I'll have a good amount of high end audio recording equipment on our bus and need a surge protector. Is our best bet a portable one like this http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/portable-surge-guard-protectors-50-amp/73995 (http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/portable-surge-guard-protectors-50-amp/73995) or are there better options?
I wouldn't go that route myself just adds 2 more connections to give trouble in a few years. I installed a surge protector breaker in my main box got it from Amazon for under a 100 bucks
x2 - build-in your own name brand protection.
Nothing at an RV dealer is what I would protect professional audio equipment with.
You may want to also research an isolation transformer and what that might do for electrical noise?
The marine folks use them to isolate the boat from the shore.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
I have been very happy with Progressive Industries' EMS systems:
http://www.progressiveindustries.net/portable-surge-protectors (http://www.progressiveindustries.net/portable-surge-protectors)
Mine sniffs out more than just surges, but hi/low voltage, open ground, switched hot & neutral, etc.
It was expensive and is hard wired into the coach electrical system, but it has paid for itself saving me from shoddy campground power. They are now making portable units for under $100.
YMMV
Mike in GA
I see those are being discontinued
I love the idea of a whole house system, seems easy.
As explained to me when we had it happen. With all the newer electronics it is not so much the surge as it is the low voltage. We went to a campground at the Oregon coast. Very nice rv resort. Dumb me didn't even think about checking the pole which normally I always do with a Multi meter. Plugged in the 50 amp shore cord and went inside. I turned on the mains and after a few minutes looked at the meter on my panel and it was jumping between 55 and 92. I shut the main off. We asked to be moved and this time I check the pole and it was fine. Went in side and threw the mains and then went to heat up some coffee in the Microwave. It would not come on. Turned the tv on and it was gone. The AC on the refrigerator was gone. We both look at our computers and turned them on and they were ok. They were the only thing that was on those strip type surge protectors that plug into another outlet. So we got the outlet plugin type for all the things that require a surge protector as well as a low voltage protector. It just plugs into the outlet where you need it and the device plugs into it. Expensive lesson learned.
Point is check to make sure it protects both ways because more damage is done by a low voltage than a short spike up on these new things.
Dave5Cs
I installed the Progressive 50 amp hardwired and like it, plug into ac power and it checks the power and then you hear the transfer switch activate sending power to my ac panel. Digital gage shows what is happening. Might be expensive but what better protection than having to replace the microwave, frig, TV's and maybe more, especially if traveling on the road.
The progressive looks great. Would any electrician know how to install this or would I need an RV person?
Quote from: Dave5Cs on March 27, 2017, 11:06:57 AM
As explained to me when we had it happen. With all the newer electronics it is not so much the surge as it is the low voltage. We went to a campground at the Oregon coast. Very nice rv resort. Dumb me didn't even think about checking the pole which normally I always do with a Multi meter. Plugged in the 50 amp shore cord and went inside. I turned on the mains and after a few minutes looked at the meter on my panel and it was jumping between 55 and 92. I shut the main off. We asked to be moved and this time I check the pole and it was fine. Went in side and threw the mains and then went to heat up some coffee in the Microwave. It would not come on. Turned the tv on and it was gone. The AC on the refrigerator was gone. We both look at our computers and turned them on and they were ok. They were the only thing that was on those strip type surge protectors that plug into another outlet. So we got the outlet plugin type for all the things that require a surge protector as well as a low voltage protector. It just plugs into the outlet where you need it and the device plugs into it. Expensive lesson learned.
Point is check to make sure it protects both ways because more damage is done by a low voltage than a short spike up on these new things.
Dave5Cs
GREAT advice. Which model did you purchase?
My "Hybrid" pure sine wave Trace inverter guards against low campground voltage, and power surges. See my post on inverters.
--Geoff
Thanks Geoff!
We got 5 of these and just plug them in on all plugs that have electronic devices on them. They work great and have usb ports with them.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-Outlet-Surge-Protector-Ports/dp/B01BYO79UE/ref=pd_sim_23_6/155-4521017-1227354?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01BYO79UE&pd_rd_r=240SGBYT9E0VDE5TM8J9&pd_rd_w=yliKM&pd_rd_wg=0iNnn&psc=1&refRID=240SGBYT9E0VDE5TM8J9 (https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-Outlet-Surge-Protector-Ports/dp/B01BYO79UE/ref=pd_sim_23_6/155-4521017-1227354?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01BYO79UE&pd_rd_r=240SGBYT9E0VDE5TM8J9&pd_rd_w=yliKM&pd_rd_wg=0iNnn&psc=1&refRID=240SGBYT9E0VDE5TM8J9)
We were lucky and only had to replace the TV on sale Costco 32 inch 183.00
Refridge is a 3 way and only the AC went out and just got a new heating element 60.00
Wife found a brand new Microwave still in the box on Craigs List for 50.00.
could hhave been worse.
After Desert Coach fried everything in my coach 20 years ago I bought a 50A electrical protector similar to the one you describe. I mounted it permanently in the system after the land power cord. It checks over/under/dirty power and I don't know what else. (Works good, lasts a long time is my criteria). It checks any power coming in 15/20/30/50amp or whatever I have adapters for.
It does take 2min 15sec to do its checks which can seem a long time in the rain but it has never failed me.
I believe anyone that doesn't use one is literally playing with fire.
Seems it cost nearly $500 at the time but is probably less now.
Quote from: akroyaleagle on March 28, 2017, 09:15:18 AM
After Desert Coach fried everything in my coach 20 years ago I bought a 50A electrical protector similar to the one you describe. I mounted it permanently in the system after the land power cord. It checks over/under/dirty power and I don't know what else. (Works good, lasts a long time is my criteria). It checks any power coming in 15/20/30/50amp or whatever I have adapters for.
It does take 2min 15sec to do its checks which can seem a long time in the rain but it has never failed me.
I believe anyone that doesn't use one is literally playing with fire.
Seems it cost nearly $500 at the time but is probably less now.
Is this a plug in type or does it go in the circuit breaker box?
Is this a plug in type or does it go in the circuit breaker box?
It was a plug in type. I disconnected the power cable from the power supply box, put a female end on it and installed the protector permanently.
I installed this one -
http://www.adventurerv.net/permanent-surge-guard-120240v-hardwire-amp-34560-p-2760.html (http://www.adventurerv.net/permanent-surge-guard-120240v-hardwire-amp-34560-p-2760.html)
#1 - harder to leave behind if it is hard mounted to the coach.
#2 - too difficult to bypass when it won't approve the electrical power supply & you are hot & just want some AC.
So far, so good. Only had 1 instance where shore power wasn't good enough for it to connect. I plugged in the battery charger & just used the inverter & no AC.
Only had 1 instance where shore power wasn't good enough for it to connect.
Why would you elect to use the power after your protection refused it!
In my experience, the problem is usually a CGFI.
Quote from: akroyaleagle on March 30, 2017, 07:32:14 AM
Only had 1 instance where shore power wasn't good enough for it to connect.
Why would you elect to use the power after your protection refused it!
In my experience, the problem is usually a CGFI.
The 30A circuit was refused by the surge protector - The 15A circuit checked out as fine. When my coach is pluged in to just 15A the supply breaker will trip at inconvenient times. 15A will run the battery charger just fine AND the inverter takes care of the rest (as long as you don't need AC.
Quote from: Dave5Cs on March 27, 2017, 11:06:57 AM
As explained to me when we had it happen. With all the newer electronics it is not so much the surge as it is the low voltage. We went to a campground at the Oregon coast. Very nice rv resort. Dumb me didn't even think about checking the pole which normally I always do with a Multi meter. Plugged in the 50 amp shore cord and went inside. I turned on the mains and after a few minutes looked at the meter on my panel and it was jumping between 55 and 92. I shut the main off. We asked to be moved and this time I check the pole and it was fine. Went in side and threw the mains and then went to heat up some coffee in the Microwave. It would not come on. Turned the tv on and it was gone. The AC on the refrigerator was gone. We both look at our computers and turned them on and they were ok. They were the only thing that was on those strip type surge protectors that plug into another outlet. So we got the outlet plugin type for all the things that require a surge protector as well as a low voltage protector. It just plugs into the outlet where you need it and the device plugs into it. Expensive lesson learned.
Point is check to make sure it protects both ways because more damage is done by a low voltage than a short spike up on these new things.
Dave5Cs
Excellent advice! Thank you!