Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-30-2016, 03:57 PM   #1
New Member
 
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Alto , New Mexico
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 3
Surge Protector on Elec Post or Built-in?

Friends,
I'm taking delivery of our 27' FC FB in a few weeks. We want a great surge protector. We currently use one (in our current AS) that plugs into the Electrical post in the camp. We wonder if having one wired inside the new trailer makes sense? Appreciate your thoughts.
BoerneBrogan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 04:05 PM   #2
Rivet Master
 
daveswenson's Avatar
 
2012 28' International
Olympia , Washington
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 773
Quote:
Originally Posted by BoerneBrogan View Post
Friends,
I'm taking delivery of our 27' FC FB in a few weeks. We want a great surge protector. We currently use one (in our current AS) that plugs into the Electrical post in the camp. We wonder if having one wired inside the new trailer makes sense? Appreciate your thoughts.
I hardwired this one into my 28'. http://www.bestconverter.com/EMS-HW3...l#.V-7hEpGZORt

I like the convenience of not having to carry the external one and not worry about theft.

It was easy to access the back of the power center for installation. If I remember correctly the 27 may be more difficult.
__________________
Dave

2014 Ram 2500 CTD
Pro Pride
Centramatics
daveswenson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 04:11 PM   #3
Vintage Kin
 
Fort Worth , Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
Images: 1
They eventually fail. Same for the auto formers. The latter may spark and smoke when it dies. The former?

After a few of those reports I decided I'd rather have them outside.
slowmover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 05:16 PM   #4
4 Rivet Member
 
RxGuy's Avatar
 
2010 27' FB International
Deforest , Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 306
I bought this one:

http://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems-pt30c

If you have a hardwired surge protector and it malfunctions, unless you have a bypass of some type you are out of luck.

External one malfunctions.....just plug your trailer in.
RxGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 06:14 PM   #5
Rivet Master
 
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville , Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,095
Blog Entries: 1
I use and like the one that plugs into the pole. I decided it was just too much hassle to wire one in.
Bill M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 06:15 PM   #6
3 Rivet Member
 
white laker's Avatar
 
2008 34' Classic S/O
Arnprior , Ontario
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 231
Images: 5
I beleive if either one of them fail, you have had a serge and they have done their job. You can unplug the fried portable one and maybe the root cause of the failure has passed........... or not. You should know for sure shortly after you reconnect your unprotected trailer.
Both systems have their pros and cons. Have a good look at both.
__________________
Pete Crook
"Put it all behind you!"
S/OS#88
white laker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2016, 06:31 PM   #7
Rivet Master
 
2015 30' FB FC Bunk
Ayer , Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,114
I have a hard wired unit and love it. Haven't had problems though. The dealer installed it prior to delivery.
Ted S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 11:34 AM   #8
3 Rivet Member
 
mcomeaux's Avatar
 
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Sunriver , Oregon
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 128
Images: 2
Pt30

Think twice about hardwiring. I use the portable PT30 from progressive and have a piece of mind. I use a check list on setup and packup. Like one poster mentioned if unit is hardwired and smokes then what do you do? Great question.

Regards
Mike
mcomeaux is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 12:02 PM   #9
1 Rivet Member
 
Lkjdude's Avatar
 
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
Nebo , North Carolina
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 18
Images: 1
Surge protector.

I also bought the Progressive Industeries 30amp surge protector. Works fine on shore power and my Honda generators. I really like it, easy to use.
I ran electrical wire and a water line for a shore power outlet when I built a shed for my airstream. 270 feet from the my home. Then I plugged in the surge protector just to be shure everything was as it should be. Voltage was what I had calculated and everything else checked good also.
__________________
Lkjdude
Lkjdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 12:08 PM   #10
4 Rivet Member
 
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Watertown , Massachusetts
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 270
Hardwired Progressive

We have a hardwired Progressive Industries unit. Since we are "belts and suspenders" type of people, we also invested in spare boards for the unit. There are three boards in our unit (30 amp) and we have a spare of each. That way if there is a failure, we can just call them and they will walk us through the diagnostics to determine which board blew and we will replace it right then.
sallye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 01:14 PM   #11
Rivet Master
 
2015 30' International
FREDERICK , Maryland
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 524
Go portable

If your hard wired in unit fails, then you have NO power at all. If a portable one fails (or in both cases, either one fries because it did its job), then you just buy another one, and until you do, you can still get unprotected power.

Something like this
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...r-50-amp/56424
or

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...y-30-amp/81277

Get the appropriate size 30 or 50 amp.
Doc Foster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 01:45 PM   #12
4 Rivet Member
 
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Watertown , Massachusetts
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 270
Bypass switch

Re: "If your hard wired in unit fails, then you have NO power at all."

Well, actually, that isn't always true. On the unit we have there is a bypass switch. You just flip the switch and it bypasses the unit. Then you have power again but no surge protection until the unit is repaired - depending on which board failed. I'm guessing not all manufacturers / units have this switch. So, maybe that is something to we aware of while you are shopping
sallye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 01:46 PM   #13
Full Timer
 
2006 28' Safari S/O
Newport , North Carolina
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
Note that the Progressive external units (which seem to be the very best of their kind available) each have a robust collar with an eye, allowing you to secure the unit to the power post to discourage theft.

Michael
mpawilliams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 01:58 PM   #14
.-. -...
 
Adventure.AS's Avatar
 
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake , ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,836
Surge Protector By-Pass

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Foster View Post
If your hard wired in unit fails, then you have NO power at all. If a portable one fails (or in both cases, either one fries because it did its job), then you just buy another one, and until you do, you can still get unprotected power.
There is a simple, low cost solution if the hard-wired surge protector fails. Progressive has a by-pass switch for about $25 that allows you to go into ByPass mode without opening the unit.
__________________
Ray B.
Adventure.AS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 01:59 PM   #15
Rivet Master
Commercial Member
 
New Borockton , Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,593
Images: 21
Progressive Industries units are not necessarily sacrificial and that is why they have a lifetime warranty. I wouldn't decide on hard wire vs portable based on whether it were to ever fail but rather personal preference. Its nice to have the display of the EMS-HW types inside the coach to monitor error codes but its permanent so some prefer portable when they have more than one RV or might share it. I can't think of any other reason except maybe since they require no installation.
__________________
Randy...Converters, Inverters, Trimetric, Surge Protectors, Zamp, Smartplug, AGM Batts
888-828-1893
Bestconverter.com
68 Overlander is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 06:17 PM   #16
TinCan
 
graysailor's Avatar
 
2016 30' Classic
Apache Junction , Arizona
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 880
I went with the hard wired unit. So far no problems.
__________________
TinCan
graysailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 06:33 PM   #17
Rivet Master
 
Southwestern , Ohio
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,671
Quote:
I went with the hard wired unit. So far no problems.
On the other hand, we have Airstreamed for 14 years without a surge protector, and so far no problems.
Nuvite-F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 08:33 PM   #18
2 Rivet Member
 
SilverBuddha's Avatar
 
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Prescott , Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 67
Progressive Industries HW

I too selected the hard wire option. In addition to the benefits of the remote/ bypass, by having the remote located "inside" you can monitor your total electrical load (amperage) as you juggle using various appliances.
Either way (In-E or an Out-E) splurge on a quality Surge Protection Device.
In addition to surge protection, the Progressive Industries (and others) unit will protect you from both "low and high" voltage conditions.

Cheers
Eric
SilverBuddha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2016, 10:40 PM   #19
TinCan
 
graysailor's Avatar
 
2016 30' Classic
Apache Junction , Arizona
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 880
A good point was made in that with the hard wired option you can monitor your electrical usage. I find that very helpful when using 30amp service when 50amp is not available.
__________________
TinCan
graysailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2016, 06:40 AM   #20
Rivet Master
 
m.hony's Avatar
 
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood , Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
I still use a Progressive Industries (?) surge protector at the power pole.
I just leave my power cord plugged into it and roll it and the power cord up together for storage.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
m.hony is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
I'm new. Need for surge protector? bcombs Member Introductions 14 11-09-2013 07:47 AM
1968 - Progressive Ind. 30 amp surge protector? Randy Gates 1965 - 1969 Globetrotter 13 10-17-2011 01:35 PM
Room for in-line surge protector in 23' Intl? Hoonanea Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 0 10-03-2011 11:07 AM
Loud Humming Noise from Surge Protector Michigander Land Yacht/Legacy Motorhomes 8 07-23-2011 03:56 AM
surge protector pip8688 Batteries, Univolts, Converters & Inverters 15 08-09-2010 05:14 AM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.