Surge Protectors

[Russ Foster]

I just emailed Grant @ Bigfoot to see if a surge protector could be installed as part of the build process.

Anyone have this done at the build time or have it as an add on? I would think (correct me if I am wrong) that it would suit to have it done from the start?

[btroxell]

Originally Posted by Russ Foster

I just emailed Grant @ Bigfoot to see if a surge protector could be installed as part of the build process.

Anyone have this done at the build time or have it as an add on? I would think (correct me if I am wrong) that it would suit to have it done from the start?

I have a 21RB and wired a Progressive Industries with remote display myself and it was pretty easy.

Ben

[steve dunham]

We have the factory surge protector (EMS) in our 21 ft SOB
For us it has been more problems than it’s worth and if we had to do it over again would not choose that option
I don’t have one at home and see no use for one on my trailer .

[John in Santa Cruz]

i have the Progressive built in one with the remote display. the only 'issue' is at home, the outlet I use to plug in the trailer doesn't have a good ground, so I have to turn the EMS off or it intermittently faults.

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

i have the Progressive built in one with the remote display. the only 'issue' is at home, the outlet I use to plug in the trailer doesn't have a good ground, so I have to turn the EMS off or it intermittently faults.

Sounds like you have some home repair work that needs your attention.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by k corbin

Sounds like you have some home repair work that needs your attention.

its a 1950 house, most of the original wiring is 2-wire. someone went through and installed 3-prong outlets in select places but the only ground is the conduit, and its not very reliable.

[Russ Foster]

I actually believe the opposite of a need for a surge protector...house and trailer.

With so many electronics in any home, a surge protector was installed in my new home before anything was plugged in.

As far a trailer is concerned....a new one at that.....I would rather not replace my fridge, at my cost, because I did not have a surge protector in place.

Grant confirmed that they do not install them at build time.....

I'll research the Progressive brand. Many thanks for the info.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by Russ Foster

I actually believe the opposite of a need for a surge protector...house and trailer.

With so many electronics in any home, a surge protector was installed in my new home before anything was plugged in.

As far a trailer is concerned....a new one at that.....I would rather not replace my fridge, at my cost, because I did not have a surge protector in place.

Grant confirmed that they do not install them at build time.....

I'll research the Progressive brand. Many thanks for the info.

Good luck with your search . The most expensive piece of electronic equipment in our home is our $200 Walmart TV —- no computer - no printer - no internet - no cable tv - no stereo- no VCR — no dvd player— no satellite tv — no digital watch or clock —no laptop—-no hotspot— no nothing
In fact we still have a rotary phone and we heat with wood

We don’t have it at home so we don’t need /want it camping
Your circumstances are different , and I wish you would have stated that in your original post .

[Russ Foster]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

Good luck with your search . The most expensive piece of electronic equipment in our home is our $200 Walmart TV —- no computer - no printer - no internet - no cable tv - no stereo- no VCR — no dvd player— no satellite tv — no digital watch or clock —no laptop—-no hotspot— no nothing
In fact we still have a rotary phone and we heat with wood

We don’t have it at home so we don’t need /want it camping
Your circumstances are different , and I wish you would have stated that in your original post .

My original post..that I was interested to see if any used a surge protector as an add on?

Copy...you are posting with "no computer - no printer - no internet"

Please don't waste everyone's time.

My true response would be deleted.

[btroxell]

Most of the electronics are powered off the 12v buss so bad 120v shouldn't affect them too much. What I am more worried about is the air conditioner. For the 7 years I owned my last trailer, I never plugged.in, other than at my house (the trailer didn't have an air conditioner). After reading stories about bad power at campgrounds, I thought a power monitor good insurance. While camping last summer through the SW, we used our air conditioner as did many others in the campground. The voltage sagged a bit in the evening when everyone was back at camp but the power monitor never tripped. I was glad I had it though, knowing my air conditioner was protected.
The unit i have (Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C) monitors more than voltage spikes, it monitors all aspects of the incoming power and will disconnect power if if determines that it can be harmful to the trailer and components.
But back to the original question, as I said, it's pretty easy to install. The power cable entering the trailer had plenty of slack so cut it where I wanted the power monitor box, stripped the wires back and attached them. The electrical 'closet' in my Bigfoot had plenty of room for it plus other things I added (stuff for my solar panels).

Ben

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Russ Foster

My original post..that I was interested to see if any used a surge protector as an add on?

Copy...you are posting with "no computer - no printer - no internet"

Please don't waste everyone's time.

My true response would be deleted.

Back at ya. "Don't wast everyone's time with silly questions."

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Russ Foster

My original post..that I was interested to see if any used a surge protector as an add on?

Copy...you are posting with "no computer - no printer - no internet"

Please don't waste everyone's time.

My true response would be deleted.

On a more serious note. Many if not all of today's 120 VAC devices are designed to work on 240 VAC 50 Hz as well. Since 130 VAC is sometimes found it's ok. Now for Surge protectors. 260VAC = a peak of 267 Volts. I don't most surge protectors can with stand that therefore if you get spike large enough to destroy one of your 120VAC devices or appliances you've probably wiped out the surge protector.

In my opinion a surge protector isn't worth the expense.

[John in Santa Cruz]

those progressive EMS things are more than just 'surge protectors', they are power conditioners, and circuit testers. if the voltage is low, they step it back up some, like 90 back to 115, if its a bit high, they step it down, like 140 to 115... if its out of range, or phase reversed, or poor quality ground, they shut it off entirely.


my biggest concern would be bad campground power frying my DC power converter.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

those progressive EMS things are more than just 'surge protectors', they are power conditioners, and circuit testers. if the voltage is low, they step it back up some, like 90 back to 115, if its a bit high, they step it down, like 140 to 115... if its out of range, or phase reversed, or poor quality ground, they shut it off entirely.


my biggest concern would be bad campground power frying my DC power converter.

One more gadget to spend your money on. Have fun.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

One more gadget to spend your money on. Have fun.

mine came built into my escape 21, factory install. 2014 trailer bought 2nd hand.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

those progressive EMS things are more than just 'surge protectors', they are power conditioners, and circuit testers. if the voltage is low, they step it back up some, like 90 back to 115, if its a bit high, they step it down, like 140 to 115... if its out of range, or phase reversed, or poor quality ground, they shut it off entirely.


my biggest concern would be bad campground power frying my DC power converter.

I have the same Progressive surge protector as you
I have had to make repairs / adjustment to it on several occasions and saw no components that were capable of boosting or lowering voltage
It appears to be nothing more than a monitor that shuts the power off when the voltage goes above or below the set perimeters and clips small spikes in the voltage . Mine has been in the bypass mode for the last 8 months without ill affects . It will probably remain in the bypass mode in the future .
In a trailer equipped with standard features the only thing I see is that it protects the A/C from low voltage . It provides little or no protection for the 12 VDC system ( Refrigerator control board , furnace control board , roof fan.)
When we go camping the only electronics we carry is a cell phone , which may or may not work in the area we’re in .
On our last trip out West we had no TV or cell phone service for a week and survived.

I am sorry the OP took my posts the wrong way but when you ask a question you have to expect you will get honest answers that don’t agree with your position

[Perryb67]

My dad smoked cigarettes all his life and never died of cancer.

Didn't waste our money on a surge protector. Then one day we came back to our Casita and our power center/converter was fried. There were at least three others near us in the campground that either fried their power centers or air conditioners. Cost over $300 to replace the power center, including installation and lost a couple of weeks of camping. I wonder what it cost those who lost their air conditioners. We have a Progressive Industries EMS wired in to our camper now.

One thing people need to do is check their wiring once in a while. I did in our Casita, but some sort of brownout fried us and the neighbors, not bad wiring in our camper. It happens more often than some people realize.

After actually having a fried power center it gives us peace of mind. I could care less about the contrarians, especially one in particular that seems to have way more problems than others and loves to complain about them. Glass half full or half empty?

Enjoy,

Perry

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Perryb67

My dad smoked cigarettes all his life and never died of cancer.

Didn't waste our money on a surge protector. Then one day we came back to our Casita and our power center/converter was fried. There were at least three others near us in the campground that either fried their power centers or air conditioners. Cost over $300 to replace the power center, including installation and lost a couple of weeks of camping. I wonder what it cost those who lost their air conditioners. We have a Progressive Industries EMS wired in to our camper now.

One thing people need to do is check their wiring once in a while. I did in our Casita, but some sort of brownout fried us and the neighbors, not bad wiring in our camper. It happens more often than some people realize.

After actually having a fried power center it gives us peace of mind. I could care less about the contrarians, especially one in particular that seems to have way more problems than others and loves to complain about them. Glass half full or half empty?

Enjoy,

Perry

simple cheap answer. Get rid of the expensive "power center". Live off grid. No more problems.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

simple cheap answer. Get rid of the expensive "power center". Live off grid. No more problems.

Live off grid? So your Ram requires no fuel, nothing?

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

Live off grid? So your Ram requires no fuel, nothing?

What RAM?