Surge Protectors

[iquilt888]

I recently bought a class A motor home.

I've heard that surge protectors are a necessary item. I'm not sure they are. If there is anyone with an idea on this please jump right in.

Once folks do jump in can you address the portable vs the hard wired.

Thanks so much.

[JaBob]

I believe after just one incident in 10 years.

Bob

[rockhillmanor]

I've lived in my house for over 20 years. Haven't had a fire or hit by a tornado......I still carry house insurance.

[Chuck_Gail]

Never had one yet. No troubles in well over 100,000 miles and many years.

[RayChez]

Dennis M M wrote:
Go to http://www.progressiveindustries.net right now, get an EMS and relax.

Just FYI, one of our neighbors last winter had a melt down on his plug. The subsequent short burned out his power cable AND a 42" flat scree TV. A plan old surge protector would not have helped.

How can you burn the TV? Doesn't the coach have any circuit breakers. If you have an AC direct short a circuit breaker should trip. And if it is a DC direct short, then a fuse will blow.

So I just do not understand how you guys can come up with some stories like that.

Actually the circuit breaker from where shore power was connected should have tripped.

[RayChez]

I have a 50 amp Smart Surge protector manufactured by Progressive. It has lights to alert you if the shore power you are about to hook up to is wired correct Naturally it will protect your coach if there is a spike or surge. It also will not all any current past the protector if the voltage is too low on the shore power.

Anyways it has worked for us many times alerting as to how the polarity is on some of these RV parks.

[DSDP_Don]

Over the years I had a slide-in camper, Class C, Class A gasser and now a DP. We didn't install a surge protector until we bought the DP. It's a matter of how much electronic equipment you have. My slide-in camper had a portable TV, the CLass C had a cheapie 19" TV and really nothing else. Even my gasser didn't have that much in the way of electronics. My DP is a different story. It has an inverter, Home Theater, 2 A/C's, two TV's, satellite and a few other things that need protection.

My opinion is it's like insurance as another poster stated. If I have a $500.00 car I have liability only. If I have a new Lexus, I carry full coverage.

With that said, I have the SurgeGuard hard wired unit. It has worked well and shut the power down on a couple of occasions where the voltage dropped too low. The first time I used it, it told me my home wiring was wrong. If I were to buy one today, I would buy the Progressive unit because it has more bells and whistles.

I believe camping should be easy, so mine is hard wired. I think everything you add to setting up camp just takes away from your camping time and enjoyment. If you buy the portable unit, you not only have to connect it, but you have to worry about locking it.

[ScottG]

I've been RVing for about 24 years and never needed one. But, I camp mostly locally and in the same dozen or so CG's. If I were traveling around the country staying at different places all the time I would have the best SP money could buy.

[Dennis_M_M]

Go to http://www.progressiveindustries.net right now, get an EMS and relax.

Just FYI, one of our neighbors last winter had a melt down on his plug. The subsequent short burned out his power cable AND a 42" flat scree TV. A plan old surge protector would not have helped.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

There are no stupid questions.

If you have thirty amp the likelihood of over voltage connections drops dramatically. Correspondingly low voltage may be a concern. Since the current "crop" of brown out protection is way too low at 103 volts it would be better to get an autoformer rather than a surge guard.

[Ranger_Smith]

iquilt888 wrote:
I realize this is a stupid question but I figure if I don't ask it will be a truly stupid expensive question.

I have a 30 amp plug. So getting a surge protector for anything above that, like a 50 amp, would be a waste? However, I have been places where we've had to use an adapter to plug in our 30 amp.

I believe the 30 amp model is on sale too. 30 Amp Surge Guard

[iquilt888]

I realize this is a stupid question but I figure if I don't ask it will be a truly stupid expensive question.

I have a 30 amp plug. So getting a surge protector for anything above that, like a 50 amp, would be a waste? However, I have been places where we've had to use an adapter to plug in our 30 amp.

[Ranger_Smith]

Here ya go. Camping world has them on sale 50 Amp Surge Protector

Picked one up today

[rockhillmanor]

Surge protectors range from $80.00 to $400.00.
$3,000 to replace the AC, converter, micro etc damaged from a power surge. Do the math.

Been there done that I KNOW what it costs to replace those items as well as many other forum members with the nerve to post about it.

[Bob___Ann]

You don't have to have it and you don't have to have insurance. A surge Prtector is very cheap insurance. We have a Surge Guard and it saved us twice last year on a three month trip to the Rockies. When we were in the Tetons lightening struck a tree about 75 feet from us and the surge guard kicked out. Another time it tripped in a campground with a brown out. It is not only the expensive repairs that I am trying to prevent. If something fries your system and you are on vacation you are totally shut down and out of business.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

If you are on 50 amp it may be a good idea. I prefer to check the voltage myself. You would need to make a break out box and use these two items.

kill-a-watt

watt meter



Outlet tester.

outlet tester



It may be better to look at surge protected autoformers, before using something that cripples the use of the electrical system by cutting off the power at what may be too low a voltage to prevent damage to electric motors. My comfort level is 109 volts or above.