What type, if any, electrical protection do you use?

[tnchuck100]

What type, if any, electrical protection do you use?

EMS - Energy Management System
Monitors and kills power to the RV for any of these conditions: Over voltage, under voltage, open ground, open neutral, hot/neutral reversed, delayed power restoration and surge protection. Over frequency and under frequency (when using a generator).

Surge protector - provides spike suppression only, does not monitor voltage

[Threebutchers]

Guess I'm first....

I don't have an EMS currently....I check the voltage, polarity and ground before I plug-in. Then I keep a plug-in voltage monitor visible at all times. Most likely I will install an EMS next year.

[tnchuck100]

I lost a converter due to a neutral failure. Voltage went to 160 volts. Converter just would not tolerate it. Fortunately the air conditioner was not damaged. EMS was purchased the next week. I also purchased an auto-former to cover those low voltage conditions. Low voltage will damage the air conditioner.

[LkptRvPilot]

I just hook up blindly. Never had a problem so far. However, I'm fairly new to this RV thing, only owning one for just over a year now.
I do plan on getting an EMS device at some point. I can't decide if I want a hardwired or portable unit.

-Kris

[Rustic Eagle]

Progressive Industries, model EMS-LCHW30 (hardwired).

Here is my installation: http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthrea...ight=installed

This past April while returning from Texas I stayed at a CG in Oklahoma that was hit be lightning..., there was only a dozen of us camping but at least half sustained some degree of electrical damage to their RV's. A couple MH's couldn't even raise their leveling systems because the circuit boards were fried....., satellite dish controllers were blown out as well.

IMO a worth while investment....., my EMS paid for itself that night in Oklahoma.

Bob

[RoyBraddy]

Sorry to say I am one of those that sticks there finger in the mouth and holds it it up in the air before hooking up. I do observe the condition of the shore power connection plug and sometimes will make a 120VAC measurement before plugging in.

Other than that the RV trailer are grounded thru the shore power power connection and if lightning strikes your RV Trailer there is nothing that can stop any damage anyway.

All you can protect against is out of tolerance 120VAC connections...

I suspect your post is going to be flawed as probably most folks that respond will be only the ones that have installed EMS systems.

Roy Ken

[tnchuck100]

Originally Posted by RoyBraddy

I suspect your post is going to be flawed as probably most folks that respond will be only the ones that have installed EMS systems.

Roy Ken

That statement is flawed. MOST of the votes so far are NON-EMS users.

[Mustang65]

I took the "Whole House" approach. I look at it from the point of view that if it protects my house, and has for the last 18 years, it has to be ok for the TT. Understood, there is an increased chance for more problems at the CG, but something is better than nothing. I used the same EATON Whole house surge Protection that I use on the house. I wired it in where the shore cable comes in. Used the same type Whole House protection on the last TT, with no issues. Granted, if the lightening hits the trailer, I don't care what you have, your electronics will probably be cooked anyway.
At the CG, I check for the little GREEN LED and check the CG voltage, every time I hook up. After 14 CG's on the trip out west, all had good voltages, one had a loose 30Amp connection, so I used the 50Amp outlet.

Mfr: Eaton
Model: CHSPT2MICRO
Type 2
Surge Protector... [TABLE="class: tablePod td_grid_9 tableSplit, width: 100%"]


[TR="class: even"]
[TD]Maximum Amperage: 36000 Amps
Joules: 1890
HomeDepot: ($70.00)[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]


[/TABLE]

[Threebutchers]

The "SPARKIES" are pulling ahead!!!!!......

[Crabman]

I do not have one but SHOULD. Currently I only have a plug in voltmeter.

[clubhouse]

SurgeGuard 30a portable EMS.

Never had a problem before purchasing, just wanted added security. For the first year it found zero faults, this summer it found low voltage on hot summer days twice, separate CGs. Not sure I really would have damaged something had my EMS not cut the power, but I know I certainly don't have damage because it did what it should have.

As CG infrastructure ages and the number of RVs increase I expect to start finding more issues, especially the gov't owned CG with all the deferred maintenance occurring due to budget.

[Zinkow]

Second thing that I installed, after the extended SS tire valves and TPMS. It's a hardwired Progressive Industries EMS-HW50C with remote display. Mounted it in the same storage compartment as the cord reel. Can't hear the hum in the rig, so if DW is happy so am I.

[clutch]

We have had campers since 1968 and the only electrical problem we have ever had was plugging into a shed here at home. The polarity was not correct and I had to repair a refrigerator in 1996. I do use a polarity tester since reading posts on JOF.

[stjohneyre]

We figured if your gonna spend 30k on a TT then $240 for a Progressive EMS was a sensible feature for peace of mind. I'm sure I wont regret it.

[Mickey]

I don't understand about the polarity issue. It's something that is hard wired and isn't going to change on its own. Pulling into a site there must have been a thousand TTs there before me. As far as lightening goes it's the luck of the draw. Not even the best EMS is going to stop a direct or even near by lightening strike. It'll arc across anything. Even run along the top of the ground.
Always looking to be educated here.

[msturtz]

I voted that I have an EMS however the poll doesn't list what I actually have. I have a autoformer which does surge suppression and voltage regulation. It will cut power if it cannot handle it. I would be interested in a energy management system but haven't researched any yet.

[eldermike]

Never worried about 30amp service but never trust 50amp posts. I found one with open netural 2 weeks ago. I was in a dual site so I used the good post and reported the other one. My progressive industries surge protector earned its keep by lighting up the open netural condition. I would not waste my time checking 30amp it only has one hot wire.

[tnchuck100]

Originally Posted by eldermike

I would not waste my time checking 30amp it only has one hot wire.

Bad approach. I have been to one Tennessee state park where 12 - 30 amp pedestals had reversed hot/neutral. The reason I know there were 12 bad ones is I was the first of our group to set up. I found mine bad so I checked all the others in the loop.

This is what you get from low-bid contractors.

[David472]

Even though I have a hardwired EMS, I still check with a hand held polarity tester first before plugging in. In 4 seasons of doing this I have yet to find a pedestal with reverse wiring, but I know there will be one in the future. More common is a worn or loose receptacle which will cause low voltage problems at high current draw.

[krsmitty]

Recently picked up a "free" Hughes RV2130. Before that never had any type of system.