Do I need a Power Surge Protector

[bigred715]

Our trailer lost the microwave in San Antonio Texas due to bad pedestal wiring.We did not have our EMS hooked up and it cost us our microwave. This was at Mission Trail RV Resort. DON'T stay there, horrible people that run that resort. Would not admit that it was their fault on the wiring. Could not hookup to 30 amp because it was mis-wired also. Put my EMS on the 50amp and showed it was way above top limit. Park refused any help at all and claimed it was my trailer at fault. They continued to pull out plug without turning off power, even after telling them not to. Very beligerant. I ALWAYS use EMS now.

[richfaa]

PT 50C here. portable or permanent. Would not leave home without it.

[jaybird]

Will a surge protecter me when hooked up to either 30amp or 50amp?

[jaybird]

I meant to say--will the unit protect me when hooked up to either 30 or 50amp depending on the campground

[Bigboomer]

Once we hooked up our Progressive EMS when we installed the solar panel system it let us know right away how bad the power was in the campground we are in (Black Bear in Florida, NY). The EMS kept shutting us down due to low voltage (98 was lowest reading)so we had no other choice but to get a Hughes Autoformer to monitor the voltage and boost it as necessary. Works like a charm, since hooking it up we have not had reading below 112 and most of the time it stays between 115 & 120 for both lines.

[H. John Kohl]

quote:Originally posted by jaybird

I meant to say--will the unit protect me when hooked up to either 30 or 50amp depending on the campground

Yes a wired unit will protect you from any power source.

[jaybird]

I think I worded that wrong. I did a little research and it looks like you need a separate Surge Cord for both 30 & 50amp. I went to Surge Guard by TRC and there's quite a price difference on just a 30amp. One goes for $80 and one goes for $250. I know you all say don't go cheap, but I'm a ways from fulltiming and thast quite a bit of money between the two. I'm pretty sure I know that answer I'm going to get but -heck--lets try it. Will the $80 work for a 10 time a year RVer???

[Denfinger]

We have been protected from so many brown outs. YES DO IT.

[H. John Kohl]

quote:Originally posted by jaybird

I think I worded that wrong. I did a little research and it looks like you need a separate Surge Cord for both 30 & 50amp. I went to Surge Guard by TRC and there's quite a price difference on just a 30amp. One goes for $80 and one goes for $250. I know you all say don't go cheap, but I'm a ways from fulltiming and thast quite a bit of money between the two. I'm pretty sure I know that answer I'm going to get but -heck--lets try it. Will the $80 work for a 10 time a year RVer???

You get what you pay for with this device. There are just surge protection or the expensive ones do much higher surge protection as well as protect from hi or low voltage as well as incorrectly wired or open common or open ground. That is what I recommend. I use the 50 amp Progressive Industry for 50 amp hardwired and it will work when I am on 15 amp, 30 amp or 50 amp service since it is hard wired in.

[jaybird]

MOC-311
You sparked my interest big time. If I am at a 30amp site, how can I plug my RV 30amp plug into the 50amp Surge protector???

[jaybird]

Meaning- Do I just need to buy One Surge Protector and it will work with both 30 & 50? I'm thinking I need to but two separate units??

[H. John Kohl]

If you have a unit hardwired you just plug in like normal.
If you use a pedistal unit then you have to use adaptors and interface up and down with the proper plug type.

[Bigsky3625RE]

You need a 30 amp to 50 amp adapter. It has a 30 amp plug on one end and a 50 amp plug on the other.

Our first trailer was a 30 amp so we have that. Also bought a 50 amp since the new 5er is 50 amp.

I would think you could just get the 50 amp with and an adapter. That way you could plug in to either plug.

But, I am not an electrician. I am sure there are far smarter people on here than myself.

[jaybird]

So, if I buy a pedestal 50amp Surge Protector for say $275, that's the only Surge protector I need to purchase, and I can use it at campgrounds that have 50 or 30amp power using adapters.

[H. John Kohl]

If you buy this 50 amp hard wired it is all you need.

This hard wired 50 amp has the meter on the box and not as a remote display. I do not recommend it because I want to see what is happening at any time I look at my wall.

If you purchase this 50 amp pedestal model then you need adapters for plugging into a 30 amp service. Anything not anchored down can walk.

I hope this helps.

[Carl n Susan]

quote:Originally posted by jaybird

So, if I buy a pedestal 50amp Surge Protector for say $275, that's the only Surge protector I need to purchase, and I can use it at campgrounds that have 50 or 30amp power using adapters.

Absolutely correct!!! I use a 50 Amp portable and adapters if the pedestal is only 30 (or even 15) Amps.

[LuckyNichol]

Don't have knowledge about these kinds of things. So, we have a 30 amp surge protector still in the box. What happens when you plug your 50 amp RV into the 30 amp protector? Will it work?

[H. John Kohl]

quote:Originally posted by LuckyNichol

Don't have knowledge about these kinds of things. So, we have a 30 amp surge protector still in the box. What happens when you plug your 50 amp RV into the 30 amp protector? Will it work?

It will work but you reduce your supply to 30 Amps instead of 50 amps on each leg (2). I recommend selling the 30 amp one and upgrade to 50 amp so you can enjoy all that extra current.

[LuckyNichol]

Thank you John. SALE! New, in the box, 30 AMP surge protector.

[mhs4771]

Nick, any chance you could return the 30 and upgrade to a 50?? If by chance it came from CW, items can be returned at any CW. Just a thought.