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03-31-2018, 11:51 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 8
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Surge Protector?
How important is an external surge protector beyond what already came stock in my V-Lite’s electrical system? And then of course, what kind? Advice is appreciated, label speculation as such. Thanks!
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03-31-2018, 12:27 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Quincy, WA
Posts: 1,506
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I use a Surge Guard unit. 50 amp.
My thoughts are the onboard system on most units are surge only. They do not protect "sags" or gradual increases of the incoming power. Also many do not verify that the pedestal is properly wired before allowing power to go to the RV.
The "higher end" externals completely check the pedestal and verify voltage levels before allowing power to pass. A 50 amp version is in the 350 to 400 dollar range. Much cheaper than the built in at near 1000.
If you have a sag that is significant enough you could damage AC units and other electronics. Again the external is a cheaper replacement as compared to the cost of the built in surge only unit and all of your electronics.
Just my 2 cents.
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Ken and Kathy Redburn
2018 DX3 37TS (The Taj)
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03-31-2018, 12:55 PM
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#3
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Just as confused as you
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: south central Wisconsin
Posts: 5,108
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Most of us that have been RV'ing for some time use Electrical Management System (EMS). Progressive Industries, Inc. | Rv Surge Protection.
They make portable and hard-wired versions for 30 Amp and 50 Amp service. They also have the best warranty.
__________________
Richard & Jill
2014 Flagstaff 832IKBS Classic Super Lite
2018 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Z71 4WD All Star Edition
Camping since 1989, Seasonal since 2000.
Car Shredder Op/Tech, Scrap Metal Recycling - retired
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03-31-2018, 12:55 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale Ma
Posts: 4,823
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donalles
How important is an external surge protector beyond what already came stock in my V-Lite’s electrical system? And then of course, what kind? Advice is appreciated, label speculation as such. Thanks!
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A surge protector is just. That it protects from electric surges only. An EMS is an Electric Management System. It reads the electric circuit for correct wiring at the pedestal, measures the voltage leg to leg, leg to neutral, leg to ground. I believe the range is 110 to 130 but I may be wrong. It will turn off your system in the event of low voltage and high voltage. It will turn it back on when all is corrected. A surge protector can do none of that. A surge will only protect from a very high spike in incoming voltage.
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03-31-2018, 01:29 PM
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#5
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Canadian Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Eastern GTA, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,235
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Personally, I don't know that we've ever seen a surge and maybe high voltage once. We've seen low voltage enough (via the PI EMS) that I decided to add a Hughes Autoformer to increase voltage to an acceptable number. With the Autoformer, the EMS doesn't see low voltage now, so it doesn't shut off power because of that condition.
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2023 Rockwood Signature 8262RBS
2016 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCrew, 6.2L, 4x4, 6'9" bed
2019 Rockwood Signature 8290BS (2019 - 2022)
2011 Rockwood Signature 8293SS (2015 - 2018)
2010 Rockwood Roo 23SS (2012 - 2014)
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03-31-2018, 01:42 PM
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#6
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Just as confused as you
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: south central Wisconsin
Posts: 5,108
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Also a surge is a sudden increase in voltage to high levels. A surge often times will be anywhere from a few volts(usually 50v higher than normal) to hundreds of volts. A surge protector will not detect a gradual rise in voltage. The EMS will shut the power off if the voltage falls below 104v or rises above 132v.
Here is the Error Code chart for the EMS-HW30 and HW50 hard-wired units.
__________________
Richard & Jill
2014 Flagstaff 832IKBS Classic Super Lite
2018 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Z71 4WD All Star Edition
Camping since 1989, Seasonal since 2000.
Car Shredder Op/Tech, Scrap Metal Recycling - retired
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03-31-2018, 01:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,865
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How important is it?????? It is like insurance if something goes wrong it is great to have.
35 years of camping never had one never needed one. Not saying that is a good or bad idea just fact in our case.
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2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
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03-31-2018, 02:03 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Port Charlotte Fl/Hinsdale Ma
Posts: 4,823
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrapper
Also a surge is a sudden increase in voltage to high levels. A surge often times will be anywhere from a few volts(usually 50v higher than normal) to hundreds of volts. A surge protector will not detect a gradual rise in voltage. The EMS will shut the power off if the voltage falls below 104v or rises above 132v.
Here is the Error Code chart for the EMS-HW30 and HW50 hard-wired units.
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Now I know the voltage range. Thank you.
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03-31-2018, 06:51 PM
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#9
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Just as confused as you
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: south central Wisconsin
Posts: 5,108
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cavie
Now I know the voltage range. Thank you.
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Many people don't know what exactly a surge is. I was just trying to point out what a surge is compared to high voltage. I know you have worked in the electricity field for some time.
What you and I both failed to say was that a surge happens in milliseconds, not over time as high voltage would. Many times people don't know they have been hit with a surge unless problems start showing up.
__________________
Richard & Jill
2014 Flagstaff 832IKBS Classic Super Lite
2018 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Z71 4WD All Star Edition
Camping since 1989, Seasonal since 2000.
Car Shredder Op/Tech, Scrap Metal Recycling - retired
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04-01-2018, 07:27 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 125
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I've always thought it makes sense as cheap insurance to have one. We have a Progressive EMS and it's by far cheaper than any appliance you could replace.
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2016 F250 Super cab long bed
2018 Rockwood 8327SS
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