I'm thinking of buying a Surge Guard to protect the electricals. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on purchase. They aren't inexpensive, are they a good investment? Plug in or hard wired?
Surge protectors cropped up way back when the Apple 2 e came out. They have long since become unnecessary as most new equipment has been designed around the need.
Now, Yes, under extreme condition you can get hit. But those conditions will most likely go right through any surge protection also.
I'm thinking of buying a Surge Guard to protect the electricals. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on purchase. They aren't inexpensive, are they a good investment? Plug in or hard wired?
You are correct that they are expensive, but so are the electrical items in the trailer. I have seriously been considering one myself.
This is not related to the ones you are talking about, but about a year ago, we had lightning strike very close to our house, It apparently entered our house on the power line. Every electronic item in our house, that was plugged into a surge protector survived except for the direct TV receiver. Every electronic item that was not on a surge protector was fried except the major appliances. The direct TV receiver failed because the dish was pointed directly at the lightning strike. It definitely made a believer out of me.
regards,
Ken
Thanks 2Air, that's what I was looking for but to be honest after reading through all of it, I'am still not sure if it's truly necessary.There seems to be some real differences of opinion. Anyone else want to weigh in on this? I'm ready to spend the money if there is a real danger of frying my electronics.
Well it sounds to me like that money might be better spent on a new Traveler 500 china toilet. The Bravia plastic toilet in the Classics sounds like your hosing down a plastic bucket in the middle of the night.
I'm thinking of buying a Surge Guard to protect the electricals. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on purchase. They aren't inexpensive, are they a good investment? Plug in or hard wired?
craftsman....I didn't think I wanted to spend the money ($260) to buy one until I spoke to two campers in a state campground we were staying at in Florida that both had major damage from a problem in the campground electric service that wiped out their refrigerator, TV and some other electrical appliances. The one camper from CA was moved next to my site while they were getting replacement parts for his RV. I tried to pick up a device in Florida and they only had the device that provide surge protection. As soon as we got home I ordered a Progressive Industries Electrical Managment System (EMS-PT30C) that provides protection for high voltage, low voltage, surge protection, reverse polarity protection, open neutral protection, open ground protection, A/C frequency protection, and accidental 220V protection. The unit will shut down the service to your RV if there is any problem with the service coming to the RV. It also displays the voltage, amps, line frequency and the error code of any problem it has detected. It's been working for 4 months of continuous camping and have not had any problems. The only issue is that you have to lock it at the campground electric service connection it so it does not get lost.
__________________
2007 Safari 25' FBSE LS
2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab 4WD Duramax
WBCCI # 8459
craftsman....I didn't think I wanted to spend the money ($260) to buy one until I spoke to two campers in a state campground we were staying at in Florida that both had major damage from a problem in the campground electric service that wiped out their refrigerator, TV and some other electrical appliances. The one camper from CA was moved next to my site while they were getting replacement parts for his RV. I tried to pick up a device in Florida and they only had the device that provide surge protection. As soon as we got home I ordered a Progressive Industries Electrical Managment System (EMS-PT30C) that provides protection for high voltage, low voltage, surge protection, reverse polarity protection, open neutral protection, open ground protection, A/C frequency protection, and accidental 220V protection. The unit will shut down the service to your RV if there is any problem with the service coming to the RV. It also displays the voltage, amps, line frequency and the error code of any problem it has detected. It's been working for 4 months of continuous camping and have not had any problems. The only issue is that you have to lock it at the campground electric service connection it so it does not get lost.
Thanks for that information. Sounds like it's good for anything BUT a nearby lightening hit. I've seen a very heavily protected building take a lightening hit that literally blew a hole the size of a bowling ball through a concrete block wall and fried $100K worth of computer hardware. Jumped sideways from a nearby antenna's lightening rod.
99% coverage is still a good thing... Just remember nothing protects against every hazard.
Paula
__________________
Today is a gift. That's why they call it "the present"
Thanks for that information. Sounds like it's good for anything BUT a nearby lightening hit. I've seen a very heavily protected building take a lightening hit that literally blew a hole the size of a bowling ball through a concrete block wall and fried $100K worth of computer hardware. Jumped sideways from a nearby antenna's lightening rod.
99% coverage is still a good thing... Just remember nothing protects against every hazard.
Paula
Paula... When the big thunder storms are coming in I disconnect from the campground grid and go on batery power.
__________________
2007 Safari 25' FBSE LS
2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab 4WD Duramax
WBCCI # 8459
I'm thinking of buying a Surge Guard to protect the electricals. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on purchase. They aren't inexpensive, are they a good investment? Plug in or hard wired?
You can buy a surge breaker or a Electrical box mounted surge protector for about $100.
When I had my electrical upgraded for my house they installed two panels. One out side with the meter to handle the heavy loads and one inside to replace the 50yr old one. both have surge protection installed.
The surge guard is a slick looking product and will do the job but is way overpriced for what you get.
I purchased a Progressive Indurstries EMS several years ago. This is the unit and can be found here: EMS-HW30C
The EMS monitors the electricity that comes into the trailer before the circuit panel. It is most helpful to find low voltage that can be problematic with air conditioners.
Once, while camping in Las Vegas at Circus Circus in August several years ago the EMS indicated the voltage so low that the trailers black cable from the post was very hot. I then went to Campers World and purchased an autoformer. The voltage as indicated on the EMS immediatley jumped the 10% as promised, the black cable cooled off, and the air conditioner sounded much better and actually put out cooler air.
In the northeast and at older parks around the country, we have found the incidence of low voltage more frequent. I never travel without the autoformer. My wife in humer calls the autoformer, my "flux capicator".
If I were you, my first purchase would be an EMS then an autoformer. Both units perform the function of surge protector. I only use the autoformer when we use the airconditioner and the EMS indicates it needed to boost the voltage.
Mark
__________________
-Life is a journey, not a destination.
Aerosmith
We got the EMS 30C from Progressive and after about 18 months something happened and fried it while we were out, so I sent it back to them and they sent me a new one, no questions asked. I told them I didn't have my receipt and they said that was ok. Everything in the trailer still worked so I am sure it saved some electronics. A very good company to deal with. Highly recommended.
Quick Links
Hybrid Mode
