Questions on equipment...

[Liz]

Walmart has a kit that I use. It contains 2 10' sections of heavy duty dump hose (brown with yellow connections), elbow section, and end caps.

I carry two 25' white fresh water hoses. Replaced them this year and now use one of my old ones for sewer rinse.

Yes, on the surge protector.

[Colliemom]

I did post the project and the pictures. It's posted in General Talk, April 20, 2015. I'm on my IPad, not sure how to post the link over to here.

[Redetotry]

I am looking at some of these same issues so I appreciate your questions Barbie and all the answers! I hope you don't mind if I ask for some clarification on some answers.

I haven't used a surge protector before so I am not sure if I need have a Surge Protector at the post and also an inside voltage meter like Karen suggested?

How do you check the electric at the post to be sure above 110 before plugging in. If you plug in the surge protector will that tell you or do you need to use a Polarity check like these before the surge protector is plugged in? I have the 3 wire circuit analyzer but it confuses me. http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/testing.htm

When using the inside wand to flush the black tank can you hook the hose to the water from your kitchen sink or do you run it to the outside faucet?

Not a question but I find this sewer wrench helpful as I don't have a lot of strength in my hands. They also have 'generic' ones https://www.amazon.com/Camco-39758-Rhin ... 8VGJZ4Q81Q

[RitaMc]

Good morning Barbie,
Good news about your trailer and future plans. Wishing you lots of fun. I may have missed it but have you posted pictures? This may sound rather simple but have a good flashlight and extra batteries with you. You never know when you will need it. So many times we have had to set up in the dark or just can't see in the dark recesses of the storage bay.
Rita

[Bethers]

Many people use pvc to make carriers. I always used my bumper carrier on my old rig and it never rusted inside. Use the one on my current rig now, also.

[Acadianmom]

I have one of the square voltmeters that I keep plugged into an outlet in my motorhome all the time. You can tell at a glance if you are getting power or enough power. I have been in quite a few campgrounds that you don't get enough power sometimes and need to turn the air conditioner off. It's usually in the summer when everyone is running air conditioners and cooking dinner.

I think when you plug the surge protector in it checks the outlet for problems. It takes the one I have a couple of minutes to go through it's cycle before I will have power to my rig. I had one of the less expensive surge protectors and it didn't last very long before it started making a clicking noise all the time. You might as well get a good one even though they are double the price.

Martha

[BarbaraRose]

Another question... am looking at the clearview connector for the sewer hose. They come in 45 degree angle and 90 degree angle. Which one should I get?

[Cudedog]

This may sound rather simple but have a good flashlight and extra batteries with you. You never know when you will need it. So many times we have had to set up in the dark or just can't see in the dark recesses of the storage bay.
Rita

Batteries? Who needs batteries??

I can't recommend this rechargeable flashlight I have linked below highly enough !! ( I have seen them for about $9.00 at Home Depot, but couldn't find a Home Depot link to the item):

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Energizer-RCL1NM2WR-Energizer-Weather-Ready-Rechargeable-LED/10233059

Be aware, there is a newer version of this. I am speaking here of the older version, pictured under this link.

It is lightweight, fits very well in your hand, and it is small enough and light enough to hold in your mouth. (I have yet to learn that it is not the best idea in the world to try to set up camp after dark).

This flashlight is AWESOME!! It is fully rechargeable (AC), the charge lasts, literally, for hours (I once unthinkingly put mine down outside after dark, and didn't miss it until the next morning. Looked everywhere, couldn't find it. Finally, that night, I went outside (again after dark) and there it was - the way that I was able to find it was that it was still on!! I found it by seeing the light from it - I had dropped it in tall grass!! It had been on for about 24 hours!!

The light is from it is VERY bright - I have used it to set up camp after dark. I also use it every night, after dark, when I walk my dog. And I only plug it in for a charge every month or so!!

And the ones I have (I have more than one - I am always losing them, then they mysteriously re-appear ) last forever. My older one is at least 9 years old, and still holds a charge!!

And you never have to buy batteries!!

If you are like me, buy two. Then, for sure, you will always have at least one!

LOL.

Anne

[Birdie]

Barbie, the Sewer Solutions does take longer to empty the tanks. I set it up to start the drain process and then go do something else. I come back and check on it from time to time. Where the 4" diameter stinky slinky will dump in less than 5 minutes per 40 gallon tank, this may take 10-15 for each tank. I have not had a problem with that so far as I tend to empty my tanks the day before I plan to leave. For the CGs that are not FHU I use the 4" stinky slinky at the dump station because it is quick. The space for storing the 20' of sewer solutions hose is about the same as a hose.

BJ, I am not sure what problems you are having in understanding the 3 wire gadget. You would need a plug as 30 amp for plugging into the electric box and 110 for plugging the 3 wire into it. Flip the pole switch and as you look at the gadget lights it tells you if any light shows red it is not safe. You should get 2 yellow for it to be safe. The gadget tells you the problem right on the front. You don't need to know what it means that you have an open neutral or open ground. You just need to know if it has a red light you don't use it. The Progressive Electrical Management System does the same thing plus it will not allow the electric to pass to your rig. If the power changes while you are gone or in the night the Progressive EMS will shutdown to protect your rig. The 3 wire when you remove it you can still plug into it and get bad or good electricity but you have no protection if things change. Your system is open to damage.

There are times when I am in a hurry and use the 3 wire gadget to be sure things are good, then plug in the EMS and leave. The EMS takes about 115 seconds to run through its electrical check before it gives your rig power. You know how busy us retirees are, there are sometimes I don't have 115 seconds, maybe 90 but no more.

[JudyJB]

Batteries and flashlights--You can't have enough of them.

One thing I do is to make sure I always have a flashlight in more than one "emergency" location. For example, I keep one on a hook at my side exit door. I also keep one on a shelf in my hallway so I can always find it in a power outage. And finally, I keep one of the "head" versions in the pocket by my driver's door. Campgrounds are really, really dark, so in an emergency I don't want to trip and fall or stumble into something. I make sure all of these emergency flashlights are powerful ones, and I always put them back in their places when I am done with them.

Also, one tip, if you go to the Walmart sporting goods department where the flashlights are, and look on the bottom shelf, you will find a box of small colorful flashlights for $1 each. I buy a bunch of them for my grandkids, but I also keep one beside my bed and other places. They come with a battery and you just have to take out the little clear plastic thing between the battery and the bulb.

Do I sound a little flashlight fixated??????

[OregonLuvr]

One of my pet peeves is the sewer cap on the FHU sites that someone with superhuman strength has screwed on. Having to bend over and try to unscrew it was at times almost impossible. I find this an invaluable tool.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Camco-39755- ... 3=&veh=sem

[MelissaD]

Another question... am looking at the clearview connector for the sewer hose. They come in 45 degree angle and 90 degree angle. Which one should I get?

I like the 45 degree. It lays with how you what the hose to normally go. Plus if you get one that swivels it helps with getting the hose to lay right in the hose support better sometimes.

[MelissaD]

I haven't used a surge protector before so I am not sure if I need have a Surge Protector at the post and also an inside voltage meter like Karen suggested?

How do you check the electric at the post to be sure above 110 before plugging in. If you plug in the surge protector will that tell you or do you need to use a Polarity check like these before the surge protector is plugged in? I have the 3 wire circuit analyzer but it confuses me. http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/testing.htm

Really it's a EMS or Energy Management System more than a "Surge Protector" if that helps. It's not really named right.

On my unit (I have the Progressive EMS-HW50C hardwired inside my RV) when I plug into the pedestal and turn on the breaker, the unit runs all the checks and if its happy with the voltage (high or low), polarity, ground, etc... at around the 30 second mark it turns on power to the RV. The delay is to protect AC compressors from cycling stresses of power flickers. Mounted inside my cabinet with all my tanks and switches is a display which reads the voltage and amps for each leg (50 amp service is two 50 amp rated lines (L-1 and L-2) or 100 amps total. If I have a problem it will display an error code.

Side note: 30 amp service is a little bit more straight forward as there is only one 30 amp line. Since a the 50 amp service for an RV looks like a 220 volt house outlet and they are wired differently. Some electricians have made the honest mistake of wiring the pedestal like a house which is incorrect for an RV. It will supply 220 volts ac to the trailer instead of 110 volts. I have caught one CG wire the 30 amp and the 20 amp lines to a 50 amp break thinking he was making a 50 amp breaker. Yes 20+30=50 but 50 amp service is two 50 amp lines (100 amps total) Since the 30 amp line (L-1) and 20 amp line (l-2) are not each rated for 50 amps this is a real hazard. Another time using my EMS system I was also able to prove the CG had a faulty breaker and had them replace the breaker. Since a "50 amp" trailer can draw 3x the power of a "30 amp" trailer. It's why so many CG electrical grids are overloaded. They were not built for these loads.

Hope that helped before I confused you.

[BarbaraRose]

Is this what I need to get?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Progressive- ... r/51053195

[Birdie]

That is a "surge only" protector. Does nothing for miswired electrical poles.

The EMS is here on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Indu ... B003AL23TC

You will see people in CGs plugged into surge only, the portable EMS (I have carried mine to each new RV), the hard-wired EMS (like Melissa has), and into the pole with no protection. Depends on what risk you can afford to take. I have had Progressive replace my unit twice for damage to the unit as a result of a storm passing through. And I could not tell you how many times I have had power failures or how many times I have plugged into a miswired electrical pole.

I was in a cg with some friends and as usual was plugged into my EMS. My friends two doors down did not get their EMS out of the storage bay as they thought storm season was over. Well a storm came through and the cg had a huge surge of power. I lost power for about 2 minutes. My friends lost the refrigerator, microwave, 1 of the 2 TV's, and the furnace. He was embarrassed and a lot of dollars shorter. He doesn't do that - question Mother Nature anymore, he just digs out the EMS.

Basically what you get is based on your ability to take risk and the dollars you can afford to replace damaged equipment. Pay for it now $330 or pay later $???. If you choose the better Rhino sewer hose why would you not choose the better EMS. Replacement A/C's and refrigerators cost a lot more. Pay me now or pay me later.