You do have a surge protector don't you???

jackhartjr · 06-22-2022, 07:24 PM

Hi folks, for years I always said that I wouldn't buy a high priced surge protector!
Then a friend lost a $600.00 converter! I bought one.

We checked in at Bristol Dragway Thursday., our surge protector said there was a problem.
(You do have a surge protector???)
The guys came out, changed a circuit breaker, still the same thing. He said it was our surge protector. I hooked it up on 30amp, it worked fine.
He then reluctantly changed the plug, working fine on 50amp!
Don't ever settle for the, "its your surge protector or camper" crap

Wonder what could have happened if I had just plugged it in!

itat · 06-22-2022, 07:32 PM

I have had a Progressive Industries hard wired EMS in my last 3 campers. It’s one of the first mods I do now. I have 30A and 50A testers that I use before I plug in the trailer.

jackhartjr · 06-22-2022, 07:40 PM

Actually, he used a meter after putting the new circuit breaker in and said it was fine. But the surge protector said otherwise!

bob213 · 06-22-2022, 07:50 PM

We were camping last weekend at a "resort" we had never been to. The paperwork we got at check-in actually recommended a surge protector. (I'm sure it was a CYA move on the resort's part.)I have to admit that I had never seen this before. What really surprised me was how few in our group used anything and of the ones that did, thought they were fully protected with just a "surge protector". The PI EMS mentioned above is at the top of my list with Hughes Bulldog and Surgegard EMS units not far behind.

Reverse_snowbird · 06-22-2022, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhartjr

Actually, he used a meter after putting the new circuit breaker in and said it was fine. But the surge protector said otherwise!

You can buy a small surge protector for around $60 which can be used to test the post before you plug in. It's most useful for those who have onboard surge protectors.
We were early adopters of EMS surge protectors and plenty of people did a double take when they saw it. We educated a lot of people on what low voltage could do to your appliances.

itat · 06-22-2022, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhartjr

Actually, he used a meter after putting the new circuit breaker in and said it was fine. But the surge protector said otherwise!

I’m curious what the problem was that your unit saw that he didn’t see? And what we’re his qualifications to be the maintenance guy for their electrical system?

jackhartjr · 06-22-2022, 08:17 PM

I'm not sure what it saw, I suspect that it was a wire at the plug, it has been there for many years. I wondered also, if he had simply tightened the four wires at the plug prior to replacing it, would that have fixed it.
I do not know his qualifications.

jackhartjr · 06-22-2022, 08:18 PM

Thanks Reverse Snowbird, I will get one!

tomkatb · 06-22-2022, 09:24 PM

In about 50 weeks in our fifth wheel. We have seen issues about 8 times.

I believe it might be a good plan!

We have a plug in ems.

4 power failures.
1 low voltage. Went on for two days. A dozen times the ems cut us off and then restarted. Irritating.
3-wiring issues.

We are poor at making reservations. The DW is good at finding small mom and pop parks. Big fancy new expensive places seem less prone to issues.

emm-dee · 06-22-2022, 10:06 PM

Curious as to which CG had the problem..

jackhartjr · 06-23-2022, 07:10 AM

If you are talking about mine, it was the Medallion Campground at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Electra glide · 06-23-2022, 08:24 AM

I have a hard wired PI EMS on mine.

itat · 06-23-2022, 08:48 AM

My PI EMS has seen low voltage frequently enough that I bought a Hughes Autoformer to boost the voltage so the EMS doesn’t cut power. The low voltages have been experienced anywhere from provincial parks’ campgrounds to resort campgrounds. I think the PI EMS cuts power when you get below 104 volts. It’s bad if you get to that low. I’ve also seen high voltage once and an improperly wired pedestal at least once. A neighbour had a hot skin condition meaning the frame and chassis were electrified. So my experience has been that its worth having the EMS.

cboss · 06-23-2022, 08:53 AM

I would not be without our hardwired, onboard, PI 50 amp EMS. It has saved us a few times, but even if it's one time it probably paid for itself.

Scubanut · 06-23-2022, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhartjr

Hi folks, for years I always said that I wouldn't buy a high priced surge protector!
Then a friend lost a $600.00 converter! I bought one.

We checked in at Bristol Dragway Thursday., our surge protector said there was a problem.
(You do have a surge protector???)
The guys came out, changed a circuit breaker, still the same thing. He said it was our surge protector. I hooked it up on 30amp, it worked fine.
He then reluctantly changed the plug, working fine on 50amp!
Don't ever settle for the, "its your surge protector or camper" crap

Wonder what could have happened if I had just plugged it in!

I’m in a provincial park at this moment and my EMS appears to be doing its job. The pedestal on my site appears fine. No errors on the EMS when I plug in but it does kick off the power after a while. No error code but display just flashes some lines. I unplug and it resets and works for a while then kicks off again.
I plugged into the outlet to the site next to me on the same pedestal. It works fine on that one, not even sure I can explain it to the park office.

I have tried it multiple times same results each time.

NMWildcat · 06-23-2022, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scubanut

I’m in a provincial park at this moment and my EMS appears to be doing its job. The pedestal on my site appears fine. No errors on the EMS when I plug in but it does kick off the power after a while. No error code but display just flashes some lines. I unplug and it resets and works for a while then kicks off again.
I plugged into the outlet to the site next to me on the same pedestal. It works fine on that one, not even sure I can explain it to the park office.

I have tried it multiple times same results each time.

They (EMS) can go bad. Call the manufacturer tech line. No error, but kicking off power is not normal.

jimmarako · 06-23-2022, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhartjr

I'm not sure what it saw, I suspect that it was a wire at the plug, it has been there for many years. I wondered also, if he had simply tightened the four wires at the plug prior to replacing it, would that have fixed it.
I do not know his qualifications.

When you say surge protector you mean EMS type device I assume? Was it throwing an error code? Not turning on? Other?

Jim M.

Scubanut · 06-23-2022, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

They (EMS) can go bad. Call the manufacturer tech line. No error, but kicking off power is not normal.

Good point
I may just do that but it is weird that it works fine at home and works fine on another outlet.

itat · 06-23-2022, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scubanut

Good point
I may just do that but it is weird that it works fine at home and works fine on another outlet.

If it shuts off power it should show a code. If it doesn’t show a code then it’s not working properly although it may be protecting you as intended. Give them call and see what they say.

SailorSam20500 · 06-23-2022, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomkatb

Big fancy new expensive places seem less prone to issues.

I was just at a fancy expensive place in San Antonio. Electrician had just replaced the pedestal. 30 amp and 50->30 dog bone adapter were both pushing 240 volts. Campground manager called his electrician and told him to come back and fix it. Then he moved us to another site.

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