surge protector question

[MAJORJDB]

Looking at buying a Progressive surge protector most likely a 30amp model. I have a question that may seem silly. I have stayed at campsites where there was only 50amp service and I had to use a 30amp to 50amp adapter. Would plugging into a 50amp service damage a 30amp surge protector and/or would a 50amp surge unit properly protect if plugged into a 30amp service. Thank you in advance for any ad information offered...

[Njg]

Originally Posted by MAJORJDB

Looking at buying a Progressive surge protector most likely a 30amp model. I have a question that may seem silly. I have stayed at campsites where there was only 50amp service and I had to use a 30amp to 50amp adapter. Would plugging into a 50amp service damage a 30amp surge protector and/or would a 50amp surge unit properly protect if plugged into a 30amp service. Thank you in advance for any ad information offered...

Use the 50 amp to 30 amp dogbone and plug your 30 amp surge protector into that. 50 amp surge protector will cost more and is not what it sounds like your trailer needs.

Dogbone will only allow one of the 120v legs on the 50 amp service to carry through.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

There is no value in having a 50A protector if you have a 30A trailer. In fact, it will check for some things (and lock out) that do not matter at all to you. The 30A device is smaller and cheaper. Go with the 30A gizmo and spend the money you save on something more fun.

Bob

[MAJORJDB]

Thanks for the info!! Of course this leads to the question of hardwired vs. portable SP. While I have never had anything stolen from my campsite, a hardwired unit might be one less item to be bounced around the TV or AS. They appear simple enough to wire in. Any thoughts on the pros/cons of either type of SP would be appreciated...

[waninae39]

agree, get the 30A, the 50A will do nothing more for your unit except take space and money from you

remember that the chord is still 30 A, as well as the internal CB

i have the 30A and it works and stated

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The most common arguments against hardwired:

1) Fire in the event of a lightning strike

2) Better protection by having the protector at the box

Both sound like nonsense to me. Despite that I went with the external. When I get the time I'll do some research on fires caused by hardwired surge protectors.

Bob

[GCinSC2]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

The most common arguments against hardwired:

1) Fire in the event of a lightning strike

Bob

My suggestion, call surge devices mfgr tech support and ask this question. Their product was designed to protect and while all possible scenarios are difficult to protect against I bet they did their due diligence and can answer.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

My suggestion, call surge devices mfgr tech support and ask this question. Their product was designed to protect and while all possible scenarios are difficult to protect against I bet they did their due diligence and can answer.

Hi

I can indeed show you examples of MOV's going "thermal". If you put enough energy into them that's what they do. It's simply a matter of how much energy it takes. There is always a rating on the protector. Hit it with a lot more than that and you have a problem. Since lightning is not something you can control, you *might* get a surge above what the device is rated for. If the hit is in the local area, there is not much else that is going to limit it. Breakers and the like are not going to do much before the surge passes through. They just don't work fast enough. Fuses go into an arc mode so they don't help either.

Bob

[GCinSC2]

Bob,

I reviewed this thread, no explanation of MOV previously posted. What is a MOV?

And you stated the hardwired bursting into flames and added "Both sound like nonsense to me."

I'm just suggesting getting the manufacturers two cents worth to add their expertise to this discussion.

Gary

[CDONA]

A damaging lightening strike will fry wires from the pedestal to the hard wired surge protector, where ever it is mounted inside your rig. Your internal wiring will need repair to some extant to get it powered up again.
The plugin version will tend to save everything from the surge protector to the coach, damage stops at the pedestal. Just easier to steal.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

Bob,

I reviewed this thread, no explanation of MOV previously posted. What is a MOV?

And you stated the hardwired bursting into flames and added "Both sound like nonsense to me."

I'm just suggesting getting the manufacturers two cents worth to add their expertise to this discussion.

Gary

Hi

MOV = Metal Oxide Varistor, it's the basic component that any modern power line surge suppressor uses to absorb most of a surge. The MOV has a non-linear voltage / current characteristic. They pull very little current up to some specified voltage and then start pulling more and more as the voltage increases. The manufacturer may have other items in the suppressor, but the MOV's do the heavy lifting. They are a "limited cycle count" sort of device. If you hit them enough times with enough energy they fail. The only way I have personally seen this happen is for them to split in half. That has happened to me on a number of suppressors over the years. There are documented cases of them failing as a short. It is very unclear how common that is. Also RV's may be subject to somewhat different conditions than the typical electrical installation ...

Bob