Power Conditioner vs Surge Protector?

[precioustime]

Trying to protect my brand new 2016 Fleetwood Storm Class A 30 amp rv against lightning damage. Is a power conditioner better? How is that bought? Does it require installation or is it an item you just plug into a receptacle? Any good brand out there?

[time2roll]

I have Progressive EMS now. Only use Frank's if EMS cuts power to my air conditioner. Has not been an issue in the last few years but still glad to have the option. Only used if I need air and have low voltage in our vast desert. Due to the breaker issue I run everything else on propane/solar/inverter when in Frank mode.

Supposed to have some surge protection and I would not count on much. Unplug if lightning is close and frequent.

[Almot]

Thanks SMK. So you do use Frank's device when continuous power is important?

[time2roll]

SoundGuy wrote:

2oldman wrote:
15 million watts would charge your batteries in short order.

Hey, it seemed to work pretty well for Marty McFly! :W

More like 1.21 gigawatts :B

[time2roll]

Almot wrote:
Is there anything like PD EMS with autoformer, that would keep it 110V+-few% and would only shut down when it can't keep it close to 110 anymore?

Frank's Superautomatic does that.
I have the 30 amp and I don't recommend it.

There is no delay to the power off-on cycle. Under the right circumstances I have seen it switch on-off-on-off in rapid succession.

Thermal circuit breaker rated 35 amps seems to trip way too easy if running 20+ amps continuous. Anyway it trips before the 30a pedestal or 30 amp RV main.

Voltage seems to hang high for too long as it will hold 128-129 volts when it could just bypass. Also my Kipor has a bit high voltage under no load so it has presented an issue if nothing is immediately on. For me it seems to cut off a bit early on the top side.

Mine is eight years old and not really used much although a few times it was really needed to correct low voltage and keep the air on.

[Almot]

smkettner wrote:
lightning? Best to just unplug when you hear thunder. An extra battery or two should get you through until the weather quiets down.

Otherwise I recommend Progressive Industries EMS.

http://www.progressiveindustries.net/#!rv-power--surge-hardwired/c1p4w

Unplugging will help with lightning-caused surge. There can also be a direct damage from the lightning bolt itself, and for this he would need a lightning rod with suppressor. Have seen it on permanent campsites, but on the movable rig - not sure.

Is there anything like PD EMS with autoformer, that would keep it 110V+-few% and would only shut down when it can't keep it close to 110 anymore?

[SoundGuy]

allenm wrote:
Not sure it's possible to actually protect from a 30,000 amp and 500,000 volt bolt of lightning short of a well grounded metal shed...

2oldman wrote:
15 million watts would charge your batteries in short order.

Hey, it seemed to work pretty well for Marty McFly! :W

[2oldman]

allenm wrote:
Not sure it's possible to actually protect from a 30,000 amp and 500,000 volt bolt of lightning short of a well grounded metal shed...

15 million watts would charge your batteries in short order.

[SoundGuy]

smkettner wrote:
lightning? Best to just unplug when you hear thunder. An extra battery or two should get you through until the weather quiets down.

We normally camp on electric sites, usually only dry camp without power when there's either no electric site available or we have managed to get one but for one reason or another the power isn't suitable or even quits, sometimes for hours or even a day or two. This seems to happen to us several times each season so last year I finally installed a 1000 watt PSW inverter so we at least have some limited access to 120 vac shore power when our campsite can't provide it. This year I plan to replace my aging G27 battery with a pair of G31 batteries that will significantly improve our ability to sustain ourselves without shore power for much longer periods of time. In the meantime, while we are without campsite power, my Progressive EMS-HW30C continues to monitor the line and will only restore power to the trailer once it's satisfied that all is well with that incoming power. And like most, if lighting is expected I'll unplug entirely and use my battery / inverter source instead to keep us going until the weather passes.

[allenm]

Despite the advertising hype and guarantees, these devices are mainly intended to protect from transient spikes that happen all day long on power lines from grid switching, heavy motors, etc. Some of the better ones also detect low voltage and either drop the line or boost the line a little.

Not sure it's possible to actually protect from a 30,000 amp and 500,000 volt bolt of lightning short of a well grounded metal shed...

[DFord]

Lightening protection and power conditioning are two vastly different unrelated subjects.

Power conditioning is used to clean-up "dirty" power and restore true 60 cycle power of the desired voltage.

[CJW8]

smkettner wrote:
lightning? Best to just unplug when you hear thunder. An extra battery or two should get you through until the weather quiets down.

Otherwise I recommend Progressive Industries EMS.

http://www.progressiveindustries.net/#!rv-power--surge-hardwired/c1p4w

X2

[SoundGuy]

To the OP - you're making this a lot more difficult than it needs to be. As others have pointed out there's nothing you'd be willing to pay for that would be any guarantee of protection from a nearby lighting strike ... the only practical solution when you expect that may happen is to unplug from the campsite power source. As I recommended in your other thread, just cut to the chase and invest in a Progressive Industires EMS-PT30C and be done with it. Sure, it may not be "perfect", may not protect your trailer 100% from "everything", but it's a darned sight better than doing nothing. If you're not in any particular hurry keep an eye on the Progressive website as the company from time to time does offer fairly decent sale prices on these products. As I recall the last sale was a "Superbowl Special", can't say when they might next do this, but sale prices are offered from time to time each year.

[jerseyjim]

Progressive Industries. Access the website find what you want, then go to TWEETYS.com.. Cheaper prices there.....

[pianotuna]

Nothing you can afford will protect you from a lightening strike.

Low voltage causes far more damage and it "sneaks up" on the user.

I'll hope to be getting an ISB Sola Basic 4000 VA unit this summer. It does boost and buck.