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08-07-2013, 09:26 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Sequim, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 19'
Posts: 134
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Surge Protector
Does anyone have any feelings about how much value the surge protector is on a trailer? We will be new to trailer camping when we get our new Escape in November and aren't familiar with how necessary a surge protector may be. You comments would be very welcomed. Thank you.
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08-07-2013, 10:33 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Not to be blunt, but it is like "safe sex". In campgrounds your trailer will be open to miswired pedestals, over and under voltage, spikes and surges all of which can ruin the electronics in your trailer, the refer, the converter, the tv, everything can be fried without using the EMS. It monitors the electric constantly, similar to GFCI, and any problems, it cut s it off. Without one, you take the risk of having your trailer fried, electrically.,
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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08-08-2013, 12:32 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Sequim, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 19'
Posts: 134
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Jim,
Thank you very much. Without any campground experience your comments were very valuable and I appreciate them.
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08-08-2013, 07:45 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Trailer: 2014 5TA/ *012 17B (previous)
Posts: 442
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We bought one last year from Escape to add to our 17b and it went into action a few times during our 7 weeks in Florida- it worked flawlessly.
There were certainly some Campgrounds that, if we hadn't had the surge protector, I wouldn't have wanted to plug in. As Jim indicated above - It's definitely worth the peace of mind.
__________________
Min D
Chapi II
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'Have No Regrets'
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08-08-2013, 08:54 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,373
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I've had mine trip 4 times in the last 2 years of travel - once because of reverse polarity, and 3 times for low voltage. While that isn't all that often, it well could have saved air conditioner damage running at low voltage.
I have the Progressive EMS-HW30C Surge Protector, which shows the voltage, frequency & current on an external display. The current reading is handy, particularly when you are connected to 15/20 amp connections - if you have an electric water heater you can tell when it cycles off and wait until it does before you add other large loads.
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08-08-2013, 02:45 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Olympia, Washington
Trailer: 2008 Bigfoot 25B17.5G
Posts: 161
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So is it better to have a 50A surge protector plugged in directly and then step it down to 30A with an adaptor, or is it better to have a 30A surge protector plugged in to the 50 -> 30 adaptor that's directly plugged in to power?
I ask because the cheapest 30A protector I could find is $30 cheaper than the cheapest 50A protector. We're not in the market for something fancy and expensive, I just need something that works so we don't fry our electrical system!
__________________
Hillary & Jeff
Camping with the sighthound variety pack
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08-08-2013, 03:11 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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I also don't want to spend $300, but would like some protection. I don't have air, so do I really need the fancy surge protector? Would some other inexpensive device warn me of polarity issues, etc.?
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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08-08-2013, 03:19 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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08-08-2013, 03:19 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
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I think without AC one only needs 15 amp power. A power bar and a garbage bag may be an answer. Plug your rig into a computer type power bar then into the campsite power pole. Place plastic garbage bag over power pole to keep out moisture.
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08-08-2013, 03:24 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hillary
So is it better to have a 50A surge protector plugged in directly and then step it down to 30A with an adaptor, or is it better to have a 30A surge protector plugged in to the 50 -> 30 adaptor that's directly plugged in to power?
I ask because the cheapest 30A protector I could find is $30 cheaper than the cheapest 50A protector. We're not in the market for something fancy and expensive, I just need something that works so we don't fry our electrical system!
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Hillary, the 30 amp model is what you want, 50 amp is not. This is just a surge for electrical, it will not address incorrect wiring, see Baglo's post nor will it address over/under voltage. If you want that you will need this one Progressive Industries Energy Management System 30 Amp Portable
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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08-08-2013, 03:53 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Olympia, Washington
Trailer: 2008 Bigfoot 25B17.5G
Posts: 161
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
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Got it, I was thinking I could supplement that with the $5 polarity checker I already own, not realizing it wouldn't do anything about over/under. Guess we'll be going with nothing til we can buy the $250 one! We haven't actually even plugged in once yet, but have been using our portable solar panel on every trip at no hookup sites. The October NOG will be the first time we'll actually have electric at our site, and we definitely won't be using the AC on the coast in October.
__________________
Hillary & Jeff
Camping with the sighthound variety pack
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08-08-2013, 04:09 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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Then take the little polarity checker and check the wiring if okay plug in, Here is another option, it will tell you the voltage of the 120 line, i it drops then you know to unplug. Cheaper but you then have to watch it yourself vs the "automatic" one. Camco 55263 120V RV AC Line Voltage Meter : Amazon.com : Automotive
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Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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08-08-2013, 05:48 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Parksville, British Columbia
Trailer: '07 17B
Posts: 151
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J Mac
I think without AC one only needs 15 amp power. A power bar and a garbage bag may be an answer. Plug your rig into a computer type power bar then into the campsite power pole. Place plastic garbage bag over power pole to keep out moisture.
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Here's one from Future Shop (online). It has both surge & brownout protection & best of all, only $39.00. 15A only....
CyberPower Standby 255W UPS Surge Protector (CP350SLG) : Computer Battery Backup - Future Shop
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08-08-2013, 06:14 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Longview, WA, Washington
Trailer: 2013 Escape 15B - 2014 Nissan Frontier SL
Posts: 854
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I bought this portable one that has three LED lights. It works great and save us once this last trip.
Progressive Industries Smart Surge 120Volt / 30Amp - In-line Model
Got mine on Amazon for a little less than this. Plug it in and check the outlet then turn off the circuit breaker, plug in the trailer and turn it back one. Works great.
__________________
Tim and Julie
2013 Escape 15B
2014 Nissan Frontier, Previous 2012 Santa Fe
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08-08-2013, 08:56 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Trailer: 2014 5TA/ *012 17B (previous)
Posts: 442
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The cheapest spot to buy the progressive industry one was through Escape Industies, that I found.
__________________
Min D
Chapi II
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'Have No Regrets'
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08-08-2013, 09:52 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Marysville, Washington
Trailer: 2022 Coachmen Nova 20C
Posts: 652
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What model is supplied by Escape on their option sheet?
__________________
Paul & Norma
2013 Escape 21 & 2014 Chevy Silverado - sold
2022 Coachmen Nova 20C
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08-09-2013, 07:54 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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The Escape model is the built in EMS EMS-HW30C
it does it all, surge/spike/miss wired/over/under voltage everything
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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08-09-2013, 10:42 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Marysville, Washington
Trailer: 2022 Coachmen Nova 20C
Posts: 652
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Nice!
Thanks Jim.
__________________
Paul & Norma
2013 Escape 21 & 2014 Chevy Silverado - sold
2022 Coachmen Nova 20C
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08-18-2013, 08:18 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Felton, California
Trailer: 2018 21' ; 2014 19' (Sold)
Posts: 1,309
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Anyone have any thoughts (pros, cons, etc.) over the internal surge protector that Escape offers vs. an externally mounted one?
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08-18-2013, 08:23 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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External mounted one can be stolen, in addition some pedestals are so low to the ground that the EMS will not fit or work. Had both, like the built in better
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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