I was told A/C could not be used, and friends who have stayed by the lake warned it was a single receptacle. Still, I paid for electric, I hoped I could at least make coffee.87 volts when it first cycled, 94 by the time I took the pic, then rolled up my power cordI guess we will run the fridge on propane, limit our battery use. I plugged Mr Coffee directly into the pole. Better a $2000 coffee pot..inverters are expensive.I guess I can re-hook to the truck for a daily "recharge".[img][/img]

A surge protector alone won't do you any good in a scenario like this ... what you want is a full feature EMS that can detect a variety of power source errors, including high and low voltage, in this case the latter. So ... what's the point of your post? :hFWIW, your situation is exactly why I installed a 1000 watt PSW inverter - not for planned dry camping (which we do little very little) but for those emergency times when we lose campground power for one reason or another but would still like to have limited use of 120 vac to power a toaster, or coffee machine, couple of fans, etc. I've wired the inverter output to dedicated receptacles in the camper and because my trailer is protected with a Progressive Industries WMS-HW30C I can leave the trailer's main service cable plugged into the campsite power post and allow it to continuously monitor the power source and decide when / if it's safe to turn back on again. No surge protector alone will do that. ;)

Or, just monitor voltage yourself.In any case, you are correct to NOT use their power unless it is 108 VAC or higher.The exception may be your converter (read its voltage range in its owners manual) and any resistive appliances like water heater.

SoundGuy wrote:A surge protector alone won't do you any good in a scenario like this ... what you want is a full feature EMS that can detect a variety of power source errors, including high and low voltage, in this case the latter. So ... what's the point of your post? :hI have a question along these lines. My unit is 30 amp and I have a 30 amp EMS. If I hook up to somewhere with only 50 amp service (with 50 to 30 adapter), would my EMS be adequate/safe?

Dano1955 wrote:SoundGuy wrote:A surge protector alone won't do you any good in a scenario like this ... what you want is a full feature EMS that can detect a variety of power source errors, including high and low voltage, in this case the latter. So ... what's the point of your post? :hI have a question along these lines. My unit is 30 amp and I have a 30 amp EMS. If I hook up to somewhere with only 50 amp service (with 50 to 30 adapter), would my EMS be adequate/safe?Yes. Your 30 amp EMS will work just fine.

Dano1955 wrote:My unit is 30 amp and I have a 30 amp EMS. If I hook up to somewhere with only 50 amp service (with 50 to 30 adapter), would my EMS be adequate/safe?Mandalay Parr wrote:Yes. Your 30 amp EMS will work just fine.The reason being that your 50 amp male > 30 amp female dogbone adapter is wired to pick up ground, neutral, and just one hot leg from that 50 amp power source ... so when your trailer or EMS is plugged into the 30 amp end of the dogbone it's exactly the same as plugging into a 30 amp campsite source.

87. Volt. Are you on the fence about buying surge protection

81 Replies

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2016
cbshoestring wrote:
SoundGuy wrote:
cbshoestring wrote:
When we got home
today, I could hear the fan on the inverter running ...

Seems to be difficult for many to distinguish between an inverter which converts 12 vdc to 120 vac and a converter which converts 120 vac to 12 vdc. I suspect you mean converter. ;)

Yes, I meant converter.

In another post, this topic, I even mentioned needing an inverter if I went off grid. I do know the difference...my brain must gotten confused.
OMG Let's not go down the path of converter vs charger! :@
cbshoestring
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2016
smkettner wrote:

Nothing wrong with that long cord for light use... as long as the mower does not get it.

Shed/trailer is just off the corner of the driveway. I could probably reach it with a 25' cord, maybe even just the trailer plug into the garage . The 100' runs from a plug off the back porch to the eave of the house, over to the shed, then back down. Keeps me from running it over.
cbshoestring
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2016
SoundGuy wrote:
cbshoestring wrote:
When we got home
today, I could hear the fan on the inverter running ...

Seems to be difficult for many to distinguish between an inverter which converts 12 vdc to 120 vac and a converter which converts 120 vac to 12 vdc. I suspect you mean converter. ;)

Yes, I meant converter.

In another post, this topic, I even mentioned needing an inverter if I went off grid. I do know the difference...my brain must gotten confused.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 05, 2016
cbshoestring wrote:
When we got home
today, I could hear the fan on the inverter running ...

Seems to be difficult for many to distinguish between an inverter which converts 12 vdc to 120 vac and a converter which converts 120 vac to 12 vdc. I suspect you mean converter. ;)
time2roll
Nomad
Jul 05, 2016
cbshoestring wrote:
A couple weeks ago we went to a State park that claimed electric & water on the web-site. When we arrived, with our empty tanks, we discovered that "water" was conveniently five sites away. Luckly, it was just an overnight trip and I still carry that ol' blue 6 gallon jug from our tent days.
I carried water from a spigot exactly once in Yosemite. Now I carry 300' of that flat hose when visiting there or Death Valley as the fresh water runs out first and it is a long walk to carry water.

Nothing wrong with that long cord for light use... as long as the mower does not get it.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jul 05, 2016
Hi CA,

Which is exactly why I want the autoformer.

I'm surviving without the autoformer, but to do so I have to limit the 30 shore power down to 15 amps using the ARC remote for the Magnum inverter. That forces the Magnum to do voltage support rather than just load support.

CA Traveler wrote:
However low voltage is one issue that often occurs later in the day and no amount of pre checking is going to uncover that problem.
cbshoestring
Explorer II
Jul 05, 2016
One last post on my voltage issue.

I have a 100' extension that runs from the house to the shed. It is just a typical, junky orange extension cord. The trailer is parked near the shed, I use that extension mostly to keep the fridge cool and the battery charged. When we got home today, I could hear the fan on the inverter running, wife had just taken out the food stuff that needed to go in the house, so the fridge was probably running as well. 4 amp draw, 113 volts, zero errors.

YES....I know that cheapy extension is not ideal for plugging the trailer in to. I need a new panel before I can run a 50 amp service to that area. Still, that extension is doing better than that CG's power source.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 05, 2016
smkettner wrote:
Yes with the experience you may now start venturing away from water and sewer too ;)

cbshoestring wrote:
Maybe some day we will fill the water tank, try a weekend without hook-ups.:B

Oh NO! Say it isn't so! Oh the horror of it all! :E :W

Methinks you'll somehow actually survive dry camping just fine. :p
cbshoestring
Explorer II
Jul 05, 2016
smkettner wrote:

Yes with the experience you may now start venturing away from water and sewer too ;)

A couple weeks ago we went to a State park that claimed electric & water on the web-site. When we arrived, with our empty tanks, we discovered that "water" was conveniently five sites away. Luckly, it was just an overnight trip and I still carry that ol' blue 6 gallon jug from our tent days.

SO, technically we have camped without the big three hook-ups, we just haven't done it all at the same time. Maybe some day we will fill the water tank, try a weekend without hook-ups.:B

Then again, I am pretty sure the trailer only has a converter, not an inverter. We would have to rectify that, must have a place to plug in the coffee pot. My days of perking coffee over the fire are done...still carry the perker, wife loves coffee made that way..me LAZY, I just plug in Mr. Coffee.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Jul 05, 2016
cbshoestring wrote:
Tuesday morning, most people have gone home & those that stayed were still in bed as I made my morning coffee. I got out the volt meter just out of curiosity. We have 105 at the pole. This CG needs an upgrade to their electrical grid.

Leaving today, so I guess we survived 3 nights on propane and battery. Does this make me an experienced off-grider?

Yes, just don't post any pictures of you parked at the CG while you did it!! :B:W