Surge protector need???

[RooVader]

I never used to have one but there was a clearance sale last year so I picked one up at a ridiculously low price. Late in the season there was a weird situation where a bunch of campers around me all had their AC kick on at the exact same time and it was like the electrical grid around me couldn't handle it. My surge protector cut power to my unit and threw up the warnings about an issue it was protecting me from.

Do I know I would have had a problem? No. Am I glad that I had the surge protector in place and as a result I definitely did not have a problem? Yes.

[grumpy0374]

All it takes is one time to make you a true believer.
Grumpy

[bareftn]

r

Originally Posted by dragon-roo

In my opinion, the more important protection is from improperly wired outlets and low/high voltage conditions. A simple tester from the hardware store and a pocket DVOM can tell you when you hook up if things are ok, at least at that point in time. As far as I have heard, the greatest cause of the voltage fluctuations in the campgrounds are when everyone is using their A/C units and they are all cycled on almost constantly. That is not so likely this time of year.

I have the same mindset as TURBS... My wife was not interested in learing what to check before plugging in and didn't want the hassle if she went somewhere on her own, so a Progressive Industries hardwired unit was worth every penny to me. The popup only had a control board on the furnace so there wasn't much to fry in it so I never bothered.

I would not cancel your trip. Just do like I used to with the popup. Pick up a circuit tester like one of these...


http://www.menards.com/main/electric...00782625430300

And you should have a cheap DVOM to keep in the camper anyway. You can get both for less than $20.

1. Plug circuit tester into outlet using a 30A adapter (i.e. test the 30A outlet not the 15A as I have seen one wired correct and the other backwards)
2. Read the lights and if it indicates good, test the voltage...
3. Put the DVOM on AC volts and you should have 105-128 volts.

I personally don't like to see as low as 105 but if you aren't running the A/C it would be fine. This is what I did for our first couple of trips before I could get our EMS installed.

I have never seen a adapter for a 30 amp outlet that you would pug your tester into like the one you show. I have seen 20 amp plug to 30 amp but not the other way around

[dragon-roo]

bareftn... I've had mine for over a decade so don't have any idea where I bought it... If you like ordering off of the internet

15 Amp RV Female to 30 Amp Male Adapter - Furrion I1531AD-RB - Electrical Adapters - Camping World

Otherwise I would think most decent dealerships have them.

[Flybob]

Most members recommend Progressive Industries. I would go camping. I would not get something less than PI just to have one for this trip. Order it today and have it for your next trip.

[Hemlock04]

Would you go with the surge protector for $109 or the power management system for $250?

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Hemlock04

Would you go with the surge protector for $109 or the power management system for $250?

Power management. has time delay for your A/C. Not to highjack But I just got my pendent, is everyone just loose in the box or did something break, and I need a new one? I'm talking about the LED read out screen, it just rattles around in it.

[dragon-roo]

Hemlock04... The best place to mount the unit in my Roo 19 was in behind a panel so I went with the power management model that had the remote readout - Progressive Industries RV Surge and Electrical Protection industry lea

If you don't need/want the remote readout Progressive Industries RV Surge and Electrical Protection industry lea has all of the same protection features and saves about $40.

gljurczyk... If the remote readout has parts rattling inside, that doesn't sound good If I remember correctly, there were some screws etc. shipped in a baggy inside the main unit and those might have bee rattling around but nothing loose inside the remote. Or do you have the one with the built in readout and that is loose? I'm not quite sure I fully understand.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by dragon-roo

Hemlock04... The best place to mount the unit in my Roo 19 was in behind a panel so I went with the power management model that had the remote readout - Progressive Industries RV Surge and Electrical Protection industry lea

If you don't need/want the remote readout Progressive Industries RV Surge and Electrical Protection industry lea has all of the same protection features and saves about $40.

gljurczyk... If the remote readout has parts rattling inside, that doesn't sound good If I remember correctly, there were some screws etc. shipped in a baggy inside the main unit and those might have bee rattling around but nothing loose inside the remote. Or do you have the one with the built in readout and that is loose? I'm not quite sure I fully understand.

NO I'm talking about the LED screen just rattling around inside the box it sits in. On the plug in remote readout

[dragon-roo]

Ok... dealing with a coffee shortage this morning, sorry 'bout that. On my remote the LED display does not move at all... If I'm still not getting it, hopefully someone else will chime in.

[Crabbyguy]

Quick question. For those that have the portable surge protector, isn't there the worry of it being stolen since it plugs into the pedestal? Are there ways to lock it?

[Flybob]

The PI has a locking loop that you can run a cable through if you are concerned. I have gotten used to placing a large black construction plastic bag upside down over the pedestal as it not only hides the SP, but it keeps the connections dry. Never had a problem, but there is no guarantee.

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by Crabbyguy

Quick question. For those that have the portable surge protector, isn't there the worry of it being stolen since it plugs into the pedestal? Are there ways to lock it?

It has an aluminum ring that you can secure a cable lock through and wrap to the pedestal. That said, any thief could make quick work of the ring. This is why a lot of folks recommend a internal install. I know that is what we will do on the Berk.

That said, having camped over 120 days over the past 3 years since buying our portable unit, we have never had a problem, nor has anyone messed with our EMS.

Handy thing about a portable EMS is, if you are a rally coordinator at a unfamiliar campground, you can go around to all the pedestals and check the power before folks begin to arrive -- that saved me on a couple of rallies!

[dragon-roo]

That's a great idea BamaBob! I went with the hardwired since I new that the wife was not going to want to deal with it.

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by BamaBob

It has an aluminum ring that you can secure a cable lock through and wrap to the pedestal. That said, any thief could make quick work of the ring. This is why a lot of folks recommend a internal install. I know that is what we will do on the Berk.

That said, having camped over 120 days over the past 3 years since buying our portable unit, we have never had a problem, nor has anyone messed with our EMS.

Handy thing about a portable EMS is, if you are a rally coordinator at a unfamiliar campground, you can go around to all the pedestals and check the power before folks begin to arrive -- that saved me on a couple of rallies!

Only thing I have heard or seen ppl try to take and most of them are renters is firewood out of truck beds, not much theft in the 20 or so campgrounds I go to that I know of, that being said I like the internal PI 30p just because it is one less thing to have to connect and carry

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by dragon-roo

That's a great idea BamaBob! I went with the hardwired since I new that the wife was not going to want to deal with it.

Thanks. I also agree hardwired is the way to go for the same reason - one less piece of junk to hookup and unhook when setting/breaking camp!

It would be very cool if you could just get a "pedestal tester" that would just give you the readouts from the PI EMS without the protection electronics! (yes I KNOW I can do this with a VTVOM, I just want a simple solution I could pass on to a helper with little to zero knowledge about how to operate a voltmeter )

[dragon-roo]

I know what you mean. In my case substitute the word wife, for helper

[Crabbyguy]

Thanks all! I haven't used one for the past 20+ years of camping and now you have me thinking. I smell something burning..........

[dragon-roo]

That is one of my biggest problems with this forum... almost every time I read a new thread I get to thinking and have that burning smell also...

[BandJCarm]

I Have the portable 30 amp EMS. I've sold the TT and buying a 5'er, of course 50 amp. So I need a new 50 amp EMS from PI.

I like the portable, but do see benefit of fixed system. Hmmm.

So.......is there any benefit to keeping the 30 amp for any reason??? I don't see any reason to have two, but I already have this 30 amp...... any reason to keep it, or better to sell it?