Ten Burgers
Member
- Location
- Big Spring Texas
Several makes and models of surge protectors are causing power interruptions in RVs in my area. Like thousands of others working here in the Texas oilfields I live in my RV. Many of my associates report the same problem with their RV surge protectors. When I emailed this problem to the company that made my RV surge protector I got a quick answer back from the president of the company who politely doubted what I was reporting. He said it was not possible for a surge protector to cause power interruptions like what I described.
When voltage spikes occur and the surge protectors "throw" the surge to ground they also are causing the power to drop or cut out completely for a half-second or so. Not good for things like AC compressors. The power interruptions are deep enough and long enough to stop AC units and set off my computer UPS alarms. The power comes back up to normal, another spike hits, and it all happens over again.
One day the interruptions were so frequent it was not wise to leave anything running. At this time I did not suspect the surge protector. After all, it was for these power events I have it. It was in the middle of a dust storm with high winds. I thought that there must be a loose connection on the power lines so I headed out with binoculars, determined to locate the problem if possible and call it in. In the past I have seen loose power lines slap together in the wind. The RV park I live in is a year old, including all the wiring, so I headed for the line in to follow it down the street. The park manager saw me and came out to ask what I was looking for. I told him my power kept going on and off, I said nothing about the surge protector.
His next works were, "Do you have a surge protector connected to your rig?" I said I did. He then said, "Well that's the problem. I can't tell you the number of people in the last year who have had to disconnect theirs. It makes no difference what make or model, none of them work. They'll turn your power on and off all day long and ruin all kinds of electrical appliances. If I were you I'd disconnect it."
I went back to my RV and disconnected it. The wind continued to blow hard, no more power interruptions. Two hours later, wind still blowing, I reconnected it (after turning off my AC and all computers), and within minutes my power was again interrupted many times. As soon as I disconnected the protector, no more power interruptions. Whatever was going on with the power lines my surge protector made it worse, not better.
Conversations with others in the park, and other parks in the same area, disclosed this is indeed a common problem in the area. Nobody knows why. I have six computers in my RV. In the past, in other areas, I have lost equipment due to voltage problems. In addition to the main line protector I also have protectors on each computer. I use a Kilowatt meter to monitor line voltage at all times.
No doubt the wind was causing problems. But this is what a surge protector is supposed to help with. On days when the wind is not blowing similar problems still occur. When living in other areas I have not had this problem.
I'm sure it would help to have a few details. All I can say is that the RV hookups are 30 and 50 amp. While my surge protector was designed for outside use, I keep it inside connected between the electrical post and the RV entrance box.
Could someone please send me to a web site that explains what causes this? Or does anyone know what causes it? I am not looking for "how to" information. It's the theory I would like to understand on what might cause this to happen. So would my friends! Many thanks in advance.
When voltage spikes occur and the surge protectors "throw" the surge to ground they also are causing the power to drop or cut out completely for a half-second or so. Not good for things like AC compressors. The power interruptions are deep enough and long enough to stop AC units and set off my computer UPS alarms. The power comes back up to normal, another spike hits, and it all happens over again.
One day the interruptions were so frequent it was not wise to leave anything running. At this time I did not suspect the surge protector. After all, it was for these power events I have it. It was in the middle of a dust storm with high winds. I thought that there must be a loose connection on the power lines so I headed out with binoculars, determined to locate the problem if possible and call it in. In the past I have seen loose power lines slap together in the wind. The RV park I live in is a year old, including all the wiring, so I headed for the line in to follow it down the street. The park manager saw me and came out to ask what I was looking for. I told him my power kept going on and off, I said nothing about the surge protector.
His next works were, "Do you have a surge protector connected to your rig?" I said I did. He then said, "Well that's the problem. I can't tell you the number of people in the last year who have had to disconnect theirs. It makes no difference what make or model, none of them work. They'll turn your power on and off all day long and ruin all kinds of electrical appliances. If I were you I'd disconnect it."
I went back to my RV and disconnected it. The wind continued to blow hard, no more power interruptions. Two hours later, wind still blowing, I reconnected it (after turning off my AC and all computers), and within minutes my power was again interrupted many times. As soon as I disconnected the protector, no more power interruptions. Whatever was going on with the power lines my surge protector made it worse, not better.
Conversations with others in the park, and other parks in the same area, disclosed this is indeed a common problem in the area. Nobody knows why. I have six computers in my RV. In the past, in other areas, I have lost equipment due to voltage problems. In addition to the main line protector I also have protectors on each computer. I use a Kilowatt meter to monitor line voltage at all times.
No doubt the wind was causing problems. But this is what a surge protector is supposed to help with. On days when the wind is not blowing similar problems still occur. When living in other areas I have not had this problem.
I'm sure it would help to have a few details. All I can say is that the RV hookups are 30 and 50 amp. While my surge protector was designed for outside use, I keep it inside connected between the electrical post and the RV entrance box.
Could someone please send me to a web site that explains what causes this? Or does anyone know what causes it? I am not looking for "how to" information. It's the theory I would like to understand on what might cause this to happen. So would my friends! Many thanks in advance.
