Voltage regulator/surge protectors - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Louie · RV-Dreams Community Member

Voltage regulator/surge protectors

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

All I can tell you is my experience. I have had one for 4 years (move usually weekly so has seen numerous parks). I have a 50 amp one that plugs into the pedestal outside. Never been stolen, survives snow, rain, heat etc. In 4 years it has shut me down 3 or 4 times. One park in Florida my neighbor monitored voltage and told me it likely shut down as the voltage dropped to 93. After I complained the park ended up recableing the whole row. Not sure if it has saved me anything (fried electronics etc) It makes me feel better.

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

If I had it to do over again I would get the internal perm mount type. I have the portable model, and while it works great, it only protects my coach from pedestal power problems. The internal model can be hooked up to provide protection from the pedestal, power cord/cord reel, and even the onboard generator. About the only thing not covered is the inverter.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

I always recommend the wire-in version with the remote panel. You will learn a lot about your RV from watching what different appliances consume. AND if you have a 50 amp rig it will help you to better manage usage when on a 30 amp service. I like the Progressive model.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Louie wrote:
Could someone please explain exactly how this is all setup? Power pedastal>surge guard>volatge regulator>5'er power cord? Is that how it works? Do they all just set on the ground outside by the pedastal? Don't they walk off sometimes? Any further help would be greatly appreciated.
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I fully agree with Jack. Progressive Industries, internally wired with remote voltage / power digital meter. You “will” learn a lot and better manage your 50 amp rig power when on 30 amps. There is another long thread about this not too many days ago.

As to the wiring – IMO - wire the power cord (inside the rig) to the Progressive Industries EMS, then from there to the generator / shore power change over relay. That will protect the change over relay if there is a problem with a surge / spike or lighting from the power line. If ever the EMS, in protecting the coach, has an issue (lighting blows it up, but not the rig to be figurative) you can still run the generator as the change over switch will still be OK. Normally there is no need to protect the power feed from the generator. Long discussion as to why, but generators just don’t do the bad things like the power feeds from the pole, etc.

FWIW, at the RV-Dreams Rally yesterday I had a couple come up and say “thank you!” for letting us know about the Progressive Industries device. She said, it saved our “$$$” in Florida last month. Yep.

Safe travels

Bill

The Crumps · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have the portable. They sell (at CW) a box that padlocks around the plugs. The only way they could steal it would be to cut the electrical cable. This would probably attrack some attention.

sonicsix · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have the Progressive Industries hard wired 30A unit. We love it but it does get very hot on the bottom, hot enough to discolor the flooring. We have since mounted it with a 1" gap. This is our 2nd one, the first one melted in on itself. Not sure if due to a hit or simply product failure.

TxYellowRose · RV-Dreams Family Member

Louie,

Check out my reply to Sherry's post on the same subject.

Here is what we have http://tweetys.com/electricalmanagementsystemportable50amp.aspx

Cheers,

Betty