Storage Skirts and Surge Guards

[jamjrks]

Getting prepared to full time next July and trying to make certain that we have needed accessories for our 2011 Montana. My wife is convinced we need a storage skirt to enclose the area under the front of the fiver to keep bikes, chairs, etc protected from the weather. What's your experience with these skirts? My issue, on the other hand, is whether or not we should invest in a 50 amp surge guard. We have been part timers for almost 10 years and have yet to encounter a campground where we had voltage/amperage issues (at least to my knowledge). What's the consensus out there, is a $400 investment in a portable surge guard a common sense decision? Thanks for your feedback.

[john_bet]

A question for all you folks advocating a surge guard. Do you have one on your house service entrance? If not why not.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

"verysincere" - and no doubt you are, however -

No surge protector will protect your RV from a lightning strike.

Best protection is disconnect from power pedestal.
(Don't wait for lightning to move into your immediate area).

A surge protector *will* protect your entire RV at the power source to your RV. (But, not from lightning - neither will "individual device" surge protectors)

Lots and lots of info on those topics available via the search feature here. - Sources available on request.

Someone mentioned Kll-A-Watt
Nice device to observe voltage. Key word is "observe".
Even if you watched it 24/7, 24 hours a day - you or it - won't "beat" a surge!

Progressive Industries -portable or hard wired- is *the* best.
If you think it "wears out" - send it back for a replacement, LOL!

Unlike a tire blow-out (even with RV damage) high/low voltage damage may take weeks (or months) to get appliances replaced or repaired.

Park with high voltage "error", a prime example:

The Electrician said "Oops"

And - there *are* others!

Quality surge protector = cheap insurance!..:W


.

[partsman01]

avvidclif1 wrote:

jamjrks wrote:
Getting prepared to full time next July and trying to make certain that we have needed accessories for our 2011 Montana. My wife is convinced we need a storage skirt to enclose the area under the front of the fiver to keep bikes, chairs, etc protected from the weather. What's your experience with these skirts? My issue, on the other hand, is whether or not we should invest in a 50 amp surge guard. We have been part timers for almost 10 years and have yet to encounter a campground where we had voltage/amperage issues (at least to my knowledge). What's the consensus out there, is a $400 investment in a portable surge guard a common sense decision? Thanks for your feedback.

You forget the main rule of marriage; What momma wants momma gets, what you want is what momma lets you have.

Not to mention, "Happy Wife, Happy Life."

[jamjrks]

Wow, thanks for all the great feedback. Will definitely purchase a surge protector for the inlet source and use individual surge protection on some major components in the fiver. And "avvidclif1" agree one hundred percent with the main rule of marriage.

[Verysincere]

As to surge protectors, some general comments:

1) Keep in mind that surge protectors of the same price range can differ greatly in quality. I'd consult industry reviews involving controlled laboratory testing before making a purchase. (Chances are low that what any given RV dealer happens to keep in stock is the best value.)

2) Depending upon the component parts, a surge protector can deteriorate considerably over the course of a year or two---because some of those parts experience "wear" and age. Others may give their lives blocking some types of surges (although you can't always assume that the protection device will notify you of this.)

3) Don't trust a surge protector at the RV entry point to protect the entire system. For example, lightning strikes in the area induce currents quite easily in any wire between the surge protector and the device you wish to protect. (Unfortunately, lightning strikes nearby tend to defeat and overwhelm most protection devices---although lightning arrestors can certainly save people and animals from serious injury in many cases.) Also, surge protector manufacturers would point out that other devices/appliances within the RV can be the cause of major damage. So don't forget to use individual surge protectors with computers and other electronics. (A surge protector for such devices should at least include "voltage smoothing", anti-spike capabilities. Don't assumes that your expensive UPS unit is necessarily doing great filtering when not operating in battery mode.)

4) If allowing for #3, be careful about what types of surge protectors and UPS devices are used in series within the RV. Why? I'll avoid getting into the technicalities but, for example, make sure a protection device which outputs a square wave doesn't power something which must have a sine wave feed.

5) As some have mentioned, low-voltage power or rapidly fluctuating brown-outs can do even more damage than a spike---especially on big motor devices like washers, dryers, some refrigerators, and AC units.

An anecdote comes to mind: I awakened one morning right as a thunderstorm came into the area and lightning struck a tree about 100 yards from me. Even though my portable fan was entirely unplugged, its motor coils provided effectively little "antennas" for the EM induction and I was startled at the sparks which emerged. (Nevertheless, it is still worth unplugging everything you can when you know that a lightning storm is in the area. Just realize that you may not be able to stop the damage of a close hit.)

As far as volts/amps displays, I recommend going for the most cost-effective solution and simply buy a $20 "Kill-a-watt" and similar devices and use it to determine what each device/appliance draws in a typical hour or day of use. (Of course, once you know the general numbers, you might want to leave it on the AC circuit so that you can monitor your long term KWH per month, etc. Same with a dehumidifier unit.)

Yes, finding the best value on circuit protection devices requires some research of professional/industrial reviews. (Personally, I don't put my trust in the average mainstream consumer-retail product. I've seen too many over-priced and nearly worthless units which failed the most basic laboratory testing regimens.)

It is definitely worth finding out if your RV park hookup is "noisy" (full of spikes and interference) and especially low-voltage conditions. I do recommend a protection device with an audible alarm for blackouts and brownouts (but both under user control.)

But that's just me. Everybody has to draw their own lines in the sand as to risk-reward ratios.

[avvidclif1]

jamjrks wrote:
Getting prepared to full time next July and trying to make certain that we have needed accessories for our 2011 Montana. My wife is convinced we need a storage skirt to enclose the area under the front of the fiver to keep bikes, chairs, etc protected from the weather. What's your experience with these skirts? My issue, on the other hand, is whether or not we should invest in a 50 amp surge guard. We have been part timers for almost 10 years and have yet to encounter a campground where we had voltage/amperage issues (at least to my knowledge). What's the consensus out there, is a $400 investment in a portable surge guard a common sense decision? Thanks for your feedback.

You forget the main rule of marriage; What momma wants momma gets, what you want is what momma lets you have.

[RckyMtnVia]

Get a surge protector and consider Progressive Industries product which has better specs and lower price: http://www.progressiveindustries.net/

[Chiefcpo]

9Creek in Heflin Al. has/had a overpower problem when we stayed there 250-260 volts (140 on the line monitor we plugged in the 20 amp circuit) The surge power guard kept tripping out. Talked to the owner he was aware of the problem and suggested we just unplug our protection. We did in in the morning and left.
Your property to protect. i protect mine.

[sail2liv]

Surge gard a must...get one that displays volts and amps.....that way you know what each appliance draws....auto reset nice when rain is coming down....why not spend a few hundred to protect 1000s in camper....no brainer for me

[sail2liv]

Surge gard a must...get one that displays volts and amps.....that way you know what each appliance draws....

[DutchmenSport]

We purchased our new Outback about 3 months ago now. On they day we took delivery we purchased the 30 amp version of the Surge Guard: and it's been plugged in every since. Had a new 30 amp line run at home and keep it plugged in to the protector all the time now.

It's kind of like adjusting to wearing seat belts for some of us older timers. We grew up in the era where seat belts were not required, then by law, we had to wear them much later. We all struggled and it felt very uncomfortable. But NOW, if the seat belt is not latched, it makes (me) feel unsecured, vulnerable, and exposed. I've never had a wreck in all my life and hope I never will. But when I sit in the car now, it just feels so much safer.

The exact is the same for my new surge protector! I can't believe I used 1 pup and 2 TT's without one now! I was "lucky" that nothing ever fried my TT circuits!

Get the protector. Once you use it, you'll feel the same way!

[greende]

Surge guard is a must. I have been contemplating a skirt for one major reason. The newer electric awnings are less durable than the manual ones. We often have to retract ours to prevent wind & rain damage. I'd like to just store everything there and not worry about it getting wet if we have to put the awning up.

[Old-Biscuit]

"....yet to encounter a campground where we had voltage/amperage issues(at least to my knowledge) ."

Then-in lies the problem.....you are not monitoring the voltage so you really don't know if it went hi/lo. With the proper EMS (Energy Management System) it will protect from surges, hi/lo voltage conditions, test the power source for proper wiring and with a remote you can see the voltage.

We FT and have one........it has shutdown power source on a couple of occasions due to LOW voltage conditions which can be very harmful to the A/C Unit motor(s). And it has identified a few power pedestal wiring problems----open neutral.

If you choose one get the Progressive Industries Brand----Lifetime Warranty (Surge Guard Brand only 1 year).

Skirting.........personal choice. I choose not to have one. We travel weekly vs prolonged stays and I just don't care about adding to my set-up/tear down routine.
Anything we have outside is OK to be outside...rain, snow, sleet and/or sunshine so I don't worry about them.

FT RVng is ALL about NOT worrying :B

[bad99ram]

I don't have a surge guard but I have had a storage skirt on my last two fifth wheels. As I am a winter Texan I use it when I am parked for a extended stay. We keep a small chest freezer, my fishing gear box and chairs ect underneath. We wouldn't be without it.