Thoughts on the 'need' factor of a main line surge protector

[Matt1221]

What are your thoughts on a surge protector I have a 50amp hookup & the parts department highly recommended one. Not sure if because the just wanted to sell me something or if there are alot of issues with sensitive electronics or what?

[spoon059]

We had a campground with low voltage a couple years ago. We have an EMS that warned us and shut down power. Without it, we probably wouldn't have known and possibly fried our AC compressor. That was worth the price of the unit, right there.

[CA_Traveler]

And my HW50C was free. As in it paid for inself in 2004 before I moved it to the current RV at no cost.

[CA_Traveler]

I especially like the Prior Error Code of the HW50C, meaning that when I return to the RV I can check it and then take be pro active to CG power.

Prior Error as in it occured and corrected since there is no current error.

Like low voltage occurred at least once due to many A/Cs running.

And with the remote inside - so easy to check.

[CapnCampn]

ExxWhy wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

naturist wrote:

people will spend $5000 for FBP to impress the neighbors but not a
bumpy

FBP ??? I tried, came up with federal bureau of prisons. Friends of Border Patrol?

I think Full Body Paint?

Freakin' Bodacious Patio-light?

🙂

Too many TLAs.

.
.
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Three Letter Acronyms

And I don't have an EMS. Plugging in is a rarity for me.

CC

[bpounds]

2012Coleman wrote:

bpounds wrote:
Folks who have them, have already convinced themselves that you must get one.

Meanwhile, by my estimate the other 90% if us are getting along just fine without one.

I think you got your percentages turned around. The progressive Industries EMS is so much more that a surge protector. I've been helped by mine more than once for stuff besides electrical surges. I won't go into specifics for all you 10 percenters...

Okay, your percentages are just as good as mine, since I just made up a number. I don't think we will find an RV industry survey to tell us the EMS ratio. Just observations is all I have, and I rarely speak with anyone who has installed one. My point above was, those who have decided that they are a must-have item, jump on threads like this. Those who don't, tend to not bother discussing something they don't find important.

Another reference point would be how rarely they are offered on new RV units as primary options. If typical folks felt strongly about that insurance, I'm sure the manufacturers would jump at the opportunity to offer an upgrade.

I'm sure an EMS is much more popular added to higher end rigs. There is a lot more to lose, so insurance becomes more desirable. An EMS is simply that - insurance. Some folks put more faith in it than others.

[GrandpaKip]

Our EMS has saved us several times from low voltage and once from high voltage. Never would have known without it and maybe would be wondering why my A/C failed later on.
But then, ignorance is bliss, right?
Same thing as all those spotdoodles that don’t wear a seatbelt.

[ExxWhy]

Bumpyroad wrote:

naturist wrote:

people will spend $5000 for FBP to impress the neighbors but not a
bumpy

FBP ??? I tried, came up with federal bureau of prisons. Friends of Border Patrol?

[Bobbo]

naturist wrote:

gbopp wrote:
I didn't think a surge protector was necessary until lightning struck a tree about 15' from our Southwind. We were in a CG at the time.
It's just another type of insurance.

I’m questioning how much good any surge protector would be against a lightning strike only 15 feet away. They are great for miss wired campgrounds but the typical energy dump in a lightning strike is enormous.

The implication being that if it won't protect from a lightening strike 15 feet away, I just won't protect from ANY electrical problem? I disagree. Last year I was in a campground when there was a lightening strike. It hit a Class A RV. Not 15 feet away, right through the roof into the asphalt below. Left a big hole in the RV and asphalt. (No one was in it at the time so no one was hurt.) There is ALWAYS something that can't be protected from, but that does not mean you don't protect from whatever you can. Especially when the cost is so minimal.

[Bumpyroad]

naturist wrote:


I’m questioning how much good any surge protector would be against a lightning strike only 15 feet away. They are great for miss wired campgrounds but the typical energy dump in a lightning strike is enormous.

don't know about 15 ft. but it was so close that everything shook. when I looked outside, my RV was one of the few in the campground that still had electricity. people will spend $5000 for FBP to impress the neighbors but not a few hundred for protection.
and as stated, do not get the $90 special, get a full function one.
bumpy

[2012Coleman]

bpounds wrote:
Folks who have them, have already convinced themselves that you must get one.

Meanwhile, by my estimate the other 90% if us are getting along just fine without one.

I think you got your percentages turned around. The progressive Industries EMS is so much more that a surge protector. I've been helped by mine more than once for stuff besides electrical surges. I won't go into specifics for all you 10 percenters...

[Bears_Den]

I for one like the piece of mind that my rig is protected. I have had one incident where lightening struck near by and it fried my power cord right to the surge protector. Nothing was damaged in the TT but I did need to replace my 30 amp power cord and the protector.

[time2roll]

Matt1221 wrote:
What are your thoughts on a surge protector I have a 50amp hookup & the parts department highly recommended one. Not sure if because the just wanted to sell me something or if there are alot of issues with sensitive electronics or what?

Don't just get a surge protector... get the full EMS power protection.

Otherwise stuff can be fixed but time spent in the shop instead of camping cannot be recovered.

I recommend to unplug if a strong electrical storm is headed your way.

[ScottG]

naturist wrote:

gbopp wrote:
I didn't think a surge protector was necessary until lightning struck a tree about 15' from our Southwind. We were in a CG at the time.
It's just another type of insurance.

I’m questioning how much good any surge protector would be against a lightning strike only 15 feet away. They are great for miss wired campgrounds but the typical energy dump in a lightning strike is enormous.

Probably do no good at all and if it does take the hit and tries to dump it to ground then the EMS is going to fail as well.
When in a lightening storm, unplug.

[naturist]

gbopp wrote:
I didn't think a surge protector was necessary until lightning struck a tree about 15' from our Southwind. We were in a CG at the time.
It's just another type of insurance.

I’m questioning how much good any surge protector would be against a lightning strike only 15 feet away. They are great for miss wired campgrounds but the typical energy dump in a lightning strike is enormous.

[Bobbo]

Ductape wrote:
My practice is to insure where it’s required by law or for items I cannot afford to replace. Nothing inside the RV meets that for us. I’ve never owned one, nor suffered any damage in four decades of RVing.

A translation:I have been lucky for four decades. Do you feel lucky?