I lost my job and selling my home and one of my cars. I moved into my camper. I have a little dog and while I lost my job I am fulfilling a "deal" to work 3 more weeks and then I hope I find a new job and eventually recover from this.. oh and Im getting a divorce and am in constant pain from a motorcycle accident 3 yrs ago (working on a surgery for pain).. oh and my medical insurance runs out end of July and then I need to either risk it or pay heavily since I am part of the "privileged" middle class that obama care does nothing for.In short, Im a mess, stress level is high.I have some savings and money is still coming in via severance for the next 3 months but I have to watch every dollar as my mortgage is destroying my income until the condo sells.. $2k a month plus $700 for my camper spot with expenses.Meanwhile I have to prepare to move cross country if a job takes me there.. Im not looking for sympathy here..My camper is a 2004 model.I need to limit my exposure to potential downfalls.. Should I buy this regulator/surge suppressor?https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06W55ZKB6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1I think its a no brainer, this is a great device at a great price. Essentially a voltage isolator that completely isolates the camper and all of its electronic gear (im in IT and I need my gear).Yay or nay?

No. Here's why;The odds of you getting bad power that is so bad it damages something on a camper is pretty small. After all, what works on the camper that is AC powered? Not your stove, water pump or hot water. If you have an air conditioner AND it's hot outside, then maybe that, but otherwise nothing really. I've never used one and never will on a camper I own. It's easy enough to work on and if anything ever did get damaged by some bad power, I'd fix it and probably for a lot less than that 'protector' costs.If you need it for your computer gear as you elude to, get a UPS from Costco for around $60. It will convert the AC mains to DC and keep a battery charged. This battery will use an inverter to make AC again, isolating the AC mains from your computer gear. But even that I wouldn't bother with, just get a surge protector power strip for under $30.

If you are mainly concerned about your electronics since you mentioned being in IT, maybe a UPS would be worth considering, most have high quality surge suppression built in to protect your gear.

No you do not NEED an Auto-transformer to boost voltage

No. Save your money. Instead get a small voltmeter from Harbor Freight.Check the voltage late in the afternoon that you have 108+ volts.Best of luck on the rest.

If you are paying $700/month for a campsite then you are likely in a very good campground with very good power. An Autoformer is completely unnecessary.You might want to consider a good whole house surge suppressor or at least some good surge power strips.I use the TRC unit and many folks are big fans of the Progressive Industry product. Either one will do an excellent job and keep your coach electronics safe.

Please confirm what I think I already know | Good Sam Community

50 Replies

Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Jun 18, 2019
wanderingaimlessly wrote:
If you are mainly concerned about your electronics since you mentioned being in IT, maybe a UPS would be worth considering, most have high quality surge suppression built in to protect your gear.

X2!

Lots of good UPS units to choose from which will do a far better job "protecting" your equipment during low/high voltage surges by switching to inverter whenever an event happens.

Much more bang for the buck than any surge protector.

You could also step up a notch and get an inverter (12V DC to 120V AC) with ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) and beef up your 12V battery system a bit.. This gives you essentially a huge UPS with expanded run time depending on how much battery capacity you have. This type of inverter also has built in charging for the RV batteries.

Multiple times over the years I have toyed with the idea of a Inverter with ATS in my home when I am forced to replace a UPS gone bad or UPS batteries..
BFL13
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2019
The "camper" is a 5er it seems. IMO the priority should be redundancy for everything you really need. IE, have a battery charger (10 amp or better) in case your converter fails. Now you can still get by on battery for the 12v stuff, but have to recharge it from your 120v shore power--but no converter! So plug in the battery charger and clamp onto the battery. Get a second battery.

No 120 off grid? Need a fan to cool off the dog (and you)? Need an inverter to make some 120v to watch TV? Is the fan 120v or 12v? Can you get fresh water? In what? Can you pour it into your fresh water inlet? Etc. Spend any money on that sort of thing first.

Of course the 5er needs a truck. Trucks eat money. What does it need for a cross-country trip pulling a 5er?

Solar and small (2200w) inverter/gen when off grid? Or is it cheaper to stay at campgrounds (dubious)? Is it cheaper to just take the truck and stay in motels? Sleep in the back of the truck if it had a canopy? You would not be on this trip unless a job was for sure waiting, so what does that mean for risk money wise that is "worth it" for when you get there?

Don't do anything in the first 5 minutes! Wait and give it time to think some more. Keep your powder dry in the meantime. Priorities!
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2019
Lwiddis wrote:
This is the RIGHT forum for the issues that confront you! Read each response carefully. Many are very qualified as financial and family counselors regarding divorce, employment, mortgages etc. But then again some on this forum just like to go camping and are forum members just to talk about RVing. I’m very sorry you are privileged. Oh, confirmed.

WTF! Reported to moderators!
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2019
This is the RIGHT forum for the issues that confront you! Read each response carefully. Many are very qualified as financial and family counselors regarding divorce, employment, mortgages etc. But then again some on this forum just like to go camping and are forum members just to talk about RVing. I’m very sorry you are privileged. Oh, confirmed.
RLS7201
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2019
I've owned a 30 amp MH for 17 years and don't use any sort of inline electrical protection. I do have a 15 amp polarity checker with 30 amp adapter that I plug into the camp ground service to check for polarity.
I do have a kill a watt meter plugged inside so I can check the voltage.
All low $$ items.

I see the Hughes Autoformer as a waste of money for a 30 amp system

Most importantly, I hope you get through your time of stress and find much happiness in the future.

Richard
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2019
If you are paying $700/month for a campsite then you are likely in a very good campground with very good power. An Autoformer is completely unnecessary.
You might want to consider a good whole house surge suppressor or at least some good surge power strips.
I use the TRC unit and many folks are big fans of the Progressive Industry product. Either one will do an excellent job and keep your coach electronics safe.
time2roll
Nomad
Jun 18, 2019
No. Save your money. Instead get a small voltmeter from Harbor Freight.
Check the voltage late in the afternoon that you have 108+ volts.

Best of luck on the rest.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jun 18, 2019
No you do not NEED an Auto-transformer to boost voltage
wanderingaimles
Explorer
Jun 18, 2019
If you are mainly concerned about your electronics since you mentioned being in IT, maybe a UPS would be worth considering, most have high quality surge suppression built in to protect your gear.
Ski_Pro_3
Explorer
Jun 18, 2019
No. Here's why;
The odds of you getting bad power that is so bad it damages something on a camper is pretty small. After all, what works on the camper that is AC powered? Not your stove, water pump or hot water. If you have an air conditioner AND it's hot outside, then maybe that, but otherwise nothing really.
I've never used one and never will on a camper I own. It's easy enough to work on and if anything ever did get damaged by some bad power, I'd fix it and probably for a lot less than that 'protector' costs.
If you need it for your computer gear as you elude to, get a UPS from Costco for around $60. It will convert the AC mains to DC and keep a battery charged. This battery will use an inverter to make AC again, isolating the AC mains from your computer gear.
But even that I wouldn't bother with, just get a surge protector power strip for under $30.

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Please confirm what I think I already know

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