Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-30-2006, 05:49 PM   #1
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SO. CA.
Posts: 49
I'm thinking of purchasing a portable surge guard however I have a dumb question.
If you have a 50amp service on your motorhome I suspect you need to purchase a 50 amp surge guard but if you plug into a 30amp service at a campground will the 50amp surge guard work as it should? Give you the protection necessary?
Thanks for the information in advance.
__________________
BobD

2004 Adventurer 33' W20 03Chassis, 4 Koni's, Ultrapower/Taylor Wires
BobD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2006, 05:49 PM   #2
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SO. CA.
Posts: 49
I'm thinking of purchasing a portable surge guard however I have a dumb question.
If you have a 50amp service on your motorhome I suspect you need to purchase a 50 amp surge guard but if you plug into a 30amp service at a campground will the 50amp surge guard work as it should? Give you the protection necessary?
Thanks for the information in advance.
__________________
BobD

2004 Adventurer 33' W20 03Chassis, 4 Koni's, Ultrapower/Taylor Wires
BobD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2006, 05:58 PM   #3
Winnebago Master
 
AFChap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...hopefully on the road!
Posts: 1,653
Yes, you need a 50a surge guard on a 50a rig. When you plug it into a 30a service, you use the 50-30 adapter just as you would with your power cord. It will work as it should, and it will give you the same protection. I had mine hardwired in so I don't have to "remember" to put it in the connection.
__________________
Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
'03 Winnebago UA 40e TRADED OFF JUL 2023 / '17 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
AFChap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2006, 06:33 PM   #4
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SO. CA.
Posts: 49
Thanks Paul I thought it would but I wanted to be sure.
__________________
BobD

2004 Adventurer 33' W20 03Chassis, 4 Koni's, Ultrapower/Taylor Wires
BobD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2006, 07:46 PM   #5
Winnebago Owner
 
bellsharbor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Posts: 203
BobD

Yes, the last post says it all. As a side note: I purchased a portable 50 amp surge protector and on out first trip out, I was pluged into 30 amp service. A lighting strike hit the park and fried the electrical of one of our neighbors and caused my surge protector to kick off. I think it saved my coach. Good luck and happy travels.
__________________
John and Marion Bell
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2013 Keystone Bullet 248RKS, 2013 Ram 1500
bellsharbor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 02:53 AM   #6
Winnebago Master
 
ichn2go's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Seaford, VA
Posts: 1,046
Put this under the heading "must have". DON'T be without!!! Good Miles
__________________
Happy Trails! ICHN2GO, Seaford VA,
06, 34 Newmar Ventana
02 Jeep Liberty
ichn2go is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 03:42 AM   #7
iRV2 Marketing
 
DriVer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Conway, SC
Posts: 886
Please consider installing in a 50A hard wired surge suppressor. It just removes a layer of complexity by having the SS out of sight and out of mind.

Remember; "Don't leave home without it!"
__________________
03 Adventurer 38G, Workhorse W22
F&R Track Bars, Safety+ , Ultrapower, Taylor Extremes, SGII
TST 507, Blue Ox, SMI, Koni FSD, CrossFire
RV/MH Hall of Fame - Lifetime Member
DriVer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 04:58 AM   #8
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 146
I first purchased the surge guard. While camping in Ohio last summer I found the power shutting off. When I checked it out I found that the Park power was down to around 103 volts. The surge guard did its job as it is supposed to shut off at that power level. Problem was, now what do I do? I solved that problem by installing an autotransformer that boosts the voltage when needed. So now I have both. I have the autotransformer hard wired in my basement and use the portable surge guard on the post. I also have a lock installed on the surge guard to keep people honest.
__________________
Pat Tribbey

2003 Ultimate Advantage
Ptribbey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 05:54 AM   #9
Winnebago Camper
 
chasfm11's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: DFW Area, TX
Posts: 16
I, too, have a 50amp hardwired SurgeGuard. I like the fact that it is always involved and out of sight when we are hooked to shore power. I personally didn't want the extra hassel of having to lock a portable up every time we plugged in.

Regarding the voltage dropping too low and the SurgeGuard dropping out, I'm pretty militant. I believe that when we pay a campground fee, we are paying for stable electrical power. I wouldn't tolerate the water in my shower turning cold in hotel and I have little acceptance of brown-out type electrical voltage levels in campgrounds. I would expect either to move to another site or to be given a refund if the electrcial service proves to be unreliable. Of course, I would "gently" describe my situation to the campground management and allow them to act upon it before escalating the matter. We recently lost electrical power at Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone (wire had been loose and burned off the breaker inside the site box). They responded promptly and repaired the problem.
__________________
2000 Georgie Boy Landau 36' DP
2005 Saturn Vue toad
KF5-NJY
chasfm11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 07:54 AM   #10
Winnebago Owner
 
Ron-in-Tn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Clarksville, TN
Posts: 87
I agree with the "must have" on this item. I just ordered one myself after reading about them in this forum. I know that your typical household/office surge protectors have a shelf live due to the material inside and have been told by a reliable source that they should be replaced if they ever take a surge that trips the breaker on the unit. Does anyone know how much of this, if any, applies to the Surge Guard? This would be a determining factor on weather or not I had mine hard wired in or stuck with the portable unit. I was going to call the manufacturer but since it's Sunday...thought I would see what you folks might know on this.
Ron-in-Tn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 01:37 PM   #11
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 150
I use my 50A portable when connected to 50Amps but use my old 30A when connected to a 30Amp site. Is this OK or should I always use the 50A regardless?
__________________
Bob Russo
Formerly had 07 Neptune 36PDQ, ISB 325, Allison 2500, Source Trailing Arms and Ride Enhancement Kit, Demco KarKaddy 460SS.
Currently no Motorhome
Nonno is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 02:20 PM   #12
Administrator Emeritus
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 1,319
Bob, there's certainly no need to have both unless you just want to as it has been described in earlier posts and even proven by me that the 50A will do both...
I guess I'm a trusting soul, but I've never locked my portable to the pole and never had an issue with anyone taking it...

My electrical compartment consists mostly of a drum of cord and the rewind reel....I'm sure I could find a place for a hardwired one,but the portable one does the same thing.....

It's tomato or tomatoe I think....
rebelsbeach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 02:48 PM   #13
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SO. CA.
Posts: 49
Rebelsbeach,
Thanks for the information and I agree I just purchased the portable 50amp surge guard today
from Camping World. I also will put a lock on it just to keep the honest people honest.
Again thanks to all who responded to my question it is nice to have good feedback on the issues that we all face with our RV's.
__________________
BobD

2004 Adventurer 33' W20 03Chassis, 4 Koni's, Ultrapower/Taylor Wires
BobD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 03:54 PM   #14
Winnebago Camper
 
Bushman512003's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Wallaceburg,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 6
Ok I have a question Most parks I use are 30 amp, I just bought a 50 amp Unit Motor Home. But have a 30 amp post model I am thinking of useing with cheaters Will not over ride the power as say run 2 airs or fry pan and coffee maker and other things at the same time I know better.I have a 3000 honda for Booning and have the Surge guard wired for that..What is the way I should go?Bushman Asking thanks for your help in advance.....
__________________
John&Jeannette Just enjoying life, camping, friends, sitting around the fire at night LOL life is good. Bye John the Bushman!! EH
Bushman512003 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 04:03 PM   #15
Winnebago Camper
 
BIGRED1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 14
The Progressive Industries HW50C is the best unit on the market for the money if you're interested in serious surge proteciton.
__________________
'00 Monaco Dip 38D

8.3L Cummins ISC
BIGRED1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2006, 06:16 PM   #16
cwg
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 26
After the outlay in purchasing the 50 amp Surge protector,I was quick to initially lock it to the power cord with the mechanism sold for that purpose. Then, over the past couple of years, I became more complacent and realized that most campers would not remove it from my campsite --- now I just skip the extra time and hassle of securing it. It comes back to the old adage that "some of the most honest people are RVer's".
cwg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2006, 12:58 PM   #17
Winnebago Watcher
 
Toby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Tallahassee
Posts: 3
I too have the Progressive surge guard. This is my second hard wired unit. Would not leave home without it. Was at Petersberg Corp park in Georgia last week and it went off 3 times during our stay. (every time we go there we have power outages or surges). The unit worked fawless. Our friend who refuse to get one did not know the power was out or surged. I told him he should remember this when he replaces his fridg and a/C and tv. s/Toby
__________________
2006 Holiday Rambler Ambassador 38PDQ
Click on SHIP to enlarge CGC Sagebrush
Toby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2006, 03:38 PM   #18
Winnebago Camper
 
WALLY NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NEW MONMOUTH , NJ
Posts: 40
We bought a surge protector to late
almost have never camped in a Campground.....only at fairgrounds , expositions,etc.
we use the coach for our business.........
only recently we have discovered from other RV'rs that these places are notorious for fluctuating voltage.
and we found out......
we fried a bunch of things over time
the convertor......... a board on the generator
an a few A/C circuits & the rear TV is dead,( cheaper to buy a new one by the way}

every time we asked the repair guys they all said the same thing:

"Most probably from a voltage surge."...........!!! so we bought a 50amp surge protector.......FINALLY! and from the use of the " lites" we have found bad circuits on a few of the 'posts" or " stancions" at these places....

ANOTHER thing
the only way we survived this , was from our extended warranty....... glad we bought it!!

GOOD LUCK
__________________
Laura & Walt Maraldo

New Monmouth, NJ
WALLY NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2006, 03:51 PM   #19
Winnebago Camper
 
WALLY NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NEW MONMOUTH , NJ
Posts: 40
PS

Another thing...... why cant the manufacturers build this into the RVs..........?
for the costv of the Coachs,,, you would figure this would be a standard item.......
my 2 cent's..........
__________________
Laura & Walt Maraldo

New Monmouth, NJ
WALLY NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2006, 04:12 PM   #20
Winnebago Owner
 
Ron-in-Tn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Clarksville, TN
Posts: 87
I couldn't agree more....give me one less electric switch on the couch and put in something that I really need. I mean let's face it...a lot of us pay more for these coaches than we paid for our first homes. One would like to think Winnebago can afford to toss out another $300 worth of accessories that would really help the owner out...like a Surge Guard. I've said it before and I'll say it again...this forum is a "must have" for anyone who owns an RV. I got lucky and had a friend send me this link shortly after I bought my RV. I truly feel for those folks out there who go at this stuff alone and have to learn these things "the hard way".
Ron-in-Tn is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Mud Flaps-Splash Guards-36Y Vista mvcompromise Winnebago Class A Motorhomes 7 03-13-2015 10:05 PM
Mud Guards/Mud Flaps azloafer General Maintenance and Repair 7 04-06-2010 09:25 AM
ANYONE LOST A PORTABLE SURGE GUARD?? 03 CORVETTE Electrical | Charging, Solar and Electronics 27 07-02-2008 03:37 PM
Leveling and Rock Guards vicsryd General Maintenance and Repair 8 06-27-2005 06:09 PM
Surge Guards hotrod 32 Electrical | Charging, Solar and Electronics 9 06-10-2005 10:07 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:49 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.