Surge Protectors

[Nana & Poppy]

Originally Posted by Texmac

As Goldenyears mentioned if you hard wire it you will probably leave it in the trailer when you sell or trade. I have a portable Progressive surge protector that I kept when I sold my last unit. I have taken a couple of feet of wire cable and crimped loops around my power cord and the plug on the surge protector to keep honest folks honest.

pictures????

[Chalkie]

Originally Posted by Nana & Poppy

pictures????

X2 - although I think I know what you are saying.

[Nana & Poppy]

Originally Posted by Chalkie

X2 - although I think I know what you are saying.

Unfortunately I'm a "show me" kinda person!

[Texmac]

Originally Posted by Nana & Poppy

pictures????

Nana & Poppy
I am on a trip ( work not RVing) but will try to remember to go out and take a pic when I get home this weekend.
Mike

[Nana & Poppy]

Originally Posted by Texmac

Nana & Poppy
I am on a trip ( work not RVing) but will try to remember to go out and take a pic when I get home this weekend.
Mike

Thanks Mike!

[Texmac]

Nana & Poppy
This shows the cable on the power cord and the surge protector. To do this take about 2 1/2 feet of 3/16ths wire cable and crimp a tight loop on the power cord and then do the same with the other end on the cord of the surge protector. If you sell the trailer you just have to cut the loop off of the power cord and then you can use the protector on the next trailer.
Hope this picture works.
Mike

[Nana & Poppy]

Thanks Mike - I'll have to show my DH!

[jd4230]

I installed Progressive Industries hardwired 50 amp EMS with monitor in the electrical area of my Northshore. We camped at a city campground, and when I hooked up to the 50 amp plug, it fried my converter. So I had to replace that also. Whenever I trade campers, I'll take about 15 minutes to unwire the EMS and run the original wire back into the electric panel.

One thing I noticed is that the two portable EMS's I looked at (that go on the end of the plug) did not have uL numbers on them. My hardwired unit is uL listed. I don't know if that makes any difference to anyone, but it did for me.

That's just my 2 pennys worth.

[Chalkie]

Originally Posted by jd4230

One thing I noticed is that the two portable EMS's I looked at (that go on the end of the plug) did not have uL numbers on them. My hardwired unit is uL listed. I don't know if that makes any difference to anyone, but it did for me.

I noticed that too and asked my son who is a journeyman electrician. He said that was because it would be cost prohibitive to get a UL certificate on an outdoor device like that and would make the cost of the product so high no one would buy it. He looked mine over and said it should be fine unless I was going drop it in a lake or something. He said if I was really concerned just cover the unit with a plastic bag to shed the rain. I could tell from the way he said that that he thought that was a total waste of time.

[Nana & Poppy]

Originally Posted by Chalkie

He said if I was really concerned just cover the unit with a plastic bag to shed the rain. I could tell from the way he said that that he thought that was a total waste of time.

Well that is exactly what we do - gallon size Baggie - gives me a of bit of piece of mind. I may get a plastic shoe box and make the protection a bit more "presentable"!

[kayakcrazy]

Thanks to all who have put their thoughts into this thread. I think I have finally made up my mind and will be purchasing one of the hard wired units (to get the UL rating) which I will store outside in one of these weatherproof boxes: 3 Pack Weatherproof Connection Boxes | Princess Auto
My plan is to hook everything up and then check my voltages, when satisfied I will then lock it to the nearest pedestal or tree (if there is a fire it's away from everything important).

[hddecker]

Originally Posted by Chalkie

I must admit that I am new to a lot of this, but why would you want a whole coach protector anymore than you might want a whole house protector?

I live in a high lightening strike area and have never considered the whole house approach, I just use one on sensative things, like TVs, computers, etc.

Is the power in camp grounds that unreliable or unstable?

The power in campgrounds can be very unreliable/unstable. I use Kill-a-volt in the trailer and monitor it closely, we have seen voltages as low as 98 volts. Nothing will kill your electrics than low voltages that are prone to spiking.

[GOLDENYEARS]

Chalkie, Do you have a surge protector on your converter/battery charger? will your surge protectors protect you against a miss wired electric pedestal with the wires all backward? or for some reason it got wired and is feeding 220 volts? rather than rely on several inexpensive surge protectors I put my money into a quality surge protector that is at the pedestal. Of coarse that is just my humble opinion.

[Chalkie]

Originally Posted by GOLDENYEARS

Chalkie, Do you have a surge protector on your converter/battery charger? will your surge protectors protect you against a miss wired electric pedestal with the wires all backward? or for some reason it got wired and is feeding 220 volts? rather than rely on several inexpensive surge protectors I put my money into a quality surge protector that is at the pedestal. Of coarse that is just my humble opinion.

Yes, we ended up going with a Progressive EMSPT50C after reading comments here and talking to an old high school buddy who is an almost fulltimer.

I have the materials to make a locking cable for it and I just need to get out there to make it. Just one more thing to do before we hit the road on our first long trip.