Surge and Electrical Protection

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by padlin

That was one of the steps PI had me do, beat on the contactor some (technical term). This is something we used to do at work fairly often so I was familiar with the idea although we did it more as a means of checking to see if the unit was working as opposed to a way to clean the contacts.

The correct technical term used by engineers is a "percussion adjustment"

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by tractors1

The correct technical term used by engineers is a "percussion adjustment"

Yup, and if that doesn't work, use a bigger one.

Ron

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by tractors1

The correct technical term used by engineers is a "percussion adjustment"

Hi: tractors1... Sometimes during the night I have to make a "Percussion adjustment" when my wife starts her buzz saw impressions!!! Won't even mention her "Power surges". Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[gbaglo]

Alf,

Are you complaining?

[sunrisetrucker]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

But if it is stowed in the trailer then it is not doing what it is intended to do.....

That’s true but then I just leave the trailer disconnected from shore power. If there is a low voltage problem or a power surge, not being plugged in makes me the best protected unit in the whole campsite
I'm very happy with our portable surge protector.
But as Donna says YMMV

[Iowa Dave]

Escape Artist,
I think we all know that you married UP and a long ways. Only about a month to go before we leave for Niagara Falls. Looking forward to it. Have laid in an essentials stock if you know what I mean.
Dave

[fbalexander]

Well again I'd like to thank all who contributed to this thread. I've made a decision and have pulled the trigger on the "wired" version. I ordered from the US as the cost in Canada is off the Richter Scale. I expect it will arrive before we leave for Calgary to pick up the trailer. I've watched an installation video by Progressive Industries and will take a look and assess the electronics of the trailer when we arrive. If I'm in doubt, I'll wait till I get home and have a RV dealer install it.

Fred

[PGDriver]

Just got back from a great weekend camping trip and for the first time had our EMS system shut everything down due to low voltage. Actually saw it drop below 100 volts at one point then decided to shoot a quick video of the readings. Definitely glad we added the Progressive Industries EMS option to our trailer.
Cheers
Doug
https://vimeo.com/163184531

[Sandra L]

Could you tell us all where that happened? It could be helpful to those who venture in those parts.

[PGDriver]

We were at Pine Coolee Campground in southern Albert. I was surprised, the Municipal District of Willow Creek runs the campground and knew about the problem.

Cheers
Doug

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by PGDriver

Just got back from a great weekend camping trip and for the first time had our EMS system shut everything down due to low voltage. Actually saw it drop below 100 volts at one point then decided to shoot a quick video of the readings. Definitely glad we added the Progressive Industries EMS option to our trailer.
Cheers
Doug
https://vimeo.com/163184531

We're glad to have the EMS too. We've had it cut power at 3 different places, two for spikes and one for low voltage.

[tractors1]

That's a great video for those undecided about the EMS. Had mine shut down but didn't think to record it.

[cpaharley2008]

and as it gets warmer, it will happen more often.....

[PGDriver]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

and as it gets warmer, it will happen more often.....

Jim the scary thing was there were only 6 of us in the campground on the weekend. Can't imagine there was much of a load on the system.

Cheers
Doug

[Sandra L]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

We're glad to have the EMS too. We've had it cut power at 3 different places, two for spikes and one for low voltage.

Maybe some enterprising spirit could put together a list of places where that has happened. I have never had a problem, but wouldn't want to get one either and I'm pre-surge (Escape offering). . I'm thinking of getting one however, and am weighing the "portable" ones.

[Mountain Mike]

We retrofitted the EMS on our trailer, and glad we did. At Juniper Beach it detected an open ground or neutral (can't remember which) and did not allow us to use shore power. I recommend these units

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Sandra L

Maybe some enterprising spirit could put together a list of places where that has happened. I have never had a problem, but wouldn't want to get one either and I'm pre-surge (Escape offering). . I'm thinking of getting one however, and am weighing the "portable" ones.

I dunno Sandra. I can see the value in keeping personal notes on places where electrical issues occurred.

But a published list might quickly turn into an unfair "places to avoid" list, when the electrical issues there were actually a one off, or caused by issues which no longer exist. You might very well have the EMS kick in one time at a particular campground, and the next time have no issues at all. That's the value of the EMS - it handles whatever the conditions are at the time.

[Jim Bennett]

I was thinking the same thing too Robert, in that any problem with unstable power supply could easily be a one off situation, or a situation recognized and fixed.

I have never had an EMS in a trailer before, but then rarely hooked up to power other than at home. I will be getting one in my 5.0, just in case.....

[Dave Walter]

Our EMS gave a low voltage error a few times one afternoon at a very well known and popular state park just outside of Moab. Was very hot and windy at the time and our AC was very much welcomed when the power stabilized again later that day.

[float5]

The EMS commonly protects against too many people using A\C causing a voltage problem. Surges that are weather related and other weather-related events, of course, can be anywhere. Going home in two or three days with our first Escape, we had a bad pedestal at a campground.