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Power Monitor Sale
If someone is looking for a power management and protection device, Camping World has them on sale. Here’s one that’s is more than a simple surge guard and is similar in function to the one I use. They also have the hardwired version, which is identical to the one I installed in my last coach.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/portable-surge-guards-with-lcd-display-50-amp/58465
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13 Replies
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I have one of these built into my bus. Is there any advantage in having the one shown in addition to the one I already have? Can you even use two? The only difference is mine does not have the display and is hard wired into the bus. I do see lots of people using these, but have never asked if they have a built in one….
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Mark,
There’s no reason to run two in series. BTW, they now have a remote panel on the hardwired version of this one. If it can’t be added on it may be worth a call to the manufacture to see if they can do a worthwile exchange.
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I use this surge guard all the time, every time. I’ll plug this in at the inlet box and wait till I get the all clear lights for both
legs.
Then turning the power box off plug in the bus cord .
My thinking is I would rather blow this $300 protector then surge the bus.
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Al,
Why do you turn off the protection device and then plug in the coach? The protection device is checking the power during the time delay. Only if the power is good will the relays energize and pass power to the coach.
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This Progressive Industries device had some really nice features that are considered to be the best available by a large number of people:
http://www.progressiveindustries.net/ems_lchw50.htm
There is a hardwire version and a protable, plug-in version. Check out the specs. It’s really good.
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Gil,
After I get the all clear from the surge protector the female end on the protector is hot. I’am thinking it’s not a good idea to push the male into a live contact. Making all my connections with the juice off.
I did this in Austin TX and the second leg did not go on. This told me there was some problem inside the electric stand.
RV park found a loose connection, our bus was never exposed to danger.
AL
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Al, I assumed you had a power monitor and not just a surge protector. I highly recommend power monitors with active management like the one I provided the link to or the ones from Progressive Industries, which is what I now have. These disconnect the coach from shore power if the voltage is too high or low or if the neutral is open. Some also provide a display of voltage on each leg, current draw on each leg, and frequency. I’ve seen too many brown outs, low voltage situations, to go without one of these devices. And yes they also protect from surge conditions, as good as any surge protector.
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My EMS-PT50C has protected my coach more times from low voltage than power surge/over voltage. I would not be without it!
Just sayin.
JIM
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I wish there was a way to prove the effectiveness of our surge protectors.
We have a whole house surge protector and about 1 1/2 years ago we got zapped with what must have been an impressive jolt of electric. It was such that it blew holes through the metal cases of a lot of our A/V equipment, and it knocked out two in line circuit protectors such that when we shook them they sounded like a baby rattle.
Over $4000 worth of damage and the whole house surge protector never even tripped.
So far we have not had any incidents relative to the coach, but how would we know?
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Gil, after reading your post I believe you are correct. I’am thinking one thing and saying something else.
Thanks for getting it right.
Let’s keep this quiet….if Knoxville Jon or Truk find out about this foo-pa , I’ll never hear the end of it.
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My inverters kick in when the voltage is too low or too high. Do I need a surge protector or power monitoring system in addition to this? Honest question.
DKO
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DKO,
I still recommend one of the power monitors. It protects from a lot more than low voltage. I also bet there’s plenty of AC powered systems that don’t go through your inverters, like air conditioners, that should be protected from low voltage. I really like the new Progressive Industries unit linked previously. They now have the ability to easily bypass the protection modes, except surge. The lack of that feature is the main reason I wasn’t too keen on using the hardwired version.
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Actually, as far as I know on my Vantare, everything runs through the inverters. That is one of the things that is very different about a Vantare conversion. I leaned that from a friend but the information was confirmed right here, by the way. However, that is not to say that I do not need additional protection.
DKO
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