**** Surge Protectors ****

Bumpyroad wrote:

TechWriter wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

thus previous discussions of having both an autoformer and a muti-function surge protector, and the debate which goes in line first.

TRC recommends their 44270 (open ground, open neutral, polarity tester) in front of their Voltage Regulator and a multi-function surge protector after it.

swell, now I gotta daisychain 3 devices. :)
bumpy

Actually, the 44270 is just an expensive fault indicator. It will NOT disconnect when it sees a fault. So after plugging it in and seeing no faults, I guess you could just disconnect it and connect the Voltage Regulator direct to pedestal.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
TECHWRITER, what form of "Tech" do you write, if I may ask?

Ex-Technical writer for medical devices, large cranes (hydraulic/electric/CAN systems/load moment systems), electronic signs (software/hardware/network software) . . . worked with lots of engineers.

I'll PM you.

TECHWRITER, what form of "Tech" do you write, if I may ask? Your label of "Self-Described Smart Guy" puzzle's me. Sounds like you got your fur ruffled.

My complaint is not against an individual, it is about an industry that has no standards - indeed WISHES no standards.

Now if you want to, disassemble as many SURGE GUARDS as you wish and try to find a single avalanche rectifier.

Paying 500 dollars for an auto switching autotransformer embedded with a handful of MOV's because the gizmo is advertised as a "cure-all" is deceptive.

I am a teacher. I lecture. Reading my posts or responses is totally optional. If you have a question, ask it -- you don't need to add deprecating sarcasm - it belittles the person saying it.

TechWriter wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

thus previous discussions of having both an autoformer and a muti-function surge protector, and the debate which goes in line first.

TRC recommends their 44270 (open ground, open neutral, polarity tester) in front of their Voltage Regulator and a multi-function surge protector after it.

swell, now I gotta daisychain 3 devices. :)
bumpy

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Ever see a boxing match where the slower fighter's reaction time allows him to eat canvas to the count of 10?

A joule is yet another buzzword. By itself it is as useless a term as "best" "surge protector" and all the rest of misused terms. Ninety nine percent of cheap strip protectors use a clump of dirt cheap MOV's metal oxide varistors and go on to chortle how many "Joules" of protection their gizmo offers.

To protect against sluggish voltage variations voltage correction is necessary

To protect against slow-motion "surges" MOV's are appropriate

To protect against damaging high frequency transients, gas tube discharge and avalanche device protection is mandatory.

It pays to know what's inside your "miracle" gizmo.

I believe I have several tens of millions of joules worth of 330volt MOV's stuffed in a drawer somewhere. I used to buy them by the pound.

For self-described smart guy, you would better serve folks if you stopped lecturing and offered some practical advice.

For example, do you have specifics on the quality of construction of the most popular RV surge guards (or whatever you want to call them)?

Go with a Progressive unit...well made and great service.

Ever see a boxing match where the slower fighter's reaction time allows him to eat canvas to the count of 10?

A joule is yet another buzzword. By itself it is as useless a term as "best" "surge protector" and all the rest of misused terms. Ninety nine percent of cheap strip protectors use a clump of dirt cheap MOV's metal oxide varistors and go on to chortle how many "Joules" of protection their gizmo offers.

To protect against sluggish voltage variations voltage correction is necessary

To protect against slow-motion "surges" MOV's are appropriate

To protect against damaging high frequency transients, gas tube discharge and avalanche device protection is mandatory.

It pays to know what's inside your "miracle" gizmo.

I believe I have several tens of millions of joules worth of 330volt MOV's stuffed in a drawer somewhere. I used to buy them by the pound.

Bumpyroad wrote:

thus previous discussions of having both an autoformer and a muti-function surge protector, and the debate which goes in line first.

TRC recommends their 44270 (open ground, open neutral, polarity tester) in front of their Voltage Regulator and a multi-function surge protector after it.

I second the recommendation for an EMS-HW30C. This way, there is no portable device to lose or get stolen, and low voltage can destroy A/C compressors just as badly as overvoltage (the EMS will shut power off if voltage goes too low for a period of time.) If a hard-wired EMS is a no go, go for the EMS-PT30C and a long steel cable + padlock. If one does have an EMS, it can't hurt to have an external surge protector anyway (SSP-30), just so it takes the lightning strike and not the more expensive stuff.

The only real reason I've not gone with an EMS myself is because I plan to sell/trade my current rig in later this year.

The EMS will more than pay for itself the first time you plug into a 240 volt miswired outlet and see an "E-3" code on the display, as opposed to having electrical components fry, or even worse, the RV barbecue itself.