Surge Protectors?
I have never used one but was wondering if I should be or are they a waste of money. Thanks, Griz14
Forum Discussion
rbpru wrote:
You never know if a surge protector is working, unless the surge is large enough to take it out.
Of the many dozens of campgrounds I have stayed in only two would not accept a surge protector even though the protector show the connection was safe as the circuit breaker tripped. In both cases the circuits worked fine.
Yes, if a surge protector does it job, then one never knew that one anomaly exists. Which is a completely different and unrelated anomaly for what a surge protector (that is discussed here) is installed to protect from.
Numerous and completely different anomalies exist. All are called surges. No protector protects from all anomalies. A discussion that does not define each anomaly separately is subjective; classic junk science reasoning.
That surge protector would not work in two campgrounds due to what that surge protector is designed to protect from. At greatest risk to that anomaly are motorized appliances - not electronics.
A completely different type surge (that often threatens electronics) uses a protector that would always 'be accepted' (even if that campground was defectively wired (a threat to motorized appliances).
Another type of protector that would protect electronics from a completely different anomaly (also called a surge) must connect as close as possible to the pole and as far a possible from appliances.
Not all Progressive protectors claim to protect from a surge such as lightning. But most (probably every one) is designed to protect appliances from wiring faults that are typical in campgrounds. Those protectors would not permit power due to defects ... while power would appear to be good when connected without the Progressive. In that case, a Progressive detected a fault that puts at risk motorized appliances or human life. So one connected direct; decided to ignore an anomaly that the Progressive is designed to detect and reported.
Bottom line: if each anomaly is not discussed separately, well, many recommend using or promote junk science reasoning. Some completely different anomalies include, floating neutral, RFI/EMI/EMC, high voltage, a massive longitudinal current spike, missing earth ground, frequency variation, low voltage, defective safety ground, harmonics, and reverse polarity. Which anomaly concerns you? Different protectors are designed to only protect from a short list of 'surges'.
Most appliances are so robust as to make many anomalies completely or partially irrelevant. An appliances can work fine even though a serious anomaly exists. To say which protectors work and why a protector is recommended must be discussed in terms of each anomaly. Otherwise that recommendation is based in classic junk science reasoning.
Campground could have a completely defective safety ground. A Progressive might refuse to connect to that defective campground power. But appliances would work just fine when connected directly. Another surge protector (designed for completely different anomalies) would not report that defect. Each protector must be discussed in terms of each anomaly - one at a time.
