Surge protector

[mwilliamsmd]

Best surge protector (external, not hardwired) on the market????

[ghaynes755]

From a warranty standpoint and features check out the units from Progressive Industries. Progressive Industries RV Surge and Electrical Protection industry lea Progressive and TRC Surge Guard are the two major players. When I compared it seemed that Progressive had better value.

[cwf]

Progressive Industries..

Progressive Industries RV Surge and Electrical Protection industry lea

[mwilliamsmd]

Why doesn't AS make it standard to include surge protection???

[AWCHIEF]

Because Thor's business model dictates to build as cheaply as possible and sell for the highest possible price.

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by mwilliamsmd

Why doesn't AS make it standard to include surge protection???

Because if Airstream included all the upgrades, equipment, luxuries, and old world craftsmanship many folks think should be standard too many potential customers would take their $250,000 Airstream price and $75,000 tow vehicle price and go buy a motorhome.

Not all of us need the same upgrades for our particular travel and camping, so we can pick and choose where to spend the money to customize our Airstream as we like it. I'm okay with that.

With two exceptions. A moisture detection meter to monitor subfloors and a can of CorrosionX for corrosion prevention ought to be in a standard tool kit. All Airstreams need them used regularly.

[ghaynes755]

They all have surge protection. It's all of the fuses both AC and DC. But those won't stop a spike or the other abnormalities that can kill electronics. I'd guess that most campers, AS and SOB's as a whole, do not use surge protectors. Think about how many folks don't have anything for their home computer systems. Having one is like buying an insurance policy. Don't need it until....

[lewster]

Fuses and circuit breakers will do nothing to prevent a power surge or floating neutral from damaging virtually every piece of electrical equipment in your trailer.

I have been involved in more than a few re-builds where even an external surge protector failed, contacts fused closed did internal damage to the tune of $10,000 + to the components in the coach.

IMPO, external surge and line condition protection is a MUST for any RV.


Lew Farber
RVIA/RVDA Nationally Certified Master Tech
Master Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
AM Solar Certified Installation Center
Lifeline Batteries**Magnum Inverters
541-490-6357

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by mwilliamsmd

Why doesn't AS make it standard to include surge protection???

Because it isn't worth it in terms of weight and cost.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by lewster

Fuses and circuit breakers will do nothing to prevent a power surge or floating neutral from damaging virtually every piece of electrical equipment in your trailer.

I have been involved in more than a few re-builds where even an external surge protector failed, contacts fused closed did internal damage to the tune of $10,000 + to the components in the coach.

IMPO, external surge and line condition protection is a MUST for any RV.

Firemen want to outlaw candles because they only see the downside.

Yes, some surges (many) will overwhelm the surge protectors on the market. There is some surge protection in the trailer, and depending on a wide variety of factors, a "surge" may damage some or a considerable amount of the equipment. The "surge" that would have damaged something but for being caught by the surge protector is rare.

In a modern trailer in a modern campground, the two biggest problem areas are an open neutral and a short between the primary and secondary on one of the transformers in the distribution system. Surge protectors will catch an open neutral most of the time. Short in the distribution system who knows, surge protector may burn up too, now you have one more thing to replace

yammv