surge
thinking about buying a surge protector but have a couple of questions: my owners manual for my keystone hideout, 24 footer, says it has a built in protector, but it doesn't say whether it's 6000 or 9...
Forum Discussion
There are surge protectors and there are surge protectors.
Many RV's and homes have "Surge Protectors" (Note quotes) that are really Spike Suppressors.. I have some in my motor home including one "Whole House" and some outlet strips.
A spike is a very brief peak in voltage, can easily hit 1,000 or more but lasts, generally less than 0.01 to 0.02 second. The suppressor is a device called an MOV (Metal Oxide Varisistor) which works very well.
Then there is a true SURGE, where the voltage climbs and stays high for a period of time GREATER than one second.. In some parks it is always high.
A true Surge Procetor, such as the Progressive Dynamics unit, will cut off power to your motor home to protect it from this kind of thing.. This uses some computer stuff, and some heavy duty relays (Contactors) to do the job.
I've been in a house with many MOV types when such a surge hit. Sounded like Independence day celebrations with all the MOV's going off like firecrackers. Burned up nearly 100 worth of them in less than a minute. Also a blower motor and a computer power supply.
And do not reach for your wallet yet.
THERE IS MORE
The Spike Supressors" will do nothing if the park voltage goes low, say 90 volts.
but the Progressive Dynamnics Surge Guard (Power line or Energy Monitoring Systemn,, not to be confused with an Energy Management System) will again cut you off if this happens.
Why? 90 volts can easily destroy the motors in your Air Conditioner. Those motors cost around 200-300 EACH (There are at least 2) and a new AC about 1,000 installed.
So the RV type Surge Guard... Is very likely superior to what is built in to your RV.. But .. That said, Find out.
Who knows, they may have put a good one in.
OH, yes, a Hughes Autoformer will help with the low voltage
Sequence: Park--Autformer--Surge guard--ATS-Breaker box--Loads.
Many RV's and homes have "Surge Protectors" (Note quotes) that are really Spike Suppressors.. I have some in my motor home including one "Whole House" and some outlet strips.
A spike is a very brief peak in voltage, can easily hit 1,000 or more but lasts, generally less than 0.01 to 0.02 second. The suppressor is a device called an MOV (Metal Oxide Varisistor) which works very well.
Then there is a true SURGE, where the voltage climbs and stays high for a period of time GREATER than one second.. In some parks it is always high.
A true Surge Procetor, such as the Progressive Dynamics unit, will cut off power to your motor home to protect it from this kind of thing.. This uses some computer stuff, and some heavy duty relays (Contactors) to do the job.
I've been in a house with many MOV types when such a surge hit. Sounded like Independence day celebrations with all the MOV's going off like firecrackers. Burned up nearly 100 worth of them in less than a minute. Also a blower motor and a computer power supply.
And do not reach for your wallet yet.
THERE IS MORE
The Spike Supressors" will do nothing if the park voltage goes low, say 90 volts.
but the Progressive Dynamnics Surge Guard (Power line or Energy Monitoring Systemn,, not to be confused with an Energy Management System) will again cut you off if this happens.
Why? 90 volts can easily destroy the motors in your Air Conditioner. Those motors cost around 200-300 EACH (There are at least 2) and a new AC about 1,000 installed.
So the RV type Surge Guard... Is very likely superior to what is built in to your RV.. But .. That said, Find out.
Who knows, they may have put a good one in.
OH, yes, a Hughes Autoformer will help with the low voltage
Sequence: Park--Autformer--Surge guard--ATS-Breaker box--Loads.
