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01-28-2015, 08:44 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2015 Interstate Grand Tour
Los Gatos
, California
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 95
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Surge Protector
Is it essential/recommended/not really needed to have a surge protector at the electrical hookup connection? Have not seen them in use, as I recall, but see them prominently advertised at RV supply stores.
__________________
Tim
2015 Interstate Grand Tour
WBCCI Member #5506
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01-28-2015, 09:24 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2015 Interstate Ext. Coach
San Diego
, California
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 666
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Absolutely need one IMO. A lot of people have hard wired them in. I use the Progressive plug in that retails about $230.
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01-28-2015, 09:29 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
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I 'added' the surge protectors on the critical items.. Microwave, Converter, etc...
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Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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01-28-2015, 10:16 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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And I have never owned one, or had any damage on any Airstream used since 1978.
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01-29-2015, 04:33 AM
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#5
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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01-29-2015, 05:49 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,658
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I've never had a surge...but it has protected me from low park voltages twice that I recall. That's moe common and more important feature, IMO.
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-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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01-29-2015, 06:13 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2020 28' Flying Cloud
Upper St Clair
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,943
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Use one outside as well as on several appliances inside. Never did until lightning hit a campground the day before we arrived and in most units any electrical item that was on was dead after the strike, I was told. So, we bought one, have had one in the home for years.
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2020 28' Twin Flying Cloud
2021 F350 6.7 King Ranch
USAF Master Training Instructor (TI) & (MTI)- 68-72
Volunteer K9 Rehabilitator & Trainer
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01-29-2015, 07:50 AM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
Commercial Member
2009 30' Classic
Melbourne, FL
, Searsport, ME
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 309
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It's like insurance. It's always too expensive until you wish you'd had it!
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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01-29-2015, 08:12 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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I use one and hopefully will never have to know if it works or not.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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01-29-2015, 10:07 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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We use a quality unit to protect against a variety of power faults. Low voltage is the most common problem I have seen.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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01-29-2015, 10:09 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2015 25' FB Eddie Bauer
2013 25' FB Eddie Bauer
2012 20' Flying Cloud
Small Town
, *** Big Sky Country ***Western Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AWCHIEF
I use one and hopefully will never have to know if it works or not.
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Yep; it costs too much for that one time repair if you don't have a surge protector ...
__________________
2015 25' Eddie Bauer Int'l FBQ / 2023 Ford Lightning ER
2022 Ford F350 6.2 V-8; equalizer hitch + Shocker air hitch
Honda Eu3200; AIR# 44105; formerly WBCCI 2015.1
Terminal Aluminitis; 2-people w/ 3+ dogs
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01-29-2015, 10:46 AM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
1993 34' Excella
Randolph
, Vermont
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 36
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Was plugged into campground power and in middle of night the MOVs in our wired in surge protector blew due to a dropped ground somewhere on the grid that sent a surge down the line. Campground office lost their FAX machine, copier and microwave but we never lost a thing because the MOVs took the surge. Cost less than five dollars to replace the MOVs. In ten years of full timing, we were also protected many times from low voltage situations and a couple of times from high voltages particularly at fairgrounds. Our unit paid for itself several times over.
Completely agree with those who encourage you to have one.
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01-31-2015, 10:00 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Raleigh
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 32
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We use one because it was recommended to us by a full timer. About our third campground experience the surge protector indicated reverse polarity. Not exactly sure how that adversely affects the AI but it seemed like a good idea to find another spot.
FunWaggin'
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01-31-2015, 10:27 AM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
2014 25' Flying Cloud
West Dummerston
, Vermont
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 64
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I researched this much as you are doing now and came to the conclusion that an ounce of prevention is worth ten pounds of cure. Since leaving Vt in Oct we have travelled over 2500 miles and stayed in probably 10 different RV parks. I like the assurance that our surge protector provides us. Just looking around in Parks we've stayed at, I see that I am not alone in this thinking. We bought ours at Camping World.
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Rick, Mary, Molly(Boston Terrier)
Trailer - 2014 25' Flying Cloud
2011 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
2008 Triton TR186
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02-01-2015, 10:22 PM
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#15
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2 Rivet Member
2015 Interstate Grand Tour
Los Gatos
, California
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 95
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Thank you everyone for your responses. My surge protector is on its way from Camping World.
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Tim
2015 Interstate Grand Tour
WBCCI Member #5506
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02-02-2015, 01:02 PM
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#16
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4 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Rockwell
, North Carolina
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 308
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I am glad you posted this thread. I have surge protectors on my TV's, amps and computers at home but had not considered one for the motor home. I found the Progressive one on eBay and it is on the way.
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02-02-2015, 02:26 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2024 Interstate 19
Fulton
, Maryland
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,872
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The main problems I've had is low voltages in campgrounds. My Progressive EMS protects me but then there is no power. Has anyone used a Hughes Autofomer to supplement low voltage conditions? Info at this web site.
https://www.hughesautoformers.com
__________________
- - Mike
--------------------------
2024 Airstream Interstate 19e AWD
Previous: 2013 Airstream Interstate 3500 Ext Lounge
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02-02-2015, 02:44 PM
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#18
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Storm Master
2005 25' Classic
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 177
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I am a power line troubleshooter and have seen all manners of electrical mischief. When I first got our rig I checked out all of the electrical/electronic devices and determined that they were way too expensive not to at least try to protect them. I hard wired ours in. It may not protect against every type of fault but it's better than nothing. At home I use them on all devices and at the service entrance. When we leave for extended periods of time I unplug everything including the cable/phone line. Have not lost a single appliance or device. I'm the ultimate cheapskate but sometimes you have to spend money to save money.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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03-01-2015, 07:29 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
League City
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,139
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This topic was also discussed... I believe it was on the WDYGFYTT? thread where some actual surge protector models were cited by a few posters.
But the cited units were all in-line portable devices and so the obvious next question was, how do you prevent someone from getting a five-finger discount on your two or three hundred dollar surge protector (!) if you just leave it out there with your shore cable plugged into it?
Some folks gave me information on creative locking hacks and strategies to keep the thing a bit secure, but ultimately, my husband decided that he wanted a permanent unit mounted inside the Interstate rather than one that the line plugs into outdoors. That way the use of it would be automatic and we could just forget about it.
So I've attached the resulting money shot (literally; this one is about $180); it is mounted on the interior port side wall under the jack-knife couch between the furnace and the sub-woofer / wheel well.
Fair warning to anyone who goes the route of an interior unit - this particular product does make a faint humming sound. I don't think it will be very noticeable once the vehicle is packed with stuff, and it sure as hell won't be audible if we are running the a/c or even the furnace, but that hum might be a potential consideration for some folks. And also when the relay closes after its start-up wait period, it makes a one-time clunk sound.
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03-01-2015, 10:10 PM
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#20
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by InterBlog
my husband decided that he wanted a permanent unit mounted inside the Interstate rather than one that the line plugs into outdoors. That way the use of it would be automatic and we could just forget about it
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It's axiomatic that no surge protector is permanent. A surge protector stops damage from ONE surge and then needs to be either replaced (most) or serviced (some), depending on the make and model. That means you can't just forget about it. Check the owner's manual to find out how to tell if it's working properly and get in the habit of checking it every time you hook up and after every storm in your area.
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I thought getting old would take longer!
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