To Surge Protect....or not to Surge Protect.......

[SteveCal]

I hope this is in the correct section. I'm almost afraid to ask because I'm getting a complex. Seems my questions start range wars and heated debates.

Well. Here goes. We all know there are plug in RV Surge Protectors on the market. I see the advertisements that state, (something like) "this motor home was burned down by this campground's power supply. Our Surge Protector would have prevented this."

Now. Being over thirty (more than once. O.K. more than twice.) I have seen a lot of advertising. Some very convincing. I like facts and not a lot of what-ifs or could-happens.

I have never seen or heard of an RV having a fire caused by a campground's electrical power supply. I don't remember seeing anyone using a plug in RV Surge Protector.

O.K......finally.......Do you use an in-line plug in RV Surge Protector? Why?

And, please folks, don't start flamin' and arguing with each other about the answers. We all have differing opinions and convictions. Thanks.

[NLOVNIT]

Yes we use a hard-wired Progressive Industries protector. I can't testify to the fire-prevention aspect, but the PI protector has saved us NUMEROUS times from:
low-voltage (at least 6x)
open neutral (1x)
open ground (2x)
reverse wired outlet (1x)

Ya just can't trust campground shore power. Never know who (or with what knowledge) did the electric hookups. Every RV we've owned has had one. Wouldn't be without.

Lori-

[SteveCal]

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

Yes we use a hard-wired Progressive Industries protector. I can't testify to the fire-prevention aspect, but the PI protector has saved us NUMEROUS times from:
low-voltage (at least 6x)
open neutral (1x)
open ground (2x)
reverse wired outlet (1x)

Ya just can't trust campground shore power. Never know who (or with what knowledge) did the electric hookups. Every RV we've owned has had one. Wouldn't be without.

Lori-

Thank you Lori. How could anyone argue with your presentation? I'm this close to convinced to install a protector.

I've been enjoying your photo album. I see no moss grows on your RV. LOL.

[srx-6]

I installed a Progressive Industries hardwired unit. Since then I have found two portable units left behind by the previous camper. Ours has saved us from low voltage several times.

[RickO]

Count me among those with hard wired surge protector. Install it and forget it.

Rick

[NLOVNIT]

Thank you & you're welcome. We all have thousands of dollars in electronics in our RV's. Spending a few hundred dollars (& time to install if hard-wired) is cheap insurance to keep from having to replace the A/C compressors, TV's, satellite systems, microwaves, blueray players...etc we've got that would get fried by some unlicensed electrician-wanna-be's job of wiring.

Moss could grow while we have it stored between Nov & May, but it gets too cold up here for it to do that.

Lori-

[1stCougar]

I did not have a surge protector and my microwave and refrigerator
and a wine cool had to be replaced because the power cable neutral
wire came lose inside the female plug so you don't need fire to do
a lot of damage, I have brought a hard wire surge protector because
the ones you buy to put on the pedestal would have done nothing
to stop what happened to me.

[Fred1609]

We have a 5er and bought a portable unit. For me it seemed easier to just plug it in everytime we arrived at a new site. Now, over the next few years when we upgrade our 5er I might consider a hard wired unit. Anything though is better than nothing.

[KIX]

I echo what NLOVNIT said in post #2. Ours is hardwired. You can buy a portable one but we prefer the hardwired unit. From all I've heard and read Progressive Industries makes the best although that's not what we currently have.

[FlyingDiver]

We have a hardwired Progressive Industries unit. I got it at a rally at the Tampa RV show the day after a power surge (or maybe bad neutral) on the temporary RV parking power connections blew my transfer switch, and blew out a couple thousand worth of electronics on other rigs on the same circuit.

Newmar is now installing a transfer switch with built-in surge protection on the high end coaches with the Silverleaf system. Silverleaf wouldn't allow them to use their products until the coaches had a surge protection system.

joe

[radd226]

Our converter was fried when lightning struck a pole in the campground. I am planning on buying a surge protector this year.

[62_inrightlane]

I have a Progressive Industries portable unit and so far it hasen't saved me from anything, but it's there protecting if I ever need it. Let's me sleep better at night

[SteveCal]

WOW. Thanks for all the good information folks. My schedule of events for right now has me near an RV dealer where I should be able to pick up one of the plug-in surge protectors. I am heading into 'the woods' right away and don't have time for a hard wire installation. Would I be spending money wisely buying a plug-in for now so I will have 'some' protection? I will be at a National Forest campground initially. Then in a rural area for about four weeks.

[bench]

I saw most of the interior wiring on a motorhome burn up due to defective power at the Elks Lodge in Redding California a few years ago. We have a hard wired Progressive Industries which is installed before the transfer switch. It gave me a false sense of security. The Iota transfer switch failed and blew the circuit boards in the washer and central vac. Over $500.00 to repair.