The average RVer walking through a dealership’s parts store may not recognize the Hughes Autoformers name.
The same customer may ask for the surge protector with the glowing dog.
Hughes Autoformers on Tuesday changed its company name to Power Watchdog. The move was made to better align the company’s name with its brand.
At the same time, the company released its Watchdog Power Center, an all-in-one RV power protection system. The Watchdog Power Center unifies the company’s technologies in a single product.
Power Watchdog President and CEO Pat Thomas said, “Our first surge protector, the Power Watchdog Smart RV Surge Protector, was a giant leap in RV power protection. It redefined who we were. So, with this launch, it felt only natural to assume the identity officially—Hughes Autoformers is now Power Watchdog.”
The company was started in 1995 by Robert Hughes, an avid RVer and engineer. Hughes discovered low voltage at RV parks caused problems with his air conditioner and refrigerator. The company’s original surge protector served as the Power Watchdog line’s inspiration.
Thomas said embracing the brand was an easy decision.
“It was probably four months ago, I guess, when we started talking about it,” said Thomas, who took over the company in 2010. “I just knew we had to. Autoformers were just one of the things we made. The technology of the autoformers is in there, but it is so much more now. Watchdog is a pretty powerful brand right now. We wanted to focus on what is making us successful, and we have really pushed that brand.”
The Watchdog Power Center is available in 30-amp versions. The power center includes surge protection and voltage boosting technology.
“This is not just another upgrade,” Thomas said. “It is the ultimate evolution of RV power protection.”
The Watchdog products’ glowing dog face is traditionally white. If it turns red, RVers know they have a problem.
“When people walk or drive through an RV park, they see that light,” Thomas said. “It is like the apple on an Apple computer. That branding has really sold a lot of units.”
Along with the name change, the company launched a new website at www.powerwatchdog.com.
