Surge Protectors or not??

avvidclif1 wrote:

westom wrote:

trustymopars wrote:
The mechanics in the shop think that the Progressive unit probably saved the camper.

Nothing there says a Progressive did something. A conclusion starts by defining which anomalies (surges) are addressed by that Progressive model. And by tracing an incoming and outgoing path for that surge.

It is electricity. To have damage means both an incoming and a completely different outgoing path must exist. For example, an AC mains surge would be incoming to everything. But only one item also has an outgoing path. Only that item is damaged.

What was the incoming and outgoing path? Obviously cable was either an incoming or an outgoing. So, what path connected to an earth ground electrode? If a mechanic cannot say, then he has nothing to justify a conclusion.

Unfortunately that is what most do. Most forget how electricity works (an always required incoming and outgoing path). Then assume it protects from all kinds of surges only because surge protector sounds like surge protection.

If a Progressive provided that protection, then that mechanic defined a low impedance (ie less than 10 foot) connection from that incoming surge wire and outgoing to earth.

A surge could have been incoming to everything. Since it found a best path to earth via something, then everything else was protected.

Where was a short as possible (ie single digit feet)connection from a Progressive to earth? Progressive has a high reputation because it addresses completely different anomalies (also called surges) often found in campgrounds. What fact justified that mechanic's solution?

Same answer also says how to avoid future damage.

What was that all about??? The mechanics made a statement that no-one knows what they based it on. If there were numerous other campers that suffered damage thru the campground connectionss then I would say they made a valid point.

Ditto. Sounds like trustymopar's lightning hit was pretty substantial. When confronted with a massive surge, the circuitry in some surge protectors are designed to self-destruct, "open", stopping all current flow.

It's very possible the "mechanic" may have looked inside the EMS, noticed the damage, and concluded the EMS probably played a part in protecting some of the electronics in trustymopar's rig. IMO, a reasonable assumption to make.