Power Surges and Class A motorhomes

If using 240vac, you won't like the result if the neutral opens even briefly (bad connection anywhere along the feed line, your coach pigtail, "fatigued/overheated" plug neutral. etc. Pre-testing will indeed tell you if (circuit un-loaded) it's "OK" at that moment. Not completely worthless, but not a guarantee by any means. It might make you feel a little better but is NOT a solution... I'd suggest using 120 vac if I'm not using the surge suppressor. Very little danger from "loss of neutral" on 120 vac. (still could experience certain types of surges or "brown outs" there too, but rare - loss of neutral is not as rare as one might think)

I find it funny when someone says they monitor their power with an internal meter so they don't need any protection. That must not be a very fun trip if you're sitting there watching your meter every second you're camping.

I've never had any spikes, but I've had mine shut down several times due to low voltage. I agree that power would be similar to what you get at home at a new park with new equipment, but old National Parks and campgrounds can really have issues when they're full and everyone is pulling power for heaters or A/C units.

bluegypsy wrote:
5.5 years full-timing, no surge guard, no problems. I do have a polarity checker which I plug into an outlet when we first hook up, and a voltage/frequency monitor which stays plugged in while we're in place to check for voltage drops/rises. We've found some issues at campgrounds with these simple products.

I'm not sure I understand the need for a fancy surge guard. The power at the pedestal is usually coming from the same source as that to someone's house. Once you've ascertained it's wired correctly (by using one or both of the cheap items I've got), the chance of a surge is as likely as you'd get at your house.

Thunderstorm? Switch off pedestal and turn on generator.

Looking at your map, you haven't been in an area of REAL tstorms YET!...we were in Montana a few years ago and lightning struck a couple doors from our coach. Fried the surge protector first, then the microwave, then the middle A/C then the transfer switch. I believe it would have fried everything electric had I not had the Surge Protector. Progressive replaced the SP free of charge. Warranty covered everything else...about $9k worth...I wouldn't travel without one...just sayin so from personal experience.....Dennis

EMS aka energy management systems
the sense low voltage or higher than normal voltage, turn things off or disconnect

SURGE guard, protects against transient High voltage spikes
the kind caused by lighting striking a power line, or a transformer blowing up or a vehicle hitting a power pole and bring it down causing shorted power lines

(2) different devices for different things

5.5 years full-timing, no surge guard, no problems. I do have a polarity checker which I plug into an outlet when we first hook up, and a voltage/frequency monitor which stays plugged in while we're in place to check for voltage drops/rises. We've found some issues at campgrounds with these simple products.

I'm not sure I understand the need for a fancy surge guard. The power at the pedestal is usually coming from the same source as that to someone's house. Once you've ascertained it's wired correctly (by using one or both of the cheap items I've got), the chance of a surge is as likely as you'd get at your house.

Thunderstorm? Switch off pedestal and turn on generator.

Tom/Barb wrote:
when thunderstorms are in the area, and you expect lightning, simply unplug the coach from the electrical out let.

Fine if you stow the cord. If you leave it laying on the ground, it is possible to have high voltage induced into the cord by induction from a close lightening strike.

workhardplayharder wrote:
Usually the problem is low volts but spikes can and do happen. Before I plug in i check the polarity of the power supply.

recently at a camp ground in new york at least three times a day mine was tripping out and a couple times when i was looking at it the voltage was up to 129 volts so that is what was tripping it out.

Usually the problem is low volts but spikes can and do happen. Before I plug in i check the polarity of the power supply.

Tom/Barb wrote:
when thunderstorms are in the area, and you expect lightning, simply unplug the coach from the electrical out let.

Fine unless the lighting comes in thru the window screen. Had that happen at the stick house I grew up in. Came in the kitchen window screen and straight out thru the kitchen screen door. Went right past everybody sitting at the kitchen table. Didn't damage a thing except the metal screens. Talk about being blessed. That certainly wasn't any luck of the Irish, even with everybody sitting at the table being Irish. Lighting is going to do what it wants to do and nothing we do will stop it.

when thunderstorms are in the area, and you expect lightning, simply unplug the coach from the electrical out let.