Lightning Damage

namusmc65 · 07-13-2017, 05:22 AM

The dreaded lightning got me, even with hard wired surge protection. So far I have found the damage is to 110 line. Main TV, main AC. Have yet to check all 12 volt stuff but what I have is working. Now the waiting game begins to get in to get service. Thank goodness we were not campoing during July and August.

Mopar_Earl · 07-13-2017, 05:36 AM

I had that happen to me on my 7 month old trailer that I traded for my current Jayco. It fried all kinds of stuff. The insurance company was great (Progressive). I didn't have a surge protector but have ever since.

Do you use surge protectors on your plug in items as well? If not you should. A surge protector is like a glass. It will only take so much till it overflows. So that's why they recommend a main surge protector and one at each plug in item.

On my Jayco I installed a hardwired surge protector with voltage protection. I also used small surge protectors at the outlet for the TV's, fireplace, micro, washer/dryer, fridge, and my kitchen outlets. Oh and on my outside mini fridge as well. You can never have too many surge protectors. The more you have, the more surge gets absorbed. In hidden places I used ones that make a sound when they are hit and no longer good.

Earl

herewego · 07-13-2017, 05:41 AM

That is why we DO not have a hard wired Protector ! do not want the surge getting inside the camper ! ours is placed at the pedestal
Not inside the camper........Bought he Best we could find external protector
Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X 50A Digital Surge

Mopar_Earl · 07-13-2017, 05:44 AM

My hit took out my tank monitor panel, water heater 120v thermostat and switch, wall thermostat, AC board, furnace board, converter charger, fridge 120v heating element, the main breaker, my shore cord, the shore cord inlet, my aftermarket inside 12v fridge fans, and the fridge board. Micro wave had the breaker off so was ok and the tv I use to always unplug unless watching it so it was saved. Oh and it also took out the LP detector.

The lightening hit a tree near the camper. The lightening traveled into the tree and into the roots and into the power pedestal. The Roots blew out of the ground and blew rocks and dirt onto the roof of the camper. Very scary. We were out grilling and noticed a storm approaching and quickly put the awning in and as soon as we got in the trailer boom, it hit. Had we still be outside I know we'd of been hit and most likely died.

Earl

Mopar_Earl · 07-13-2017, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herewego

That is why we DO not have a hard wired Protector ! do not want the surge getting inside the camper ! ours is placed at the pedestal
Not inside the camper........Bought he Best we could find external protector
Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X 50A Digital Surge

Doesn't matter which style you use, if the surge is large enough it will get to your devices! That's why you should always use surge protectors at every plug in item as well as a main unit, hardwired or inline.

Earl

Mopar_Earl · 07-13-2017, 06:02 AM

I used this model 50 Amp Surge Protector with Voltage Protection - Progressive EMS-HW50C - Surge Protectors - Camping World
It has a lifetime warranty and it's modular so the individual components can be replaced. It also has voltage and miss wiring protection. It's also displays voltage and amps on each leg on a remote display. It's hardwire so I never have to worry about forgetting it or being stolen. Very impressed over the cheap inline one I had for my other trailer.

Earl

namusmc65 · 07-13-2017, 11:32 AM

. It's hardwire so I never have to worry about forgetting it or being stolen. Very impressed over the cheap inline one I had for my other trailer.
Earl[/QUOTE]

Yes, and hopefully they will pay for replacement and installation of new one. Not sure I am going to go back with the hard wired on one that hangs at the pedestal. Two thoughts on that I'm sure. Lightning had to have struck the ground close by and came in through the pedestal. The long wait for recovery begins. Got to get out there and see if I can even operate the slides and everything else. Fun N Games.

**norty1** · 07-13-2017, 12:08 PM

I had one by TRC when we had our lightning strike nearby. The TRC was fried and we only lost the microwave. The TRC was unrepairable.

New one was a PT50C.

RedHorse1 · 07-13-2017, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by namusmc65

The dreaded lightning got me, even with hard wired surge protection. So far I have found the damage is to 110 line. Main TV, main AC. Have yet to check all 12 volt stuff but what I have is working. Now the waiting game begins to get in to get service. Thank goodness we were not campoing during July and August.

nam,
what brand/model do (did) you have?

namusmc65 · 07-14-2017, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

nam,
what brand/model do (did) you have?

I am not sure as it is behind the basement wall and I can't get to it. It was one my dealer stocked and recommended so we will see how far that gets us when they can get to it.

herewego · 07-14-2017, 05:44 PM

Earl I have to disagree with you sorry. Properly set up any surge can be stopped and or redirected. Thanks have a good weekend...

Mopar_Earl · 07-14-2017, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herewego

Earl I have to disagree with you sorry. Properly set up any surge can be stopped and or redirected. Thanks have a good weekend...

If you have enough suppression.

Earl

herewego · 07-15-2017, 06:25 AM

Yes I agree ... And my reasoning behind getting the protector we bought is If there is a Major Surge the unit will not blow inside my camper ... and the life time warranty is a selling point as well as reputation ...

namusmc65 · 08-01-2017, 04:50 AM

It is the Surge Guard hard wired model, maybe the one that is discontinued. Unit is at the dealer so waiting for them to get the wall down. Also discovered the remote control system is down as well when I went to hook up. Oh well,

havnfun · 08-01-2017, 03:46 PM

Joe-
So sorry to hear about this. It sounds like a mell of a hess. Good luck with the repairs.
Happy RVing,
Jeff (Nam 68-69, grunt)

edatlanta · 08-03-2017, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herewego

That is why we DO not have a hard wired Protector ! do not want the surge getting inside the camper ! ours is placed at the pedestal
Not inside the camper........Bought he Best we could find external protector
Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X 50A Digital Surge

X2. I actually have two of them. One for full time use and one as a spare in case the primary one has to go back for warranty.

I have a spare because I will not plug in anywhere anytime without my PT50.

edatlanta · 08-03-2017, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

I had one by TRC when we had our lightning strike nearby. The TRC was fried and we only lost the microwave. The TRC was unrepairable.

New one was a PT50C.

September 2016 lightning hit a pine tree about 1/4 mile away from my site. Down the tree it went and hit a large water main that feeds the campground. It blew the water main all to pieces for about 8' and the surge then followed the water main into the campground and continued on in the electrical system in the campground. Several rigs in the same area as me had damage. I thought I was OK until I tried to use something that was on Leg 2 which I found was dead. My PT50C was showing incoming voltage on both legs, but was not passing power to my rig on Leg 2. I put my spare PT50C in service and all was back to normal.

I sent the dead unit back to PI. They said leg two was fried and not repairable so they sent me a new one. I put it in service for a while after receiving it just to make sure it was good and it now sits waiting for another disaster.

I have had several suspected "saves" over the past 7 years full time from my PT50C, but this was the first confirmed one. I had zero damage to anything except the PT50C.

I will never plug in anywhere anytime without my PT50C.

namusmc65 · 08-05-2017, 04:34 PM

My unit has been at TEAMRVINC., in Albany, Ga for a week now. We will be able to do a report on the service department. So far, it has set on the lot for a week after we waited and made an appointment so they would be able to work on it. Not starting out very well. Service manager did say they had 10 units ahead of me that had been doing business with them for awhile. Very hard to keep good help these days it seems. They are short on people again.

namusmc65 · 09-09-2017, 07:40 AM

4 weeks and $4300 later, finally got our rig back. Just in time for hurricane Irma. I wanted to leave at the dealer for a few more days but they are trying to clear their lot! Can't imagine why! LOL Everything checks out and unit seems to be working fine. I was not real happy with a 40" flat screen tv being replaced with a 39 in tv but I just may change that out later. Anyway, just in time for Georgia Good Sam rally next week at Perry National Fairgrounds. Looks like it is still a go so we shall see. Happy Camping to all and if you are in the path of this hurricane, stay safe!

You may also like: