Surge Protectors

[BRDof3]

OK techies, got a question for you. How many of you are using surge protectors on trailers or moho's? I was looking at this for the TT this year, and have looked at Progressive and Surge Guard products.

A 30 amp surge protector is only about $80, but it sounds like voltage drops are as destructive as surges. We camp in relatively well-maintained CG's, but I can see the potential for voltage drops as people stream in on Friday and start hooking up. To get low voltage protection as well as surge protection, the cost goes up to well over $300.

Is it worth it? Do you feel that the low voltage is a problem, or do I go for the surge protector/ polarity checker? Just trying to get what I need w/o breaking the bank.

 

[mnsprk]

I personally went for the top end unit. Since low voltage can be the "death" of your a/c unit, I felt the protection was well worth it. I know high voltages can damage electronics more so then low voltages. I have seen pictures (AND IT AIN'T PRETTY) of surge protectors that have taken a lighting strike and I personally would go with the portable one vs a built in since I think it could cause issues inside a TT or MH.

If you add up the costs of all the electrical/electronics in a unit the $300 wasn't a big investment. JMO

 

[des1954]

Rob - We have never had problems at the Fort with either low voltage or power surges. Lightning is a greater issue - and no one has control over Mother Nature - not even the Mouse.

If you camp at various types of c.g.'s, I'd opt for a voltage regulator over a surge protector. As said before - low or high voltage can be death to components. Remember - you get what you pay for.

Here's one you may wish to look in to ...

http://trci.net/products/surge-guard/sg-voltage-regulator.html

 

[Wistful_Thinking]

I installed a Progressive Systems EMS on my Motor Home. I love it. It protects against low voltage, high voltage, and surges. It indicates potential electrical problems with grounding, polarity, and AC frequency on the two legs. It even allows me to bypass the shutdown feature if desired.

The low voltage protection is key. I haven’t found it to be a problem at the Fort. But at older campgrounds it is a common problem. I’m speaking of old campgrounds originally wired for 30 Amp service and then rewired to accommodate the newer 50 Amp RVs. Many campgrounds did not anticipate (or just ignored) the total potential usage on the old circuits. Depending on where you are on electrical circuit and how many others RVs are on that circuit taking into consideration their usage, there could be a substantial voltage drop at your RV. Anything less that 108 VAC might be a problem for AC units and your fridge. Bad thing is it (the line voltage) can look fine when you arrive in the evening but by the middle of the next day (when everybody has their AC on) it can be way low. I have been in a campground where I was reading 96 volts at my site.

BTW, I thought the dongle kind would be to easy to steal. That’s why I got the hardwired variety. It was cheaper too.

 

[BRDof3]

Rob - We have never had problems at the Fort with either low voltage or power surges. Lightning is a greater issue - and no one has control over Mother Nature - not even the Mouse.

If you camp at various types of c.g.'s, I'd opt for a voltage regulator over a surge protector. As said before - low or high voltage can be death to components. Remember - you get what you pay for.

Here's one you may wish to look in to ...

http://trci.net/products/surge-guard/sg-voltage-regulator.html

Probably a good unit, but $400+ is more than I have in my pocket at the moment.

I found some of the portable EMS-type units on eBay for $250 or less, that may be the way to go. I've also looked at the hard-wired units, but a) it would require electrical skill way beyond my level, and b) if it took a lightening strike and got fried, I would rather have it out by the pole than inside the TT. It would also protect the umbilical if it was out there.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Probably a good unit, but $400+ is more than I have in my pocket at the moment.

I found some of the portable EMS-type units on eBay for $250 or less, that may be the way to go. I've also looked at the hard-wired units, but a) it would require electrical skill way beyond my level, and b) if it took a lightening strike and got fried, I would rather have it out by the pole than inside the TT. It would also protect the umbilical if it was out there.

You're a real thinker, Rob. I like that. I am just going to sit back and let you do the research, then cash in on all that work when I buy a surge protector.

 

[BRDof3]

You're a real thinker, Rob. I like that. I am just going to sit back and let you do the research, then cash in on all that work when I buy a surge protector.

What a true friend.

In that case, Surge Guard costs less than Progressive, though I think the Progressive units have a higher joule rating on comparable models.

 

[LarryJ]

Probably a good unit, but $400+ is more than I have in my pocket at the moment.

I found some of the portable EMS-type units on eBay for $250 or less, that may be the way to go. I've also looked at the hard-wired units, but a) it would require electrical skill way beyond my level, and b) if it took a lightening strike and got fried, I would rather have it out by the pole than inside the TT. It would also protect the umbilical if it was out there.

Even the hardwired units take close to zero electrical skills and the directions are very clear. I have the hardwired 30A Progressive unit and as mentioned it's still cheaper than having low voltage damage things like your A/C control board, microwave, TVs, etc. This last trip on our way back home from disney I had a low voltage issue at one KOA that my unit shut me down and a high voltage issue at a different KOA the next day where again my unit operated like designed. I have the remote read out with is really, really nice to manage you electrical load.

While not absolutely necessary it's one of those "DO YOU FEEL LUCKY" Clint Eastwood situations or the "PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER" scenarios. Just the inconvenience of loosing your A/C in the heat of the summer and paying hundreds to get it fixed and the hassle makes the cost more reasonable for the protection you are getting.

Larry

 

[BRDof3]

What about damage from a lightening-induced voltage spike? I have heard about how badly damaged they get, could that be a fire hazard if installed in the TT?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I'm thinking you're not going to get a whole lot of protection from a lightning strike. That surge protector isn't going to stop the amount of voltage from lightning.

 

[des1954]

What about damage from a lightening-induced voltage spike? I have heard about how badly damaged they get, could that be a fire hazard if installed in the TT?

Rob - Take it from me and my experience with two lightening hits at my former home....NOTHING protects from lightening....except....a good insurance policy! And that's the Gospel truth!!!

 

[BRDof3]

Rob - Take it from me and my experience with two lightening hits at my former home....NOTHING protects from lightening....except....a good insurance policy! And that's the Gospel truth!!!

So, you're saying that I should just keep the TT grounded to the DeLorean. Then if I get a lightening strike I can just the 1.21 jigawatts to go do some time traveling? Hmm, wonder if I got the DeLorean with the tow package and tranny cooler.

 

[LarryJ]

What about damage from a lightening-induced voltage spike? I have heard about how badly damaged they get, could that be a fire hazard if installed in the TT?

Can't answer, but to have the best protection joule wise which is with the Progressive Industries ones is about the best you can do anyway and they are evidently designed to protect things down stream as best as they can. I would be more concerned about a fire hazard if you don't have any protection at all. Also, with a portable unit what about transit spikes induced in the cable from the pedestal to the trailer which is exposed and unprotected.

Nothing is perfect and if the strike is close enough probably you're going to suffer some damage anyway if it introduces spikes inside the wiring in the trailer, but you can't control that.

Funny story but about 10 or 15 years ago we were at FW and my old tow vehicle was a 1978 Ford Van that had those big deep hub caps that covered just the center of the wheel. They were like 3in deep since the rear axle had the full float axle and needed that deep of a hubcap. I don't know how close the lightening strike was, but it was really, really close and we heard all this metal clanking right afterwards and I went out and found two of those hubcaps blown off the Van. No other damage, but the Van had nothing electronic on it and the trailer was a 1981 so it had minimal voltage sensitive items in it. I had no idea that lightening could do that, but evidently it did and I'm still at a loss to understand how that was possible.

Larry