Surge Protector

[Crashwood]

I have a question, I'm just wondering does anybody use anything to cover up their surge protector when in use in case it rains. its just one of many things I think of when reading these forums.

[joerone]

Mine has a flip cover

[glwinger]

These are made to withstand weather. if you're really concerned, you could cover it with a heavy plastic bag. Cut a hole in the bottom, slip it over the plug and secure it with a tie wrap. You can lift the bag to plug in your cord.

[ocbizman1]

I installed a hardwired unit inside my rig. My son and I did it in a couple of hours. Only cost me about $250. I don't have to worry about rain, or having it stolen, or remember to hook it up. I just plug in (when we need to, don't normally need to with our solar).

[OldBaldFat]

I want an external unit because of a couple reasons.

If it fails, I can get power to the rig. And all it takes is cash to replace it. Amazon and other places can have a new one in my hands in a day at most.

If the pedestal power is really bad, I want any arcing or heat to be outside the rig.

That said, I've never heard of one being damaged by water/ rain. Of course, I don't let it sit in the water pond from rain. Keep the connections above water. At times I've had to use chairs to do that.

Progressive does not want purchasers to open the box and replace the surge unit after they have failed.

Hughes Autoformer does allow users to replace the surge module. I have a spare. But they warn you that you must be extremely careful to get the seals perfect when you put it back together.

ALL surge protectors will fail over time.

They can take X number of joules while protecting against surges. Maybe an RV will get hit by a lot of small surges over a few years. Or one or five big ones in a stormy spring.

The end results is that the device gets 'burned out' with each surge until it's used up.

And the purpose of a surge protector is to sacrifice itself, so that the RV is protected.

I have to laugh when some post a complaint about a bad lighting storm in the area, and now they don't have power in the RV. The surge protector 'failed'.

That's what it is supposed to do dummy. Get burned out by the bad power to save the stuff inside the RV.

[High Road Travelers]

I have used an external one for about 13 years and have never covered it, but it is always off the ground. I wouldn't mind using a covered one, mine just isn't.
Thanks,

[MORSNO]

My Progressive Industries 30A Electrical Management System (EMS) has sat out in the elements every day for years on the side of my garage and also out on a pedestal at every campground/RV park. The common error that mine picks up is low voltage. Weather is not an issue, they are designed to be outdoors.

[RV Vagabond]

I keep my surge protector inside my cord storage bin where it cannot be stolen or get wet and then plug an extension cord to it and to the power post. This video I made shows how I do it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2mYzfEkWG0

[Dutch Star Don]

Typically, the power supply is high enough off of the ground that when you plug in a Surge Protector it's hanging under the power box or at least protected on one side from the power box pole.

I leave mine in the open. With that said, if it were a hundred-year rainstorm, I would probably put a trash bag over the whole power pole.

[Camp CA]

x2^^^What he said!!