Surge Protector

[LaTriker]

I have a 50 amp Surge Guard that is 7 years old. I am selling it to a friend because I now need a 30 amp. My question is a 7 year old surge protector okay to sell or should I just throw it away. If it is still okay, what is it worth?

[SoundGuy]

GordonThree wrote:
The rigs with a hard wired EMS, can you replace just the surge module?

Sure. Here's a pic of my own Progressive EMS-HW30C - surge protection circuit board with MOVs is top left in this pic.



If it needs replacement Progressive will be happy to mail out a replacement, no need to send the EMS to them.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Only an EMS that costs more than your rig can deal with instantaneous power SURGES (time limited), high or low voltages. My home complete protection system is a military grade + - 40% ferroresonant voltage adjuster plus a 30 amp 240vac rated full isolation transformer.

A miracle?

Hardly.

The unit is as big as a sea chest; 160 lbs and eats 160 watts at idle. I use it when protecting a (then) $15.000 Tektronix oscilloscope.

Gordon Three hits the nail on the head.

My constructed surge protectors use TEN EACH

20 mm 190-volt MOVs
1,500-watt TVS
AND AND AND
3 amp rated Bussman "rice grain fuses. INDIVIDUAL fuses.

I know of no commercial "surge protector" that can compare it's longevity to such massive overkill. And longevity is why this thing exists.

Bussman rice-grain dedicated fuses are EXPENSIVE. But a blown fuse means a discrete component failure so the system is field repairable. The 150-amp Meanwell manual charger I am building has such a system. No chew-and-spit technology. Shi^^^ from China clogs landfills.

Serious buss-board MOVs can cost eighty dollars each. But in an RV grade environment would last a long time, unless their peak-to-peak voltage limit was exceeded longer than what they are rated for.

My military grade sola eats more power than a red headed stepchild

There are no free lunches. Choose your compromise...........................

[GordonThree]

maddog348 wrote:
How do you test a surge protector ?? OR is there a mandatory 'toss it' date??

There is no reliable way to test one that an average Joe would have access to.

There isn't a mandatory date, maybe a good way to look at it would be hours in service? Unless your power supply is filthy, it should last for years.

If I were into camping a lot of locations with shore power, I would replace mine every 5-6 years.

Yes they're expensive, no they don't last forever. Which is cheaper, a new surge protector or all new appliances?

The rigs with a hard wired EMS, can you replace just the surge module?

[maddog348]

How do you test a surge protector ?? OR is there a mandatory 'toss it' date??

[2oldman]

My surge protector will destroy itself.

[LaTriker]

Thanks for the replies. I stand corrected on calling the Surge Guard a “surge protector”. It is much more. Due to age, I will just give it to my friend.

[cavie]

Do your research. A surge protector is just that and nothing more. Protects against surges only. It is a one hit wonder. On hit and it destroys it's self.

EMS is mostly all inclusive. Checks wiring, high and low voltage and turns it's self on and off. a surge protector cannot do any of that.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Electronics age unless you see the power cord laying loose.

MOVs eat themselves and TVS geat weaker and weaker until a blip comes along and shorts it out. That's why I load my suppression circuitry until a hippo of a transient comes along, tries it n for size and then gags on it.

[2oldman]

Nothing like having to back out of a deal. I hate when that happens

[GordonThree]

There's no reason you can't use a 50 amp surge protector on a 30 amp circuit.

Does it have a diagnostic LED on it, that says the surge protection is working? Surge protectors do get "used up", the components inside take damage instead of letting it pass along to the RV, so they don't last forever.

It's electronic technology, and seven years old might as well be 20 years.

If it were me, I would just give it to a friend if they needed it and I didn't - an old unit is better than nothing, but it could be a false sense of security.

[Acampingwewillg]

Why would you just not keep the 50 amp model...you know it will work on a 30 amp pedestal? Right? It will!!!

I've had mine for about 12 years!!!

[Lwiddis]

Too old for my comfort.