Protection? Regulation? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Sherry · RV-Dreams Family Member

Protection? Regulation?

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sherry, You may want to sign on the Escapees forum and pose your question.You don't have to join the Escapees to go on the forum and there are a lot of guys over there that are very technical.Just ask them to put it in laymens terms for you.Between RV-Dreams and Escapees I always get my questions answered.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I went with this unit: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/portable-surge-guard/2279
as it handles surge, over & under voltage, and reverse polarity conditions. I don't know if voltage regulation would be a worthwhile expenditure.

huck · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hey Ya'll, I have a little problem. I'm married to a great guy who knows just about nothing about electrical, mechanical stuff. I'm I out of luck to ever think about full-timing? That guy in the photo is who I'm married to. I'm the wife.

-- Edited by huck on Saturday 19th of June 2010 12:48:31 PM

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Huck,

Don't necessarily get caught up on the scare train about everything. We've been full timing for over 4 years, have visited 48 states, Canada, Alaska and Mexico, and have stayed in 278 campgrounds.

We do not have either of the devices being discussed and have NEVER had a problem.

Can you have an electrical problem? Yes. Will you? Most likely not.

Can you get caught in a tornado, hurricane, flood, earthquake, etc? Yes. Will you? Most likely not.

Relax and enjoy the life that's left for you.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Huck, you are no way out of luck.Go back and look at Howard and Linda's web site and you will see they had zero experience and Howard was not exactly Mr-Fix-It.They have done it well and so can you.Just remember,where there is a will there is a way.

huck · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks so much guys, you have put my mind at peace. I hope to meet up with you in the near future. Believe me we have a dream and we won't stop dreaming until it comes true.

Howard · Host

Hi Sherry,

We have only the hard-wired SurgeGuard 50 amp surge protection with the additional high/low voltage protection.

I personally don't think you need both the protective device and the regulator even though SurgeGuard recommends using them together.

A SurgeGuard or Progressive Industries surge protector WITH high/low voltage protection on electrical system monitoring should be sufficient.

This is one area where my friend Fred and I completely disagree. I can assure you he has had electrical problems, but they, so far, haven't been severe enough to damage his equipment. He's not alone in his opinion on this, but in my opinion, he and those others have been very lucky. smile

You are far more likely to encounter bad electrical wiring in campgrounds than you are to encounter the severe weather events he mentioned. Of course, if you have no way of monitoring voltage you would never know if it was approaching problem levels. For every person that has "never had a problem", I can give you ten that have fried something in their rig before they got a protective device.

I'm not big on spending money on every "insurance type" product out there for every situation, but this $300 - $500 is money well spent.

Testing the electrical pedestal with a voltage meter before plugging in only tells you if the voltage is proper at that time. Voltage levels go up and down and these devices provide protection constantly.

Not only do these devices protect from surges and high/low voltage, but they also tell you immediately if the electrical pedestal is mis-wired when you plug in. They will give you an error and will not allow electricity into the system if there is improper (and potentially dangerous) wiring.

Okay, so in answer to your question, I agree with Bill ("Bill & Linda") in the other post. Get the right protective device and you don't really need the regulator as the better protective devices perform the most necessary functions of the regulator, in my opinion. smile

Sherry · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks so much Howard and all,

I'm going with the majority opinion and skipping the regulator and have ordered the Progressive EMS with the inside monitor. Having the Surge protector was never a question for me since State/National Parks and COEs are what we will do mostly. I have the same if not more picky "it" factor that you have Howard. I was just wondering whether I should spend the $$ for both and you've helped me feel that it isn't necessary. What great friends!

thanks again,
Sherry