Surge Protector

Gigem

Gigem

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Jan 20, 2014
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Location
Arlington, TX
Greetings,

We are new owners of a Grand Design Reflection 337RLS and do most of our camping in state parks and popular RV resorts. With our previous TT, I had never thought about the need/risk of not have a surge protector. I am thinking of adding a hard-wired surge protector as insurance against damage to appliances on our new rig, and am interested to hear your opinions/experiences on surge protection for your RV.

Thanks in advance,
Jeff
 
Hi Jeff, and welcome to the fourms! I'm glad you asked this question.

Our previous RV was a TT and we usually only camped for a weekend or maybe at most 4-5 days. As we near retirement (hubby retired last May and I retire this April) we knew we needed a bigger, more comfortable, and better built RV as we will be camping for weeks and months at a time. Anyway, we too are looking at surge protectors. Our Solitude is packed with more costly appliances and devices and will need the protection since we'll be extend-time campers soon!

Here's a link I found in my research...it's been pretty helpful.
http://rvtravel.com/noshockzone/surge477.shtml

I look forward to hearing the feedback you receive on this inquiry.
 
el Rojo - I have a 30 amp autoformer from a previous travel trailer and was wondering if I could use it with my 303RL (on 30 amp power and with one a/c.) Haven't tried it yet. What do you think? I will probably put in a 2d a/c this summer so I thought of selling it and just going with a surge protector.
 
I had a Progressive Industries 30A hard-wired surge protector in our last camper...was looking into installing a 50A unit in our 337. You bring up an interesting point as I recall frequently seeing less than 110 V at the campground and was waiting for the unit to alarm on 'low voltage'. Something to investigate....

Dave
 
[quote author=LBnM link=topic=292.msg1868#msg1868 date=1390596139]
el Rojo - I have a 30 amp autoformer from a previous travel trailer and was wondering if I could use it with my 303RL (on 30 amp power and with one a/c.) Haven't tried it yet. What do you think? I will probably put in a 2d a/c this summer so I thought of selling it and just going with a surge protector.
[/quote]

Not sure on that. Mine is a 50 amp and I have a 50 amp 369RL. I would think if your unit is 30 amp, a 30 amp Autoformer would protect it, not sure it would have the same boost amount when you add a 2nd AC.

Red
 
I have a 50 Amp Surgeguard protector for my Solitude. Mine is a portable one that you plug into the campground outlet and the other end plugs into the cord on the camper. It has warned me a few times about power problems especially when the campground is full. I think it is a real good investment because there are so many high tech items in the new RV's. Mine will shut the power down in my unit before it does damage.
 
Hey Gigem,

We have used a Progressive Industries surge protector for a number of years with a previous 5th wheel, a class C and class A motorhome - I am sold on them, this surge protector provides great information prior to sending electricity to your unit and has certainly kept us from hooking up to a bad outlet.

Actually what we have is the portable 50 amp. Electronic Management System from Progressive Industries which has a lifetime warranty. They recently replaced our original unit when it showed an error code with the unit. We had the original unit over eight years through 3 different RV's. They have hard wired and portable units - if you call them with questions or problems they respond promptly and efficiently like Grand Design :).

You might want to look at their website: www.progressiveindustries.net

Don't think you can do any better than this unit - it is not cheap, but it is cheaper than replacing appliances and if you go with a portable unit it is a one time expense as you can move it with you to the next RV.

Austin
 
We recently purchased the Progressive Industries portable 50 amp EMS. We figure we were just lucky with our previous camper, as we did encounter several parks where we had problems running A/C and anything else. A Missouri state park comes to mind.
 
Thanks to all for the great information. From what I have read, I like the 50 amp Progressive Industries System with the lifetime warranty. I have seen the portable, in-line models, and also like the idea of a hard-wired unit to make it more secure and for monitoring while inside the RV. Has anyone installed this unit in a Grand Design RV? Just wondering where the best location would be for mounting inside the RV.

Thanks again for the information,

Jeff
 
Jeff you might call Grand Design and see what they tell you about locating this EMS system. They may have dealt with this question before.

Austin
 
I decided to go with the Progressive Industries portable 50 amp EMS. I used a 30 amp surge protector with the autoformer previously. As I was looking thru some literature I recall seeing that the 50 amp EMS could be used on 30 amp only sites (with the appropriate adapter.) If that's true I could sell my autoformer. We sometimes camp at 30 Amp only sites. I have an email in to Progressive Industries for clarification but have not heard back yet. Anyone have any knowledge of this?
 
The autoformer will boost voltage where the EMS is for protection. You might reconsider selling the autoformer. Sometimes I use a shureguard and the autoformer at the same time.

Just sayin.

Red
 
Yeah, I know the difference. I just hate to lug around something extra for just when we use a 30amp hookup. I've had the autoformer for over two years and haven't needed it once during that time. I may keep it - they are so expensive it probably won't sell anyway.
 
LBnM - we have the Progressive Industries 50 amp portable EMS and use it all the time with a 30 amp adapter and it works just fine. Have even used it with a 110v adapter when just basic lights were needed.

I did call and ask them about this several years ago when we got our EMS and they told me it would work - and it has.
 
OK I am convinced to get a surge protector...better yet an EMS Surge protector. Anyone hardwire one of these into a 29RS & if so where did you place it? And as I write this, if we were on the road and have it go bad I would have to do a bit of electrical bypass work...
 
The Progressive Industries EMS (electrical management system) is SO much more than a simple surge protector. It warns of/protects from under- and over-voltage, gounding problems, polarity, etc. The first thing I did when we took possession of our unit was to install the 50-amp hard-wired unit with remote display. It was easy to install behind the breaker panel where the main line comes into the panel. It has shut down and protected us on several occasions over the past year (never a spike or surge situation that would warrant replacing the unit). I wouldn't leave home without one... wait - our rig is our home!

Rob
 
You got me sold Second Chance. We do not plan to get a second AC and do not need 50 amp. If by some strange chance we get to a park that has 50 amp only, will a 30 amp with a dogbone be ok? ALSO if yours shuts down behind your panel do you then have to remove your panel to see its status...Thanks for jumping in here...
 
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