chevyclassc
Iowa
New Member
Joined: 05/30/2011
View Profile
 Offline
|
has anyone here ever personally had anything electrical damaged from the lack of a surge protector? (TT related of course)
|
westend
all over
Senior Member
Joined: 11/17/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
Dog Folks wrote:We have had one from Camping World for six years of full timing now.
I KNOW of four occasions where it has saved us and our eletronics.
Four times in six years, you decide if it is worth the risk. For us, with all the eletronics on board, it is well worth the money. I'm curious as to how you determined the four occasions that saved your electronics. Was it the surge protector interupting the power?
'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton
|
samsontdog
Oregon, Wash Coast summer, Yuma Az winter
Senior Member
Joined: 08/06/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
I have the surge protector but one evening to get a early start the next morning
I put it away. Hour or so later we had low voltage in the Park and it took out the ref,heater, A/C. Very costly mistake. $1,000 later the ref and heater works but not the A/C So I recommend surge protectors
samsontdog 
|
Cecilt
Page
Senior Member
Joined: 10/18/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
We use one but not the cheap $100 ones. We have the one from CW that is over $200 for the 30a. Worth the peace of mind to me.
|
Ron Gratz
full time RVer
Senior Member
Joined: 12/27/2003
View Profile
|
davisenvy wrote:OK, I see a trend developing here.--- I think the "trend" you see is a result of having responses coming mainly from those who have spent money on a protector and believe they are necessary.
I also think that if you had a representative sample of responses from all RVers, the "trend" would be toward not being necessary.
We were half-time Rvers for 10 years and have been full-time for 7 years. We seldom stay in one place more than two weeks at a time, so we've been in a lot of campgrounds during the 17 years. Some of these have had pretty dilapidated power systems. We've never had electrical damage due to power problems. That's not to say it can't happen tomorrow -- just saying it hasn't happened in 17 years.
As I walk through campgrounds and look at rigs, I'd say that fewer than 5% have surge protectors. Of course, some of the rigs might have built-in protectors, but very few have protectors out at the utility post.
If you want a surge protector -- by all means get one. I'm willing to accept the risk (whatever it might be) of not using one.
Ron
|
|
|
Chromag
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 02/20/2012
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Would the warranty on a new TT cover the damage that could be caused by a surge or low voltage drop?
2012 Crossroads Z-1 271BH
2004 Nissan Armada with Blue Ox BXW1500, Prodigy P3
|
Elizabeth24
Montreal
Full Member
Joined: 12/03/2009
View Profile
|
We found out the hard (expensive) way. Had to replace microwave, dehumidifer and a few other things after plugging in at the Yuma Fairgrounds earlier this year. We now have a surge proctector and use it each time we plug in.
|
MNtundraRet
Bloomington, MN
Senior Member
Joined: 12/06/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Not really if you do your homework. I never owned one and have owned an RV since 1984.
Use a small continuity plug with 3 lights to check the shore-power outlets at the camground site. Costs a few bucks for tester.
Use and 120v, AC meter (plugs into AC oulet in RV) to monitor AC voltage for brownouts in hot weather. Low voltage can mess up an airconditioner. Costs a few bucks.
Unplug your shore-power cord during electrical storms to insure no chance of frying electrical equipment from a lightening strike. Costs nothing.
Keep a low deductible on your RV comprehensive insurance.
If it bothers you buy one but understand they can fail too. Nothing but death and taxes is guaranteed in life.
Mark & Jan "Old age & treachery win over youth & enthusiasm"
2003 Fleetwood Jamboree 29
|
Kennedycamper
Algoa, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 05/24/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
It's like insurance, and you won't see mine out by the pole. It's installed in the trailer. Electrical components don't like water, and I can't understand why they make them to be outside the trailer. I guess just because it's easier to hook up.
|
SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
Senior Member
Joined: 07/28/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
And you're fast enough to get up, run outside and unplug when a spike comes through? Brown outs are one thing, but the primary point of these is surge and spike protection, neither of which can be prevented or measured by cheap little off-the-shelf meters. All you can do is assess the damage after the fact.
A good surge protector is an insurance policy, period....
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
|
|
|
