surge protector - Montana Owners Club

bigskyjimmy · 09-06-2010, 04:33 PM

is it really that big of a deal to get a surge protector? I have never had a problem in 10 years of rving, these damn things are so expensive .....opinions please

garyka · 09-06-2010, 05:19 PM

It cost me $500.00 deductible and a lot of aggravation not to have one.Total damage was around #3000.00 from a surge from outside the park I was in.I think all RV's should come with them.The motorhome next to me starded on fire.

twindman · 09-06-2010, 08:28 PM

Yup - important. I blew a circuit breaker on the post hookup twice in Nebraska when it was 106 degrees. Had the A/C running. It eventually quit altogether. When I got home to AZ, I had to buy a new A/C for several hundred dollars. I think the voltage was dropping at the C.G. and caused the A/C to fry.
After I got a surge protector, I was at a C.G. in Idaho and it shut down several times when the temp was only 80 or so. There was a message one time about low voltage. Next time I monitored it and the voltage would start at around 110V and the longer the A/C ran, the lower the voltage would go. At 95 or so the protector trips off to save your appliances. So I had to open up and have no A/C for 2 days. For more money you can get a protector and a - oops can't remember what it is called - that will adjust the voltage for you. But that gets too much for me.
Good luck.

bigskyjimmy · 09-06-2010, 10:08 PM

O.K. thanxs gang i'll go ahead and get one, the way it sounds is that it might save my bacon some day,it just seems 400.00 for these things seems a bit much then again I have spent alot more for many other things on my 5th that were alot more $ and not as important .

ols1932 · 09-06-2010, 11:09 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by bigskyjimmy

is it really that big of a deal to get a surge protector? I have never had a problem in 10 years of rving, these damn things are so expensive .....opinions please

It only takes once and you'd wish you had one.

Orv

CORattler · 09-07-2010, 03:41 PM

I installed my EMS because I did the math and it came out where I paid over $50k for my unit and could protect it (electrically) for under $300.00. EZ choice and peace of mind.

hookman · 09-07-2010, 03:55 PM

We put in a PowerMaster Voltage Controller that has 3580 Joules of surge protection built in. We have it hard wired in and in low power parks we don't let them know we have it as they want you to unplug it as they think you are stealing voltage from other campers which is wrong, they change amperage to voltage: 1 amp makes 10 volts.
Protect you equipment as it is your hard earned dollars invested.
http://www.rvperformanceproducts.com/index.htm

exav8tr · 09-07-2010, 04:07 PM

You might want to look into an EMS system from Progressive Industries and/or a Hughes Autoformer which has a built in surge protector. Some use both, but I haven't been able to get both to work together, so I use the EMS to check the park pedestal then plug in the Autoformer. The Autoformer will boost low power up to a usable voltage level. You could also go with one of the surge protectors, but for my money the autoformer is the way to go....

kylec2 · 09-08-2010, 04:06 AM

We camped for 20 years without a surge suppressor, but after having one for three years I would not plug in without it. Most of the units on the market today cover not only surges, but brown-outs (low voltage) and mis-wired pedestals.

There are two basic types you can purchase, hardwired/permently attached (you will need an electrician to install in most cases) and portable/temporarily attached (plugs unto your external electrical cord between your RV and the pedestal). I went with the portable unit for ease of installation. Be sure you purchase a unit that is rated for your connection, ie., 30 amp or 50 amp.

richfaa · 09-08-2010, 04:12 AM

Our EMS PT 50C has shut us down several times over the 4 years we have had it and alerted us to bad or poor power at the pedestal before we plugged the camper in. We can also use the digital readout to monitor our Amp usage on each leg.

bncinwv · 09-08-2010, 04:20 AM

Best example I can give is a recent one. Last weekend we were at a park on 50 amp power, and low voltage was not a problem. The EMS shut off power to the rig quite a few times, and like Rich I am fortunate to be able to check the digital readout to see what was going on. The EMS was seeing 134 V coming into the rig and was shutting it down. I disconnected the Autoformer (1-2 volt boost at all times) and it seemed to help some. The park feed would still spike up occassionally and the EMS did what it was supposed to do. Although relatively expensive, this investment has served us well over the last 3-4 years and when we get the new rig next month, both it and the Autoformer will be transferred immediately. It is your choice, but I think those of us who have these devices would not be caught without them.
Bingo

bullroc3 · 09-08-2010, 04:35 AM

I never had one on my tow-behind and once I joined this forum and read posts, I bought one for the "just-in-case" time.

This is why - http://www.decisivemagazine.com/trav...urks-rv-owners

RickW · 09-10-2010, 11:13 AM

I have a hardwired Progressive Industries EMS. I like the fact that it is hardwired in so it will not disappear and that no has to remember to actually hook it up. In addition I have the read out for the EMS by the control panel inside the RV for easy monitoring.

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