Are surge guards necessary?

30 amp service also uses a neutral, so why is 50 amp at greater risk?

With a 50 amp RV, a problem with the campground neutral or the RV neutral can fry your equipment. With a 30 amp RV, a problem with the campground neutral can fry your equipment, but a problem with the RV neutral will cause your equipment to not work correctly or at all, most likely with no damage to the equipment.

kellertx5er wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

If you have a 30 amp service protection is not so very necessary, provided you check voltage and polarity before you plug in.

50 amp units can be damaged instantly by a bad neutral, so I'd consider it a good idea to have a top of the line energy management system.

30 amp service also uses a neutral, so why is 50 amp at greater risk?

well one of the experts here will answer it, but I think it is because without a neutral, you only have the 240 volts in the system.
bumpy

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

If you have a 30 amp service protection is not so very necessary, provided you check voltage and polarity before you plug in.

50 amp units can be damaged instantly by a bad neutral, so I'd consider it a good idea to have a top of the line energy management system.

30 amp service also uses a neutral, so why is 50 amp at greater risk?

Do you need a surge suppressor> No. Only buy one if you have so much money that the cost of replacing your tv, the board in your refer and DSI water heater,maybe your satelite receiver, you know, all that darn electronic stuff won't make a dent in your wallet. Otherwise, it is cheap insurance. I know mine saved the bacon. BTW generators surge. Imagine the surge when the say, the AC quits. A regular generator will go into the 160 volts or more till the governor slows it down.And they sag when a large load it applied.

I use a circuit test like this one before I plug into any pedestal:



I keep it plugged into a 30A adapter so I can check the specific 30A outlet I will be plugging into. Don't really care if the 50A is miswired....

This saves me from the major faults like open/reversed neutral, open ground, etc. I don't usually test voltage but I probably should. Have considered getting a surge protector but haven't yet. A voltage spike at a CG has the potential to crisp up electronics just like one at your home.

Old-Biscuit wrote:


Best one....Progressive Industries Surge and Voltage Protection in 30A & 50A (More important with 50A rig) PLUS lifetime warranty.

The other brand........1 yr. warranty

I tried the other brand, first, because it was a few bucks cheaper. Don't waste your time. It didn't last 24 hours, having succumbed to moisture intrusion during a light rain (it was properly oriented and under the power pedestal's door). The Progressive Industries unit that replaced it uses a proper gasket to seal out water. Not only is it cheap insurance, it's fun to monitor while doing a once-around the rig with an adult beverage after dinner. OK, so it's not a lot of fun, but it's something to look at.

We purchased a protector when we bought our new camper last September. When talking to the dealer about the necessity of the protector, he put it this way ... which sold me on one.

With today's sophisticated electronics that's built into your camper, the cost of replacing only 1 item in the camper in the event of a power surge or reduction will probably cost more than the protector. Do I really want to have the electronics in my camper damaged and then have to pay the price to fix-replace them? The cost of a new television was more than the protector?

It took all 3 and 1/2 seconds to see the logic. We purchased the protector same day, and it's been plugged in ever since! (even at home).

Think about it? Then you decide!

2oldman wrote:
Short answer: No.

Long answers:

Surge protection2010
Surge, 2010, 50a
Surge, Class A, 2011
Surge, 2013

x2
make that a multi-function surge protector, not the $90 el cheapo.
bumpy

I decided that with the purchase of the new Minnie, the cost of a Progressive Industries 30 amp surge protector was cheap insurance compared to possible repair costs for items such as refrigerator, TV, AC and power convertor. If I had owned one before we traded in our Sun line, I wouldn't have blown the AC capacitor which was around $200 to repair.

Old-Biscuit wrote:


If you have a 30A service, (coma) protection is not so necessary.......

That is because less chance of a miswired power pedestal with 30A service (50A has the possibility of 240V and Open Neutral)

30A can still have Open ground, High/Low Voltage excursions and Surges.

I see. I do have 30A and my power distribution system doesn't cover all contingencies, and a surge guard would be additional protection, then.