What are your thoughts on a surge protector I have a 50amp hookup & the parts department highly recommended one. Not sure if because the just wanted to sell me something or if there are alot of issues with sensitive electronics or what?

It's all about insurance. Just like your PC at home that probably has one and is sensitive to power surges/outages, the surge protector should protect from surges in power.Many campgrounds don't have perfect or reliable power. When we camp at some higher end places, my tester (not the surge protector) says all is good. Some of good ole IL state parks are iffy. You'll find comments here on RV.net about wrongly wired outlets, etc. It's really all about peace of mind and insurance. To hopefully protect you from disaster. Compare pricing on Camping world, Amazon, and your local RV dealer.

I didn't think a surge protector was necessary until lightning struck a tree about 15' from our Southwind. We were in a CG at the time.It's just another type of insurance.

EMS (Energy Management Systems) units like the PI HW50C protect against miswired pedestals, high/low voltage, surges (power line transients) and other proglems. CGs are notorious for power problems ESPECIALLY low voltage which can damage A/Cs and other equipment including electronics. Don't confuse EMS units with cheaper pure surge units (electrical transients).30A pedestals often will have low voltage especially in the summer with A/Cs running. Without protection you might not know the A/Cs are running at say 95V. Standard AC is 120V. I've encountered 5 cases of miswired pedestals, numerous cases of low voltage (mostly 30A pedestals) and 2 cases of high voltage, one was 160V on a 30A pedestal.On a 50A pedestal a very bad problem is an open or partially open neutral which will cause very high and very low voltage on the 2 hot lines. 50A service is actually 120/240V the same as your home but I'll skip that detail. PI has a portable unit that you can plug into the pedestal. I much prefer the HW50C (about $350) with it's remote unit that lets me know inside the RV of any power problems.Some prefer a autoformer which will boost low voltage (about $600).

BTW My HW50C purchased in 2004 protected me the very first trip with 160V on a 30A pedestal, not common but it happened and I could not get unplugged fast enough. Its now in the second rig and both DYI installations were done w/o any wires cut and hence easy to move again. But many can't or shouldn't install it themselves which makes the portable unit attractive pricewise.

If you choose not to get one and are unlucky enough to need it, I guarantee that you will get one after you replace your television(s), microwave, stereo, water heater element, refrigerator element, well, the list goes on.Your choice.(A lot of folks don't realize that even with a 50 amp setup, you can get 240v through every 120v appliance that is drawing power if the NEUTRAL wire in the power cord or pedestal ever breaks.)

Thoughts on the 'need' factor of a main line surge protector

72 Replies

gbopp
Explorer
Mar 04, 2020
I didn't think a surge protector was necessary until lightning struck a tree about 15' from our Southwind. We were in a CG at the time.
It's just another type of insurance.
mleekamp
Explorer
Mar 04, 2020
It's all about insurance. Just like your PC at home that probably has one and is sensitive to power surges/outages, the surge protector should protect from surges in power.

Many campgrounds don't have perfect or reliable power. When we camp at some higher end places, my tester (not the surge protector) says all is good. Some of good ole IL state parks are iffy. You'll find comments here on RV.net about wrongly wired outlets, etc.

It's really all about peace of mind and insurance. To hopefully protect you from disaster. Compare pricing on Camping world, Amazon, and your local RV dealer.

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Thoughts on the 'need' factor of a main line surge protector

72 Replies

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