Polarity Volt Tester at Campsite

NewToMeJF26BHS · 09-01-2011, 04:41 PM

Do you guys recommend using a Polarity Volt Tester when hooking up to campsites to ensure your camper wont be getting electrical jolts and garbage amperage etc.? If so, what model and where to buy would you suggest? Thanks all,

John

Terry · 09-01-2011, 07:03 PM

What I used to do is this:

- Hook up a 30amp to 15 amp pigtail
- Put in the standard 3 light tester from Lowes/Home Depot/etc and check if it is wired right
- Plug in my voltage meter and see if I had the correct voltage
- If all was right - plug in the camper.

I now have an EMS unit on my camper which checks for all the wire faults, low high voltage/etc so I just plug it. They are really nice because just simply checking the pedestal does not give you a good indication of how it will function under load.

There have been quite a few discussions on here about EMS units, but I can tell you they are well worth the investment.

kcconawa · 09-01-2011, 07:51 PM

I have a friend with a Tiffin motor home who got stuck with over $3,000 electrical repairs two weeks ago at a campground in Colorado. Low voltage situation got him. He is looking into seeing if worth while to pursue with a lawyer.

Double Eagle · 09-01-2011, 09:40 PM

I use a surge guard that checks for miswires ect, and trips to shut off power on low voltage situations; I agree they are worth the money for the protection you get. I also use a voltage monitor in the inside to monitor voltage.

NewToMeJF26BHS · 09-01-2011, 11:11 PM

What is an EMS unit and where to buy? I tried search but got nothing.

Double Eagle · 09-02-2011, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewToMeJF26BHS

What is an EMS unit and where to buy? I tried search but got nothing.

try this link http://www.rvpartscountry.com/Electr...0V_p_5972.html you can probably find diffrent types and lower prices at other site, but this is a good starting point.

Seann45 · 09-02-2011, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double Eagle

I use a surge guard that checks for miswires ect, and trips to shut off power on low voltage situations; I agree they are worth the money for the protection you get. I also use a voltage monitor in the inside to monitor voltage.

x2 on the surge guard.. they are great... saved my rig several times

NewToMeJF26BHS · 09-02-2011, 09:16 AM

You Guys are Awesome! I wasn't sure exactly what to ask but you all picked up on it perfectly. I only speak English and that not very well - lol. My wife was the one to come upon the need for this device and has been the one to put the fire under me butt to find out more about this. Thanks all!

John

Terry · 09-02-2011, 10:43 AM

I have seen two models most folks seem to get - the Surgeguard and the Progressive Industries models. Try Tweetys - he carries them both --

http://tweetys.com/surge-guard-surge-protectors.aspx

I personally have the PI because I like the permanent install and display, but the portable versions I am sure are just as good.

NewToMeJF26BHS · 09-02-2011, 01:26 PM

Would the Surge Guard 55-2764 / N19-0414 AECM10086 be a good choice for a quick solution?

John

Lady Fitzgerald · 09-02-2011, 03:25 PM

I would take a voltmeter to the pedestal before I ever parked the trailer to make sure it was wired correctly to begin with. Then have an EMS installed to protect against spikes and low or high voltage and in case some idiot rewires something in the park system (actually had the latter happen in the mobile home court I live in, resulting in 120v hot to ground on both legs but 0v across the hots; the moron had crossed some wires).

yddad45 · 09-02-2011, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seann45

x2 on the surge guard.. they are great... saved my rig several times

X3 on the surge guard. It does all the work for you. Camping world is were I got mine. It has also saved my camper on a couple of occasions.
I got hit with a surge in Destin, Fla two years ago. Lost my TV, DVD, Surround Sound and Microwave, it was a pain running around on vacation finding replacements for this stuff. I also lost the converter a couple of weeks later, I'm pretty sure this was the cause. I stopped by Camping World on my way home and bought a Surge Guard. I would not plug up without it.

Murphie · 09-02-2011, 09:49 PM

I noticed on the website that was provided earlier that for a 100 dollars more than the ems system system mentioned, you could buy a auto former that would keep you going during low voltage situations. This could make the difference between having your AC on and it not working at all.

Lady Fitzgerald · 09-03-2011, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphie

I noticed on the website that was provided earlier that for a 100 dollars more than the ems system system mentioned, you could buy a auto former that would keep you going during low voltage situations. This could make the difference between having your AC on and it not working at all.

Which website (more than one was provided)?

If you are referring to the Hughes Autoformer, it does have surge protection but doesn't always protect in low voltage situations. If the incoming voltage drops to low for the autoformer to be able to boost to a safe level, it will go into bypass mode, leaving you with no low voltage protection. It apparently has no high voltage protection at all.

One would think that one could run both an autoformer and an EMS together to gain the best of both but there have been mixed reveiws as to how well that works. This thread on another forum has an extensive discussion on this. Just keep in mind there are at least three individuals on this forum who think they are experts on everything (and you can't tell them anything) so take what is said there with a grain of salt until you can verify it.

David472 · 09-03-2011, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewToMeJF26BHS

Would the Surge Guard 55-2764 / N19-0414 AECM10086 be a good choice for a quick solution?

John

By the product description, this item provides a check for proper wiring, plus surge protection, but not low voltage protection. The more expensive model (aka EMS) adds the low voltage protection feature. So, if you feel you don't need the low voltage protection, then, yes it would suit fine.

Murphie · 09-04-2011, 06:21 AM

Lady, the link was the first one, rvpartscountry. That's also where I saw the auto former . That was a good site you linked to. I usually check the voltage at the pedestal prior to plugging in but I don't use protection so to speak.

Lady Fitzgerald · 09-04-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphie

Lady, the link was the first one, rvpartscountry. That's also where I saw the auto former . That was a good site you linked to. I usually check the voltage at the pedestal prior to plugging in but I don't use protection so to speak.

Must...ignore...straightline...ack! :hihi:

NewToMeJF26BHS · 09-04-2011, 12:01 PM

I'm leaning towards the Permanent Surge Guard - 120V/30A - 30 Amp. Would the Electrical Management System Hardwire 30A\120V from RV Parts Country be a better unit? Does either of these have the remote display you can put above your multidisplay (batt, gray water, black water etc) just inside the campers door?

John

Double Eagle · 09-04-2011, 12:29 PM

I think only the EMS comes with a display that can be mounted inside the unit; the portable surgeguards and hardwire surgeguards do not come with displays that I am aware of.

Terry · 09-04-2011, 12:57 PM

Here are some pics of my EMS install. Very happy with it so far. I like to tinker and know what is going on in my trailer - so the display is a pretty nice addition.

I ran the cable under the counter, then cut a small hole in the wallboard under the sink where it could not be seen. I fished the cable up the wall and out a small slit I made just above the Jayco panel. I can remove it if I ever get rid of the trailer and only have to fill in the two screw holes.

The cabe itself is basically a flat telephone cable so it is pretty easy to run.

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