Surge Protectors???

[mitch5252]

walk away?

they'd have to take my whole camper or cut the cord! Mine pulls out of the side of the camper, like every other camper I've owned. Is yours different? Now you have me wondering.....

Good morning, Cedar! My power cord unplugs from the trailer completely and is stored in an outside locker. I didn't know any power cords were hard-wired into the trailer. How does it retract back in?

[Cedar518]

Hi Mitch,... I've previously owned three 5ths, two popups and shared a TT and a 4th 5th and never had one that came off like that. My Chalet has one that is like the ones I have had before,... pulls out and has a very small opening, perhaps 4" diameter with a little flip door that closes over it. When you unhook you just slide it back in. It is not spring loaded. Just folds in upon itself in a compartment under the dinette seat. I don't think I'd want one that comes off.... like you say, it could "walk!"

[VickieP]

Okay, (just lost my last post so I'll try it again and hopefully not have a repeat), now, my TH is 50amp, but will run on 30amp, if I were to purchase a 50amp surge protector and connect it between the 50amp cord and the 30amp reducer, would that work or would I need a 30amp surge protector when connected to 30amp power source? What yall think?

[retiredhappy]

Vicki, that's a tough one. I would probably call an RV repair place and ask or call your manufacturer (if they're still in business these days.) When you find out let all of us know. When I'm at my home park in Kerrville I actually step UP to a 50amp site.

[mitch5252]

Okay, (just lost my last post so I'll try it again and hopefully not have a repeat), now, my TH is 50amp, but will run on 30amp, if I were to purchase a 50amp surge protector and connect it between the 50amp cord and the 30amp reducer, would that work or would I need a 30amp surge protector when connected to 30amp power source? What yall think?

I just got my Surge Guard a few minutes ago - man, it's bigger than I thought it was! Anyway, Vicki, here is a quote from the manufacturer's web site that may be what you're looking for (it was in their pdf training manual).

Q: Can Rvers use a 50A/30A adapter plug with their 50A Surge Guard and hook up to a 30A power pedestal?

A: Yes; however, their RV is wired with two 50A/120V circuits for a total of 100Amps while the 30A power pedestal will only provide a total of 30Amps
of power. Subsequently, only a limited number of appliances can be operated without causing circuit breakers on the power pedestal to be
thrown. The Surge Guard will provide the protection; however, the Rver may experience inconvenience due to the limited power.

Here's the entire pdf training section link:

http://www.trci.net/assets/pdfs/SURGE%20GUARD%20Training.pdf

Hope this help!

Michelle


.

[VickieP]

Thanks Mitch, that was good timing for you to get yours today So the way I understand it, there wouldn't be any difference in any other time when connected to 30amp service, you are limited to what you use. My concern was, if it protected you from low power as well as high power surges, would it go off because the 30amp was lower than 50amps, but that answered my question just fine. Whew, I was wondering with those prices which one to get because there are alot of CG that don't have 50amp service, still. Lord knows I can't afford 2 of them suckers!

[mitch5252]

Low or high voltage is low or high voltage, no matter what the amps are. If we were side by side, you with your 50, me with my 30, and a low voltage condition occurred, if this expensive little piece of equipment does its job, both of our rigs would be without power in a millisecond, and thus protected.

The difference between our two units is the amount of protection - you have 700 joules more protection than mine. I don't know practical information about a joule. Just that it has something to do with an amp and resistance and some other crap I don't understand (although I should - I'm a ham radio operator). All I know is I don't want to have to replace my a/c unit or my convection microwave!! And I wanted my puppy to be cool and comfortable if/when we leave her in the trailer in warm weather, and this device will reset after 2 min, 16 sec. (so the a/c would turn back on...)

It's just sooooooo big!

[VickieP]

Ummmm, I guess I should know this also, since I'm also a HAM operator. Just a Tech, he's got his General, but I just took the test on a whim after helping him study and passed it

[AlmostThere]

OK bringing this back up front.
Has everyone gotten their power surge guards?? I sure need to invest in one.
What did everyone get and how are they liking/disliking them?? I'd ike to hear pros
and cons before I make this big purchase. Thanks!

[mitch5252]

Soos, just in case you don't know it:

Always turn off the cg breaker before you plug in - then turn their breaker back on. Reverse that when unplugging and turn their breaker off before unplugging your line.

Thanks, Lenora, for bringing this back up.

Now for my question - Campground breaker - it's on the post somewhere? ?
Do all campgrounds (both public and private) have them?

What damage will I do to my rig when I forgot what Beth says (above)???

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[mtngal]

My 'new' surge guard paid for itself on second use....the power was
fading in and out in store when I checked in.....red flag all ready.
For two days my surge guard cut off power when it faded and
restored when safe....no worries for me. Very glad I had it!!!

[VickieP]

I am about to purchase my surge protector this week, kinda been putting it off till I knew we were going to go somewhere as it is expensive. Mitch as far as the breaker, in most all campgrounds I've been to there is a breaker at the post where the plug is, simply turn it off, plug in and turn it back on. I have never done this because I didn't know or think about it before, now I know. And when I think back, I know that when plugging my cord (well the rv cord ) into the plug in the past, it did spark,, kinda scary, but now I know. I would think if there had been any damage from not doing this in the past it would have shown up by now,,,, but that's just MHO.

[Bethers]

I'm the naysayer again - do not have a surge protector for my rig - do not intend to get one. But, that's my choice - and I have insurance that will cover any damage, if I ever have any - from surges.

That said - just spoke with someone this week whose rig was stuck by lightning - had the best surge protector they could get - it not only fried the surge protector, but they were told it was when the surge protector fried that the damage was done to their rig. They don't know if everything would have been hurt without it or not - but didn't replace the surge protector.

Now, those of you who believe in them - by all means - get one. When I lived it a S&b I wouldn't have been without a good surge protector for my computer - but again, that was, for me different.

[mitch5252]

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Very interesting thread on another forum about surge protection:

http://www.rvusa.com/forum/mbbs22/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=9981

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[Shirlv]

You'all are making me crazy. Do I buy one and which one?