951) to the app. You need firmware version 9b or later to connect the 30 amp surge guard (model 34931) to the app. You can find the firmware version on your surge guard on the sticker on the side of the surge guard that shows the serial number. The firmware version is listed below the serial number. The firmware version number is also displayed on the LCD when the unit is first powered on. I gave it four stars because it works and is convenient but I wish that at least for future releases that the app can update the firmware of the device. It would also be nice if the app would record and display a history of the monitored parameters. ### 4/5 — You may need to update your firmware for the app to work *2023-11-25, version 1.0.4* November 2023 I contacted Southwire (the maker of Surge Guard) and they informed me that the firmware of the surge guard needs to be updated. I was hoping that it could be updated via an app but no luck. I had to send the surge guard back to Florida for a free firmware update. It was just returned today and works just fine. No charge for the return postage or the firmware update. Here is the details on the system requirements. Notes: the 40301 is the optional Bluetooth display you can purchase and put in your camper. The 34931 device is the 30 amp surge guard device. Hope this helps. ============================== For connecting the surge guard to the 40301 the software on both needs to be compatible. 40301 - 1.0 is compatible with 34931 prior to ver. 9B and 34951 prior to ver. 13. 40301 - 2.0 is compatible with 34931 ver. 9B or forward and 34951 ver. 13 or forward. On the 40301 navigate the menu all the way to the right and it will show REV 1.0 or 2.0. For connecting to the phone app: You need FW version 13b on your surge guard 34951. You need FW version 9b on your surge guard 34931. On the side of your surge guard there is a S/N and below the SN there is a number that is the FW version. It has to say 13 or higher to be Bluetooth compatible with the phone app on the 34951, and 9b for the 34931. Also, can see the FW Ver. In the display when you first power on the device’s display, ### 2/5 — Should log energy use per session but doesn’t *2025-10-27* ^ Also my display on surge protector has multiple columns missing in the dot matrix so I had to guess the final 2 digits on the pairing. But to improve this app and make it worthwhile it should log the energy used by day/date of start and number of days used. It should note when power is interrupted but not create a new session if the disconnect is less than ~60 minutes. ### 2/5 — Will not work with 34931 *2024-08-15, version 1.0.4* This app is bad! Please fix. Purchased 34931 on 7/19/24. Because it is Bluetooth. The older unit I had worked for 9 years before Southwire purchased company. It will not pair with iPhone 14 Pro version 17.x.x. The latest iPhone version. My 34931 is production 2407! Please fix app. Unit works great but I paid extra bc of app that doesn’t work! Please fix app! ### 2/5 — Won’t pair *2023-05-20, version 1.0.3* Try to pair it acts like it found unit but no 6 digit code to type in. Dash board has no values even though the remote display showes values. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-20.*