Curious on surge protectors complaints. - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Oregonhiker · RV-Dreams Family Member

Curious on surge protectors complaints.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the world of knowing more than the campground owners and workers. The attitude that "it works for others, so the problem is on your end", is very common. The workcamper that handles electric repairs often does not know the electric code and just makes it work. Low voltage normally means the wiring is inadequate, which costs big money to fix and that is not going to happen. How to find campgrounds where they care about doing it right? I have no idea.

We see less of this in newer campgrounds.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Is it just me, or shouldn't such conditions be noted CG review websites etc., along with site numbers and CG operator attitudes. Hopefully you did those things so others researching places to stay would be forewarned. You story makes me not want to go to that CG.

Bill, your comments suggest this is a common occurence. Another thing to put on my radar? Certainly will be adding the Progressive device (or it's equivalent by the time we go) to our equipment list.

Brian

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Brian: We don't encounter it much, but it is out there. Remember that campground management often does not know electricity that well and has to trust others to advise and maintain the systems. A handy person can convince themselves and the campground management that they know what they are doing. If the majority of campers "seem" to have no problems, then they think everything is great and blame the customer that complains. Same with wifi, its your fault if it doesn't work.
Many don't really know the difference between 30A and 50A. Many do not understand the difference between neutral and ground or that 50A can supply 240v (or occasionally 208v when using 3-phase). Some don't even understand reverse polarity. There are many campgrounds where the 50A wiring is also supplying the 30A and 20A breaker in the same box, without the proper fusing (circuit breakers) that is required for code and safety. Many do not understand Autoformers and try to ban them, so we keep ours hidden to deal with campgrounds with low voltages.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Wednesday 12th of August 2015 12:57:17 PM

Oregonhiker · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bill, I agree in that the first place the employee that came out first had the attitude that nothing can be wrong with their system until their repairman on duty explained to him that it can happen and did.

Brian , The second CG had an electrician come out this morning and test things. More to the story is that in the current CG we parked next to a couple and they were using a dog bone on the 50 amp service with their 30 amp 5th wheel. He told me that he was blowing breakers in his 5er on the 30amp service. My thought at the time was the 30 amp service was bad along with everything that I was trying. He had left this morning by the time the electrician came. His entire post and the others that I had tested now were all reading correctly. It had to have been something in my neighbors trailer or electrical cord that caused all of the problems.

So with that I guess that the park can be right that it isn't their equipment that is faulty but was caused by an outside source. I am the first to admit that I am not that knowledgable about this stuff. If any electricians on here can chime in it would be great. I can only think that our third move at the current park we moved farther away from the problem and that made it possible for us.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

OregonHiker: With a properly wired campground, the only problem your neighbor's RV should cause is a drop in your voltage. It sounds like some of the wiring behind the scenes is not up to snuff. I suspect a loose neutral, but I am not an electrician.

Remember, the vast majority of RVers have nothing to tell them the voltage coming in, let alone any kind of surge suppression or other electric protection. Those who do are the minority. Your appliances and RV electrical system are protected, most are not and those owners are paying money to fix stuff that they think was faulty.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes, as Bill J. said, the line “it works for others” is based on the fact “others” don’t have any protection. And just a surge protector will not protect against the problems you are seeing. That's why you need the HW50C. Just because it might work doesn’t mean it might not do damage to the rig if something changes. Trust us on this.

As to the voltage being low, or high, on only one leg – that can also come from old transformers (“pole” pigs as they are called) on the power poles that are wired from “another time.” That is an old type of transformer where one leg can be higher or lower. Just is.

Yes, many people running AC’s can cause issues with low voltage. But not if the park power is properly installed and feed properly from the utility pole.

The thing to remember is, the HW50C is protecting your rig – especially if you are using a 50 amp source. Believe what it says and you will have far less trouble even if you have inconvenience. The last person you want to believe is the CG owner who will not spend the money to rewire the park to more current standards.

The money you spent for the HW50C is second only to spending money on upgraded tires. It is just really important and you are now seeing that demonstrated.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I guess that since some campground owners and management want to use the excuse that "no one else is having problems," we can use the excuse that "we've never had this problem in any other campgrounds." Not that it would likely help solve the problem, but it might just give one a credible argument for the owner's/management's comments.

I plan to remember that. Here at Mountaindale, we've been on the Progressive Industries system and not had any problems other than an occasional low voltage on one leg or the other.

Terry

Oregonhiker · RV-Dreams Family Member

Update, I am glad to say that the past parks that we have been in have been perfect. I am now doing my due diligence when set up that I should have been doing all along. It adds maybe a minute of time in setting up. I am checking the pedestals with my volt/ohm meter before hooking up. Then I also screw on my water gauge to the faucet to check the pressure there also before hooking up. Along with the electric problems I thought I was having water issues in the form of a filter blockage or a regulator screen that was full of debris. Nope just bad pressure from a park here or there. I had gotten lazy thinking that I didn't need to do anything due to my surge protector and water regulator would take care of me. That is true, but now I know if there is a problem before I even hook up. Thank you for all of the comments and help.