Surge Protector

I'm in So Cal so weather is not a big issue, we need MORE rain!

Theft is a consideration but like said, pretty unlikely and we rarely stay anywhere questionable.

But the hardwired version is an interesting thought, wouldn't be hard to do if there's a decent location, will have to see when I get the new rig.

pianotuna wrote:
MOV fall on their sword to protect the devices down stream.

MOV manufacturers are quite blunt about it. MOVs do not do protection when failing. Worse, they create a serious human safety issue. However if a protector is grossly undersized (does no effective protection) and it fails, then naive consumers recommend it and buy more.

An effective MOV protector remains functional even after direct lightning strikes.

But that is not the anomaly that RV protectors are designed to protect from. The word surge describes so many completely different and unrelated anomalies. For example, does it protect from a tidal surge? Obviously not. Does it protect from low DC voltages inside a computer's motherboard? Obviously it does not protect from that surge. Does it protect from a brownout? Well a Progressive does. Those completely different devices, called surge protector and located inside a house, do not.

In each case, an anomaly must be defined long before discussing some box called a surge protector. Since no surge protector protects from a surge on the stock market.

A Progressive protects from anomalies so often found in campgrounds including a brownout, reverse polarity, missing safety ground (which is not an earth ground), or floating neutral. All these are a threat mostly to motorized appliances or humans. Other anomalies (frequency variation, harmonics, missing earth ground, EMI/EMC, bad power factor, blackout, RFI, etc) are completely ignored.

Protection from transients (ie lightning) means the protector must be as close to earth ground as possible. Only the 'moutned to the pole' protectors are effective for that anomaly. And since that anomaly is quite rare (maybe once every ten years), then many RV protectors ignore that less frequent threat.

Effective protection from transients (due to lightning, utility switching, linemen errors, tree rodents, and wind) means MOVs do not fail. And must make a low impedance connection to earth ground. If mounted inside the RV, then a low impedance connection does not exist.

Discussion of each protector must first defined each and the many different anomalies that are relevant. Described are the anomalies of most concern in campgrounds. Those are unrelated to other anomalies (ie surges) that are a concern in homes.

I had my portable sp in a basement compartment, similar to a hard wired one. no big deal
bumpy

MOV fall on their sword to protect the devices down stream. There are other types of protection that protect without dying. Of course, they cost a little more.

Optimistic Paranoid wrote:
I'm kinda surprised that in 6 pages of discussion, no one has mentioned the two main problems with portable units.

1: They're exposed to all kinds of weather plugged into the camp pedestal.

2: They are easily STOLEN.

Of course, it's possible to use them inside you rig, but it requires some modifications. You need a 30 or 50 amp outlet inside your rig, and you need a 30 or 50 amp PLUG on your internal wiring.

I'm guessing that very few people do that . . .

I did, but I now have a hard wire version, not because of concern over theft but because it's field serviceable and offers user switchable delay times which the portable versions don't.

1) These portable units are considered weather resistant but it's easy to further protect it from the weather by simply covering it with a plastic bag or bucket when hanging off the power post and 2) although theft is a possibility I've never read of anyone suffering this loss, especially since most power posts, especially in the US, seem to be located near the camper itself. An alternate solution, other than locating it inside the camper, is to simply locate it at the camper under a slide or wheelwell and run an extension cable out to the post ... unlikely that someone is going to come right up to your camper searching for an EMS to steal.

You're right ... you're paranoid. :W

I'm kinda surprised that in 6 pages of discussion, no one has mentioned the two main problems with portable units.

1: They're exposed to all kinds of weather plugged into the camp pedestal.

2: They are easily STOLEN.

Of course, it's possible to use them inside you rig, but it requires some modifications. You need a 30 or 50 amp outlet inside your rig, and you need a 30 or 50 amp PLUG on your internal wiring.

I'm guessing that very few people do that . . .

Metal oxide varistor

Transient voltage protection

When I high voltage transient spike occurs on the power line
They short it to ground, saving your electronics

SoundGuy wrote:

afidel wrote:
One year warranty on the Camco, not worth the savings vs the PI unit with lifetime warranty IMHO. I love Camco products, but I'll take the proven PI unit (I actually did, used the hardwire 30A unit in my trailer, it's already saved me a few times).

nayther wrote:
respect your opinion but a warranty is only as good as the company and if it's in for warranty you're not in business.

Not true in this case. No EMS is 100% fail proof and under some circumstances the MOVs used on the surge protection circuit board are expected to fail. Progressive EMS units even have an indicator light to show when MOVs have failed and need replacement.

nayther wrote:
Anyone have first hand experience with this one? A LOT less expensive than the others.

You get what you pay for. Your choice. ;)

MOV's?

Bumpyroad wrote:
I thought the lifetime warranty is no longer.

The purchase of a Progressive Industries EMS still includes a limited lifetime warranty as do the newest EMS models from TRC.

I thought the lifetime warranty is no longer.
bumpy