Community Forums

chuckbear · 07-28-2015, 06:57 PM

How many of you use either a surge protector or some type of power monitor at a campground? Which do you use and what is your preferred model? Who doesn't use anything at all and why? Living and traveling on our boat for 25 years, we have encountered every conceivable power issue, including plugging the boat into docks in third world countries. We have never had a problem with the electrical systems or any equipment on board. What makes a campground so different? Chuck

WanderingToo · 07-28-2015, 07:25 PM

So been camping most of my life and never had a surge/electrical protector. That said, first ever brand new Forester MH and reading these forums prompted me to buy a Progressive Industries 30A portable.

Worked great but have not encountered any bad power either. Got the portable unit mostly because I didn't want to mess with hardwiring it myself and refuse to pay others. LOL. Got a nice cable lock to make sure I keep it!

Happy Camping!

jacwjames · 07-28-2015, 07:43 PM

I was staying up in a campground in northern Michigan for an extended period of time. They had huge problems with low voltage which got worse as the campground became more occupied. I finally invested in a Hughes Transformer that corrected both low and high voltage and also would alert if the power was wired wrong. It helped a lot and never had a problem after we got it, it is a portable unit that we only use if there are problems. I have a voltage monitor in the coach that I check after I plug in.

I just purchased but haven't received a 50 amp Progressive Surge protector. It is a hard wired unit. I'm hoping that this will prevent any potential problems in the future. I watched the installation video on their website and it is pretty straight forward (unless you are color blind).

Last year while parked at the house and plugged into a 20 amp circuit we had a lightning strike on the pole that supplies power to house. Lost 1 TV in the house but also lost the EMS circuit board in the RV.

timmer594 · 07-28-2015, 08:48 PM

Just bought Progressive 30 amp hard wired. Stayed at an old campground last year with a bad neutral burned up my converter and one a/c unit. The forever guarantee sold me.

MSHappyCampers · 07-29-2015, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckbear

How many of you use either a surge protector or some type of power monitor at a campground? Which do you use and what is your preferred model? Who doesn't use anything at all and why? Living and traveling on our boat for 25 years, we have encountered every conceivable power issue, including plugging the boat into docks in third world countries. We have never had a problem with the electrical systems or any equipment on board. What makes a campground so different? Chuck

I wouldn't even THINK of RV'ing without a good electrical management system!

I have installed the Progressive Industries HW50C on all four RV's that we have owned. It's the cheapest insurance you will ever buy! It only takes one faulty pedestal at a CG to fry everything electrical in your rig! Just not worth taking a chance!

38Chevy454 · 07-29-2015, 09:32 AM

I have the Progressive Industries 50 amp portable monitor and surge protector. I view it like insurance, there in case you need it to protect your stuff. Most times it is not required and is not doing anything, just like insurance. Once you pay the money to buy it, no more continuing costs.

hal1phx · 07-29-2015, 09:44 AM

We use an inline Surge Guard ..... not certain we would ever need it .... but not work the gamble of hurting some part of electronics in the bus .... IMO

JohnBoyToo · 07-29-2015, 10:06 AM

Agree with all here...

it's somewhat like another thread - why do campground owners not keep up their lawn maintenance, trash pickup, etc....

If some owners have problems doing THOSE simple tasks, how hard do yo think they work on individual pedestals ?!?

datrbone8 · 07-29-2015, 10:20 AM

I've also travelled across the US and Mexico without any electrical surge protector and never had an issue. I got a Progressive 50a unit as a gift and wired it up for our summer trip just because I have it. 3.200 miles and numerous campgrounds visited since and still haven't had any issues.

I guess it's like insurance. You don't need it until the unlikely even that you do.

I always chuckle when I see those portable units with lock and chains wrapped around a power pedestal.. I can't recall ever staying in a place where I thought theft like that would be an issue

530ktm · 07-29-2015, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by datrbone8

I guess it's like insurance. You don't need it until the unlikely even that you do.

I always chuckle when I see those portable units with lock and chains wrapped around a power pedestal.. I can't recall ever staying in a place where I thought theft like that would be an issue

Kind of like your first sentence above, most likely never will need the lock, but then it is insurance in case you do.

TexasTom · 07-29-2015, 12:36 PM

Did its job 3 times in the past 2 years for us.

**Lt Dan** · 07-29-2015, 03:13 PM

Just like Joe, I just installed an EMS HW50C from Progressive Industries in our new Tiffin, even though it already has a transfer switch with some surge protection. The PI unit gives constant readout on Line Voltage and Amperage draw on each circuit leg as well as giving over/under voltage and surge protection.

I had a hard wired SurgeGuard in our Itasca and it saved our bacon several times in campgrounds when the voltage dropped due to a number of new arrivals all plugging in and turning on ACs at the same time.

jacwjames · 08-03-2015, 07:55 AM

I installed the HW50C Progressive Surge Protector last week. Pretty straight forward, hardest part was having to crawl into the basement and contort my body to be able to work on it.

I had been keeping my eye out for one and found one on ebay, it was an open box special. Paid $199 with free shipping. Came in the original box with all the instructions and display so I'm a happy camper.

I know one time we were parked a dog show and plugged into a 30 amp circuit that was 240 volts, luckily nothing was on and nothing was damaged.

MSHappyCampers · 08-03-2015, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacwjames

I installed the HW50C Progressive Surge Protector last week. Pretty straight forward, hardest part was having to crawl into the basement and contort my body to be able to work on it.

I had been keeping my eye out for one and found one on ebay, it was an open box special. Paid $199 with free shipping. Came in the original box with all the instructions and display so I'm a happy camper.

I know one time we were parked a dog show and plugged into a 30 amp circuit that was 240 volts, luckily nothing was on and nothing was damaged.

Only thing hard about the installation is messing with those heavy gauge wires!