How long does your Surge Protector LAST???

If I recall correctly the surge protector is rated for a certain level of spike voltage energy. The energy level is measured in joules. The more expensive units have a higher rating.

The unit sits on the line bypassing transient voltage spikes day after day, until one day a major spike comes down the line that exceeds it max rating. Then the unit's components have been ruined and it will longer function.

Unless it's joules rating is exceeded there is nothing to wear out.

We use fuses to limit current flow down the line, the surge protector limits the voltage on the line.

I believe the best feature is the ability to tell the user if the shore power post is correctly wired.

Until it takes the surge that kills it, as surge protection is sacrificial. With respect to surge protection, it is like a crash helmet. One hard hit and it is done, a few small hits and you are wondering how much protection remains.

For other features like power management and filtering, a good one should last tens of years if never hit by a destructive surge. That's better than the crash helmet, those get stinky after a while, even if it never hits anything.

Progressive Industries devices can be rebuilt to restore surge protection. If it gets hit so hard that it can't be rebuilt (think lightning strike) the warranty should get you a new one. Supporting that policy is the reason for the high price.

westom wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
The electronics in most RV's are identical to those found in a house and in fact are far more vulnerable being in campgrounds often located at the far end of the local distribution station with old and often under-rated facilities.

Missing is any electrical concept to validate an empty and barren denial. A perfect example of rationalization to justify a feeling.

First, a surge is not defined by its victim. Surge is defined by the anomaly - which you completely ignore. 'Surge' is a vague term for many completely different and unrelated anomalies. Why do you assume all surges are same?

If you know typically destructive anomalies in campgrounds and homes are same, then define them with voltage, time, current path, and other numbers. Don't just deny because you feel otherwise. Your rationalization (without facts) is how junk science get promoted.

An anomaly that typically causes damage in a campground is completely different from an anomaly that typically does damage in homes. If you know otherwise, then please explain why protectors necessary for campgrounds are not found in homes. Where is a protector that disconnects your home when high voltage, floating neutral, open ground, or sags occur? Does not exist because that 'surge' does not exist in homes. Why do you assume otherwise?

If campgrounds routinely suffer damage from microsecond transients, than all protectors are at the pole; not inside a camper. Why do you ignore that fact?

"That is wrong because I said so", is classic rationalization. Please deny using substance (ie numbers). Please explain why so many without damage have no protection from microsecond transients. Please stop posting subjective denials. As if all 'surges' are same. Empty and barren denials are insulting; not informative.

Again, summarized were two protectors implemented in campgrounds where destructive 'surges' are a different anomaly. Disconnecting is the typical solution for campground 'surges'; not for home 'surges'.

It seems you have lots of theory under your belt and zero real world experience either in a Campground or industrial/ residential use because I shouldn't have to sit here and justify anything, you should already know the numbers. And if you have all this claimed knowledge you know full well that all MOV's are not the same, so what's your point with these novellas? Surges are surges, transients are transients, they are not the same (right?), and the OP's question has been answered.

Lynnmor wrote:
Since a high end surge protector costs as much or more than most appliances repairs, should I buy a protector for my protector? :?

It's a judgement call and a lot may depend upon where and how you camp. Starting in 2004 with the increased electronics that can be protected I installed one. Consider that anything that can't be turned off like a TV with remote capability could have a problem.

Do a search including the archives and you'll find some that have had very expensive repairs for various reasons.

I've had several cases of high voltage. 3 cases of reversed polarity on 30A plugs and a large number of low voltage cases. An autoformer to increase low voltage is even more expensive.

BTW The PI HW50C in my current rig was "free" considering that I moved it from the last rig.

westend wrote:
... but an RV owner is only capable of owning devices that are sold for this market.

Summarized are various products for RV protection - including different models from Progressive. All are readily available.

Lightning protection is simple, inexpensive, but requires knowledge as summarized above. Lightning protection is not considered when that 'surge' is quite rare. Other campground 'surges' are more frequent. For homes, a potentially destructive transient may occur once every seven years. Well over ten times less likely for RVs.

One can have protection from the most common surges. That solution is 'disconnecting'. Protection from another and much less likely surge involves 'connecting'.

westom,
You raise some good points but an RV owner is only capable of owning devices that are sold for this market. If lightning protection is needed, it's best to disconnect the power source and trust that the bolt won't affect the RV.

CA Traveler wrote:
Well go for it and sit in your camper all day watching for high or low voltage.

Bulb changes intensity only when you are there and using appliances. It could not be less obvious. Changing intensity reports an impending neutral wire failure typically weeks before that defect causes damage.

Again this is not about campground neutral wire. We are discussing your cable and your internal wiring. An impending wire failure is only a surprise when obvious warnings are ignored for weeks. Some believe bulb intensity changes should be ignored. Then future damage is 'unavoidable'.

Since a high end surge protector costs as much or more than most appliances repairs, should I buy a protector for my protector? :?

Is a neutral in a 50 amp power cable failing? One would know that long before that neutral failed. For example, incandescent bulbs would change intensity when other appliances (ie air conditioner) power cycle. Long before a neutral opened, the defect would have been apparent and getting worse.

Well go for it and sit in your camper all day watching for high or low voltage.

My experience with a failed neutral the voltage was instantly at 160V and the PI HW50C disconnected the power in a few milliseconds but I'm glad that you think I would have had time to prevent the likely damage to the electronics. BTW I was plugged into 30A and the open neutral was in the CG 120/240V distribution system.

SCVJeff wrote:
The electronics in most RV's are identical to those found in a house and in fact are far more vulnerable being in campgrounds often located at the far end of the local distribution station with old and often under-rated facilities.

Missing is any electrical concept to validate an empty and barren denial. A perfect example of rationalization to justify a feeling.

First, a surge is not defined by its victim. Surge is defined by the anomaly - which you completely ignore. 'Surge' is a vague term for many completely different and unrelated anomalies. Why do you assume all surges are same?

If you know typically destructive anomalies in campgrounds and homes are same, then define them with voltage, time, current path, and other numbers. Don't just deny because you feel otherwise. Your rationalization (without facts) is how junk science get promoted.

An anomaly that typically causes damage in a campground is completely different from an anomaly that typically does damage in homes. If you know otherwise, then please explain why protectors necessary for campgrounds are not found in homes. Where is a protector that disconnects your home when high voltage, floating neutral, open ground, or sags occur? Does not exist because that 'surge' does not exist in homes. Why do you assume otherwise?

If campgrounds routinely suffer damage from microsecond transients, than all protectors are at the pole; not inside a camper. Why do you ignore that fact?

"That is wrong because I said so", is classic rationalization. Please deny using substance (ie numbers). Please explain why so many without damage have no protection from microsecond transients. Please stop posting subjective denials. As if all 'surges' are same. Empty and barren denials are insulting; not informative.

Again, summarized were two protectors implemented in campgrounds where destructive 'surges' are a different anomaly. Disconnecting is the typical solution for campground 'surges'; not for home 'surges'.