How many of you use a surge protector when camping at a location that provides electrical?
How does a surge protector work and is there a type or brand I should look for ?
Thu, 10/21/2021 - 15:14
#1
Electrical Question: Surge Protector
I carry one but do not always use it. Mine is also a test device so If I'm in doubt of the quality of the camp ground power or if there is stormy weather it gets used. (Mine is no longer available.) I do chain or lock mine down. I also use a volt meter in the Scamp at EVERY camp site.
A surge suppressor is an appliance or device designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes. A surge protector attempts to limit the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or shorting to ground any unwanted voltages above a safe threshold. The surge suppressor is the device of choice if it fits the budget. I have this, but there are many under $100 that help and give some troubleshooting lights. https://www.amazon.com/Surge-Guard-34830-Portable-Display/dp/B00T36Q7R2/... (link is external)
I don't have one in the Scamp, but we DO have one for our big RV...lots of electronics we don't want fried! Years ago we plugged in at a campsite and the electric at that site was wonky. The campground didn't believe us, but let us change sites. No problem at the new site. Those poles can get damaged, and campgrounds usually have a lot of trees that could get hit by lightning.
Rhonda Riebow
Hands down one from https://www.progressiveindustries.net/our-products
Portable or permanent as you prefer.
If you have Air Conditioner then low voltage can harm the compressor. And low voltage is common at campgrounds. Many were wired years ago and not for the big Class A;s with two A/C, 50 amp demand, etc. These P.I. devices have all the usually surge protection as well as miswired power source and low voltage protection.
I have a 2018 13' Scamp and hook up to 30 Amps. My refrigerator doesn't work on electricity it does work with propane. I'm paying for electricity at a campground so would like to use the electric. If I bought an electric cooler that plugs in to the camper will it blow a fuse?
To know for sure we would need to know the ratings of the cooler. If it works in the house it should do fine in the Scamp. Note that the 120 Volts AC uses no fuses, if it causes any problems it will just be a tripped circuit breaker that can be easily reset. The breakers are 15 amps so if you run the cooler, the microwave, and a space heater all on one breaker at the same time that may be to much.
PS: I thought they all worked on 120 VAC, what model of refrigerator do you have?