If you don’t use a surge protector/EMS have you ever had any problems?

[CampDaven]

I've never had a problem. But I've always had a PI EMS!
Neighbors were not so lucky many times.
1. All electronics fried
2. 2 air conditioners fried
3. RV burned up.
All while my $300 EMS saved me all of that trouble. I recon about $5000 in savings just in the failed pedestals it saved me from.
That said, what is the real purpose of this thread?

[MTBer]

Originally Posted by Podivin

OP, I'm not sure I understand what you're looking for.

Only looking for what I asked in the original post. I wasn't trying to debate the merits of the SP/EMS, only curious of others experience without one.

Once again I appreciate everyone's concern for my safety/wallet but that's not what I am looking for.

[JohnBoyToo]

Since I probably won't meet your criteria for this private thread

I will reiterate what others said,
that while I can't say how much damage would have been caused by the two bad boxes I ran into at sites... I know they were bad, because I moved sites and everything was fine...

The $300 for a lifetime warranted device is small compared to the potential damage.

Remember at many, MANY rv parks, it's maybe Joe the janitor that is also their maintenance man... and he may not be an electrician, especially an electrician that knows rv wiring is different from S&B wiring..

[n2587n]

I camped in muncie indiana Aug 1st to the 7th last year at a camp ground with like 50 hook ups , all was good for every one tell some one backed in to a power post pushing it over , this caused a open ground for like half of the campers , the ones with a surge system just turned off , the ones with 50 amp systems had problems due to having high voltage on one leg and low voltage on the other , some with 30 amp systems had high voltage and some had low voltage , there were some that said they were shocked , I did not see any one get shocked but I believe it to be true . there was damage to some campers with out surge system and no damage to ones with the surge system . the electrician came out and said it would take a long time to fix and shut down the power to all the campers for the rest of the week , I had a surge system and all it did was turn off power to my camper . no damage .

[garbonz]

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

If you stay in one place that has perfect power along with updated power supply lines, pedestals, etc. you may never need any protection other than a surge protector for those unexpected power surges that occur occasionally with every power company across the country.

In fact if you are not using an EMS power protection system you may never know how bad either low voltage or high voltage situations may have affected your components that have motors such as your A/C's until much later when they just stop working. When that happens you just chalk it up to, well whatever.

Obviously, you will know right away if you had a floating neutral because most 120 VAC stuff will be fried from the 240 VAC if your RV uses 50 amp service but you may not realize you have a missing ground (Hot Skin) until one day when the ground is wet and you touch the side of your RV or the door handle in your bare feet and experience a rather strong tingle which in some cases can kill you.

And it did for one 3 year old boy one day.

Boys Death Caused by Improperly Grounded Camper

To me it is just insane to play "Russian Roulette" with your RV.

Your RV, your money, your choice.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

Does the EMS protect against a hot skin? I thought I read on Mike Sokol's page that a hot skin issue is not detected by an EMS on all situations. I carry and use the stray current gizmo that he recommends and check with it at every new location.

[firedoc]

Originally Posted by n2587n

I camped in muncie indiana Aug 1st to the 7th last year at a camp ground with like 50 hook ups , all was good for every one tell some one backed in to a power post pushing it over , this caused a open ground for like half of the campers , the ones with a surge system just turned off , the ones with 50 amp systems had problems due to having high voltage on one leg and low voltage on the other , some with 30 amp systems had high voltage and some had low voltage , there were some that said they were shocked , I did not see any one get shocked but I believe it to be true . there was damage to some campers with out surge system and no damage to ones with the surge system . the electrician came out and said it would take a long time to fix and shut down the power to all the campers for the rest of the week , I had a surge system and all it did was turn off power to my camper . no damage .

And with that this thread should end!

[4x4van]

Originally Posted by JohnBoyToo

Remember at many, MANY rv parks, it's maybe Joe the janitor that is also their maintenance man... and he may not be an electrician, especially an electrician that knows rv wiring is different from S&B wiring..

And your source for this claim is...?

While it may be true for a few rv parks, I'd wager that most RV parks do have someone working on the electrical system that knows that the differences between RV wiring and S&B wiring, especially those parks that provide 50A service.

I hate these kind of posts, because they always devolve into otherwise well-meaning people trying to shame, insult, or scare others into purchasing an expensive piece of equipment; statements like "they don't understand the issues" or "they are playing russian roulette...". The bottom line is that they are a piece of equipment that is NOT mandatory, but CAN save an RVer a significant amount of money. Odds are good that they will never need the protection, but odds are just that; odds, not absolutes.

The perceived cost/benefit ratio is different for everybody, as is the dollar amount of the potential loss; someone with a $400K DP has much more electrical equipment at risk than someone with a $10K used Class C. Someone who travels alot and uses many different hookups over the course of their travels is much more at risk than someone who most often frequents a single (or two) known campgrounds.

[dexters]

Originally Posted by 4x4van

While it may be true for a few rv parks, I'd wager that most RV parks do have someone working on the electrical system that knows that the differences between RV wiring and S&B wiring, especially those parks that provide 50A service.

I think RV parks know an electrician to call once a problem is discovered. But it probably will be the RV owner who will discover the problem. Then if the RVer tells the manager that there is high or low voltage they have to explain why that is a bad thing and convince them to correct it.

Just look at state RV parks. They either have a ranger or camp host (getting a comped site) managing the park, not an electrician.

[Mudfrog]

Could have sworn i already posted to this thread but i sure don't see it now.

At home, i have surge protectors on the flat screen tv and the computer. That's it. The rest of the house is not protected. Issues had, none that i'm aware of.

Our motorhome is older with only 4 things that i know of that are susceptible to alternating current problems. The converter/charger, TV, microwave oven, and AC. Do i want to lose any of these? certainly not. But if i do, they are easily replaced.

I'll go ahead and say it since i believe it's a good indication of how often this is really an issue. After some 30 something years of RVing, i've never had one appliance fail. Yes it can happen, and yes, i agree that my odds may be better it'll happen without the surge protection. However, i've made up my mind to deal with it if it ever does.

People mention insurance, this is similar. But in the same manner, i don't pay for full coverage on everything i have. Matter of fact, three of the vehicles owned now have only liability on them. Again, i'm prepared to take care of things if something ever happens. Meanwhile, i'm happily putting money back that i save from those excess premiums.

[jleamo1]

We stayed at a CG in southern NJ Labor day weekend 2015, anyway... I test the tower with this gadget prior to hooking up https://50amppowerpal.com/
Of course I stumbled upon an open neutral, I call the office, their maintenance guy comes out and he tells me my tester is wrong, the previous coach had no problems.... just plug into it, it will be ok...NOPE!! After arguing he opens the tower to find the neutral burnt off the back of an ancient outlet that was crumbling. Now I test prior to plug in.
Why?
Not mentioned above, we were traveling across country the prior year, pulled into a CG for the night, I was tired and it was late, went to a site that was available on the board, for some odd reason I flipped the breaker on prior to connecting the EMS to the tower, the tower wacked me and sparks shot out of it and up in smoke it went. After that I test before plugging my EMS in. Needless to say when I flip breakers on I don't lean on the tower either, one hand on the breakers ONLY.
CG towers are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you gonna get.


Perhaps I just have bad luck, maybe. spend enough on our coach and family enjoyment, not going to risk it with stuff I can control.

[dexters]

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

People mention insurance, this is similar. But in the same manner, i don't pay for full coverage on everything i have. Matter of fact, three of the vehicles owned now have only liability on them. Again, i'm prepared to take care of things if something ever happens. Meanwhile, i'm happily putting money back that i save from those excess premiums.

Well let's do the math.

Surge protector $215/30 years = $7.16/year That is really inexpensive insurance and peace of mind.

https://www.amazon.com/Progressive-I.../dp/B003AL23TC

[ROAquaman]

5 years, no problems

[96 Wideglide]

Originally Posted by timjet

Podivin pretty much nailed it. Except as he said the US electrical grid is pretty stable until you get a lightning strike.

Has nothing to do with the US electrical grid!

It comes down to the wireing of the RV park your in, and more specificaly,, the power pedestal you plug your RV into!

[rgvtexan]

Never been struck by Lightning either, but when the horn blows I get off the course.

My career path led me to check the pedestal with my trusty Fluke before plugging in. I have reported many, over the years. Just last Fall I found a reverse wired 30 amp. It was at a large event with temp. service. When the electrician arrived to investigate , he was surprised, as the equipment had been used for years and never reported. He asked how I found it. With my surge protector/EMS tester. I got tired of using the Fluke years ago. YMMV.