Yikes, 50 amp Surge Protectors!

[Paul & Deb]

So I'm planning for the arrival of my new Reflection and I realized that my surge protector is only a 30 amp unit. I started searching for a 50 amp unit and I can't believe how expensive they are! Holly Cow!

How many folks go without a surge protector?

Anyone with links to a great deal on one?

In the mean time, since it's not summer and I won't be running the A/C, I think I will just connect to the 30 amp post outlet and use my 30 amp surge protector for now. Thoughts?

[GD350M]

I'm not sure what sites you looked at but I used amazon and found it for $344 http://smile.amazon.com/Progressive-...urge+protector

I just installed it in my Momentum, it came from my TT I traded in. I feel for $344 to possible protect a $70K unit, then I am all in.

[Paul & Deb]

I'm not sure what sites you looked at but I used amazon and found it for $344 http://smile.amazon.com/Progressive-...urge+protector

I just installed it in my Momentum, it came from my TT I traded in. I feel for $344 to possible protect a $70K unit, then I am all in.

I guess it's all relative because I think $345 is a bunch of money. It is an un-budgeted expense that I can't just run out and get, especially at this time of year. I'll survive but I still can't believe they're that expensive.

[GD350M]

I totally agree that $345 is a big price to pay. It took me a couple of months looking at this unit and reading reviews and seeing what others did before I decided to go with it. I chose this one because it had remote display, EMS and was hard wired.

My final deciding factor was after I looked at the cost to replace the AC or the fridge or even the TV if I had a surge run through the unit or lack of voltage supplied to the unit. My Furrion TV is new $799 on the website. A fridge is like $2000+ and AC are $1000 plus. All these things are not covered under warranty if it is a surge that destroyed it.

Plus there is another surge unit out there that is hard wired, but the Progressive Industries has a lifetime warranty to them.

Just my humble opinion on it.

[Paul & Deb]

I'm torn between a hard wired unit, like yours, or a portable unit like the 30 amp one I have. PPL's has the portable unit on sale until 1/2 for $279. That's a great deal. I do worry about it being stolen but I have had my 30 amp portable unit for years and it's never been stolen. I think for $300 though it is a different deal and very tempting to a thief. Decisions, decisions. I think if I wait to save up some money and go for the hard wired unit. As I said, in the mean time I can just connect to the 30 amp outlet on the post and use my 30 amp surge protector.

I've never had a 50 amp RV so correct me if I'm wrong but the only thing I loose by connecting to 50 amp is running both A/C units at the same time?

[Ditkitty]

We chain ours to the post. Somebody could probably still steal it, but they'd have to work harder.

[GD350M]

I'm torn between a hard wired unit, like yours, or a portable unit like the 30 amp one I have. PPL's has the portable unit on sale until 1/2 for $279. That's a great deal. I do worry about it being stolen but I have had my 30 amp portable unit for years and it's never been stolen. I think for $300 though it is a different deal and very tempting to a thief. Decisions, decisions. I think if I wait to save up some money and go for the hard wired unit. As I said, in the mean time I can just connect to the 30 amp outlet on the post and use my 30 amp surge protector.

I've never had a 50 amp RV so correct me if I'm wrong but the only thing I loose by connecting to 50 amp is running both A/C units at the same time?

Just saw this price on Camping World http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...otection/56420 and thought I should share with you as you were looking at the portable unit for the same price.

I do Recommend NOT cutting your existing 50-amp cord if possible. I disconnect the 4 wires from my RV elec panel, and connected the loose ends of these wires to the input side of the surge protector. Purchased a 3 ft. section of #6 wire from my local big box store to connect the output side of the surge protector to my RV electrical box. This allows me to remove the surge protector if I trade 5th wheels, and reconnect my original wiring. Love being able to monitor current draw from each leg of my 50A service from inside the 5th wheel with the provided remote monitor.

[Cate&Rob]

Probably right that you would have difficulty running two A/C units on 30 amps.
A 50 amp connection actually provides more than 3 times the power available on a 30 amp connection.
This is because 30 amps is at 120 volts. 50 amps is at 240 volts = 100 amps at 120 volts.
This also explains why the 50 amp surge protector is twice the price of the 30 amp version.

Rob

[thompsjk]

Probably right that you would have difficulty running two A/C units on 30 amps.
A 50 amp connection actually provides more than 3 times the power available on a 30 amp connection.
This is because 30 amps is at 120 volts. 50 amps is at 240 volts = 100 amps at 120 volts.
This also explains why the 50 amp surge protector is twice the price of the 30 amp version.

Rob

That's not exactly how it works. On a 50 amp service you have two hots with 120 volt potential between each and the neutral. 240 potential between the two hots. But all loads are 120 volt so all loads on both hots need to return on the single neutral that is a 6 AWG that is rated at 50 amps. So the max is 50 amps at 120 volts. So it is only 20 amps more than a 30 amp. I have seen where large fifth wheels with three AC's that don't have a power management system melt the insulation on the neutral. When you spec out a Momentum with a third AC they requirer the power management system. Most manufacters put all three AC's on one hot leg and they tell you it will trip the breaker if you try to run all three. I have seen on some forums that people have figured out that they can move the breaker on one of their AC's and run all three but they are setting their selfs up to overload their neutral.

[Cate&Rob]

How many folks go without a surge protector? Thoughts?

An interesting question. I don't have surge protection on my house. I don't have surge protection on my boat. Why would my RV shore power be more prone to a high voltage spike ?? It seems that the primary (only ?) source for this would be a lightning strike. My boating experience would tell me that low voltage (brown out) is much more likely and can be just as damaging. I would think that the ability of a "surge" protector to cut out under low voltage conditions might be its most important attribute.