skipit
Full time - somewhere in the USA
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Joined: 12/07/2005
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Two weeks a gao, in Myrtle Beach, we had an electrical storm. Nothing spectacular, but enough to wake us up at 2 in the morning.
We notice a lighting strike (not close, at least 4 or 5 miles away by the one-one thousdand method). I heard the SurgeGuard, or maybe the transfer switch, kick in and out, but we never lost power was in the coach.
The next morning I noticed the Energy Management System was a bit confused. Although we were plugged into 50 amp service, it thought we we had only 30 amps and couldn't be convinced otherwise.
I measured the voltage at the post, the voltage going into and out of the the Surge Guard and at the Transfer switch... All had between 118 and 122 on both legs.
I called the manufacturer of the energy management system and they gave me a few points to check on their equipment and sure enough, something had blown out 4 resistors in the sampling circuit in the ems system.
Surge Guard says it couldn't have been their system... The surge must have come from somewhere else??? Where??? THey had no answer except maybe the generator...???
I was hopeing they would pay for at least part of the damage, but no dice.
Anyway, $280 later (a new EMS board), all is now well.
My feeling is that something got by the surge guard.
Beware, having a surge guard in your coach is NOT a guarantee that you are safe.
2006 Winnebago Adventurer
2001 Chevy Tracker
Wonderful Wife/Co-Pilot/Best Friend for 38 years
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pulsar
Lewisville, NC
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Moved from Technology Corner to Tech Issues.
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teb1272
Memphis
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Yes, that is always a problem. It is impossible to tell what kills an electronic device, so any warranty is strictly based on how generous they feel the day you call in.
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TechWriter
Green Bay, WI USA
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Joined: 12/22/2002
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If your RV was subject to a lightning transient (as it sounds like), then your Surge Guard could not have protected you.
Surge Guards protect against voltage spikes on power lines, not lightning-induced transients. Check out their FAQ.
Tom
2004 34' Sea Breeze LX 8341
Vortec 8.1L & W-22
w/Xantrex RS2000 inverter/charger +
Xantrex XW-MPPT60-150 60A Charge Controller with 760W (3/4 KW) of Kyocera solar
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Is there any possibility that the surge guard prevented a worse problem from happening?
bumpy
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M GO BLUE
Southgate, MI
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Bumpyroad wrote:Is there any possibility that the surge guard prevented a worse problem from happening?
bumpy
This was my first thought also...
ERIC & BEV
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually CC/LB Duramax/Allison
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ShapeShifter
Buffalo, NY
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Joined: 04/03/2007
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skipit wrote:Beware, having a surge guard in your coach is NOT a guarantee that you are safe.
Nothing in life is really guaranteed. A lightning strike can be a huge amount of energy, nothing can totally protect you from it.
I'm sorry to hear you had trouble. Like bumpy, I wonder how much worse it could've been if you had no protection at all?
2007 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40PDQ
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randallb
On the road
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Maybe it was just coincidental or the issue was a previous condition that was not noticed until after the distant lightening strike occurred.
Randy
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Denny & Jami
Home Base Nebraska Avon Park Fl for the winter
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None of the surge protectors I looked at are fast enough to protect you form lightning or a transit spike coming in on the power wires. When I was a electrical contractor and installing lighting protection in phone buildings to protect there electronic switches all of them where worked one time and then had to be replaced and they are very expensive. The only protection I use is a surge receptacle that all of our electronics are plugged into, it has a green light on it and if it goes to red I have to replace it because it did it's job. For high and low voltage protection I just use common sense and watch what I plug into. The money we have saved over the years would pay for a few electrical components in the rig.
Denny
2000 F350 SC DRW V10 4.30 gears, Banks Cat Back, BrakeSmart, Air Lifts
2003 HitchHiker Premier 35FKTG
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firecapt1
Sonoma County, CA
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When I was in the market for a similar device I did a lot of research and posting on various RV forums re: best device to buy. In the end I purchased one of these:
Progressive EMS
EMS comparison chart
I'm glad I did since I had a problem with the unit and experienced the best customer service I have ever encountered. The device is better and more sensitive than the Surgeguard and the company stands behind their product 100%. All of the comments I have read place the customer service on a par with that of Fantastic Fan.
* This post was
edited 11/10/09 11:09am by firecapt1 *
Frank, Martha & Ryan
2007 Ford F-250 SD Crew Cab
2006 Cougar 289EFS
Happy Trails to you, until we meet again!
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