Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
Howard, It s Richard your old neighbor at the Hershey Rally. Quick question, do you have a surge protector, do you think necessary for the 3 to 4 hundred bucks that they cost , Bonnie and I have been camping for about 22 years now and I don t ever recall the need for one. Bonnie tells me it s cheap insurance to be on the safe side , so i would respect your opinion. Thanks Richard Ps Hurry back to the east coast we miss you
There are numerous posts on this topic in the Forum with great explanations as to why the surge protectors with voltage protection are recommended. There are multiple posts from folks that have had their appliances fried from low or high voltage.
And "Yes", I personally believe they are a "must have" for towable units (and motorhomes as well if they don't already have something similar). We have one that is hard-wired into our electrical system. It has kept us from plugging in to bad circuits and it has shut power down to our rig several times when voltage has dropped too low.
These devices serve multiple purposes. They constantly monitor power and shut your power down when voltage surges above safe levels or voltage dips below acceptable levels. This prevents damage to your appliances. Testing voltage at the time of plug-in is good, but voltage changes occur the whole time you are plugged in, and these devices protect your coach without you having to monitor the voltage. In addition, these devices test the electrical pedestal for proper wiring when you plug in - if the pedestal is not wired properly, you will not get power and you should contact the campground office or change sites.
SurgeGuard or Progressive Industries both have great products and they both have 30-amp units or 50-amp units, and come in either plug-in or hard-wired versions.
That's my opinion and the opinion of multiple other technical folks I respect.
In all the years of traveling in an RV mostly Tavel trailers I never used one or had one. Our 3rd day out full timing at a KOA in Eureka, ca my progressive hard wired unit shut power off 3 separate times and restored power 3 times. I didn't have the remote readout hooked up yet so I don't know exactly what the problem was.
In the old days RV's didn't have the electronics we do today. Electronics do not like flaky power. I think it is cheap insurance and fully believe in them.. Wouldn't leave home without one as the saying goes
Richard, like you we camped for years as weekend and vacation RVers and never had a problem... as far as we knew. It took a lot of thought but when we embarked on our fulltime life we went ahead and installed the Progressive Industries hard wired EMS protection unit. Now in our 7th month we've been saved twice from miswired pedestals and low voltage. The units are expensive but from my opinion worth every penny.
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Ron and Joan 2005 Itasca Sunova 34A 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
