3000W Chinese Gensets Info.

thetimfactor wrote:
I have been a long time reader (most of the 933 pages) but this is my first post, so here it goes. I have a Champion generator mounted in my 5er bacement like professor95 has. My rig has a 50amp service with a automatic trasfer switch between the two. I am worriered about AVR failer and surges from the campground. Would a surge protector like the Square D SDSA1175 cover both? At $33 and easy install seems to be a good deal?

Generic, off-the-shelf surge protectors almost exclusively use a disc shaped device called a Metal Oxide Varistor or MOV.

I have cut and pasted a section from the Wikpedia explanation that is significant:

Wikipedia wrote:


Hazards

While a MOV is designed to conduct significant power for very short durations (? 8/20 microseconds), such as caused by lightning strikes, it typically does not have the capacity to conduct sustained energy. Under normal utility voltage conditions, this is not a problem. However, certain types of faults on the utility power grid can result in sustained over-voltage conditions. Examples include a loss of a neutral conductor or shorted lines on the high voltage system. Application of sustained over-voltage to a MOV can cause high dissipation, potentially resulting in the MOV device catching fire. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has documented many cases of catastrophic fires that have been caused by MOV devices in surge suppressors, and has issued bulletins on the issue.

If you scroll back to the photos I recently posted of the insides of some household surge protectors you can see how a sustained over voltage literally causes the MOV to overheat and explode in a fireworks like display. Fortunately, these MOVs were fused and when they blew the fuses also opened. The case the MOVs were in did not ignite (thankfully) so the fire was contained.

Despite the spectacular explosion, connected equipment was saved - but at the risk of starting a fire in the RV.

NO. I would NOT suggest using a surge protector as a first line of defense against the possible failure of an AVR. If over voltage is a concern, spend the $39.95 for a KILLAVOLT and use the surge protectors as a second line of defense.

One other thing worth mentioning - A single surge protector plugged into any outlet can handle an unexpected surge or spike for all the appliances in a RV. But, for protection against multiple current surges and spikes or over voltage there should be a surge protector for each device. I do have one for each group of my video/audio electronics (living room, bedroom and outside TV outlet), another for my refrigerator, one for the microwave and yet another for my converter/charger (six total).

I do not believe a single surge protector installed on your service panel like the Square D SDSA1175 would provide the protection you need unless it would immediately trip the main circuit breaker.