A Surge Protector is an inexpensive device that is used to protect electronics (electrical outlets) from damage caused by surges of electricity. Most modern electronic devices have protections built-in, but if your RV has non-modern electrical items, then a surge protector would help prevent damage.
An RV can be considered a mobile home. Many people who own RVs use them year round instead of their primary residence. When camping out in an RV for extended periods of time, it is important to consider ways of protecting the electronics inside its interior. If exposed to extreme weather conditions, especially temperatures above 120 degrees F, even brief exposure could cause permanent damage to some components.
There are many types of surge protectors that exist today. Each type offers different protection levels and features. When choosing a surge protector, look for ones that offer protection for computers, televisions, stereos, etc., and those that offer protection for appliances like refrigerators and pool pumps.
When shopping for surge protectors, look for models that provide safety ratings and a warranty. Also, make sure they are UL listed. UL listing ensures that standards regarding their performance have been met.
Having a surge protector installed at the beginning of your trip, before hooking up any appliances, can save you money in the long run. You don't want to buy a surge protector only to find out it doesn't work well and has no power supply.
When power surges occur, it can damage your electronics or even result in death. Fortunately, surge protectors can help prevent these from happening. The question is: What is the difference between an emergency maintenance system (EMS) and a surge protector?
Power surge (also called voltage spike) occurs when there is an abrupt increase in the amount of current flowing through the circuit. A power surge may appear suddenly without warning, or it could develop over time if certain conditions exist.
A power surge can damage electrical equipment and even cause fires. Even though many devices have built-in surge protection, they still offer little protection against a sudden burst of high electricity. That's why, besides protecting our computers and electronics, we should always use surge protectors (SPRs). These handy little gadgets work much like car batteries: they store excess electricity while you're using them and release the extra charge back into the system when you turn off the device.
If you decide to put one in your RV camper, here are some simple steps you'll want to take to make sure it works well:
Surge protectors are designed to handle short bursts of current, not prolonged overloads. Therefore, they are NOT intended to protect you from dangerous situations such as being shocked while sleeping. However, as long as you follow the guidelines above, you should be fine.
Ideally, you want to install a surge protector near the outlet closest to where you keep your appliances and electronics plugged in. Because you'll only need to unplug a few devices at once, it makes sense to keep things close together.
Voltage is essentially the electrical potential (or power) of electricity. If we were to run our house off of only 1 outlet, we would have a high amount of current flowing through that single wire, causing a lot of power to move. In contrast, if we had two outlets, even though both wires are connected to the same circuit breaker, the flow of electricity would be split between each outlet, resulting in less current flowing through any given wire. That's why circuits are designed to have many outlets.
The voltage rise and voltage drop refers to the increase and decrease in voltage across a device or piece of equipment. When a device receives more than its own amperage, the voltage drops. Conversely, when a device isn't using enough amperage, the device draws extra current, thus increasing the voltage.
If the voltage reaches 100% before the battery is fully charged, then the voltage drop will cause the battery to drain faster. Likewise, if the battery is not receiving sufficient power, the voltage rise will cause the battery to discharge faster.
An RV surge protector helps prevent overloading of devices by keeping the voltage down. So, while they may cost a little bit more compared to normal surge protectors, they are their price tag!
There are thre main types of surge protectors. They are as follows:
A wall mount surge protector provides protection from power surges that occur outside of a home's electrical installation. A typical WMS protects appliances connected directly behind it inside your home where they would experience the greatest risk of damage from voltage spikes due to lightning strikes in storms or faulty wiring or equipment.
Surge protector strips are a popular solution which utilize a series of surge suppressor blocks to filter out most common line voltages and prevent them from reaching your devices. Unlike a whole house surge protector, these strips do not provide protection in other rooms. Instead, you should use them to protect specific items in your house, such as computers, TVs, stereos, etc. These strips may offer some additional protection over a whole house surge protector since they can be placed anywhere in your home. However, they may only protect from surges coming off of a single circuit.
A whole house surge protector offers comprehensive protection from surges that could potentially reach your entire electrical system. This device has no limitations and covers every area of your home, including ceilings and floors. If you have a multi-circuit electrical panel, this is the best option.
Before you install an RV surge protector, make sure you know where the outlet is located in your vehicle. You don't want to buy a surge protector for your computer and plug it into the outlet that powers the TV.
Next, make sure that the input and output ports match up correctly. If they do not match up, then you won't get full protection from the surge protector. Always double check your connections to ensure that everything is plugged in properly.
There are different ways to connect an RV surge protector; however, the most popular way is to place it between the batteries and the charger. Once that's done, you should never take out the batteries again. Instead, disconnect them from the car and let the RV surge protector keep the batteries topped off.
You can also add an RV surge protector to your RV generator. Either way, you'll need to make sure that the RV surge protector is wired correctly and that the RV surge protector connects to the proper outlet.
Finally, you can always charge your phone outside of the RV. However, if youre going to do that, you might want to purchase a portable charging station or powerbank instead.
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We all need some type of surge protector if we want to keep all our devices safe. A surge protector is capable of protecting electronics that costs thousands of dollars an dthe goo thing is that you can get one for under $100. It is best to spend $100 today to protect $1,000 tomorrow.
Hi, I'm Kevin Pommells, a lover of camping and the great outdoors as everyone says nowadays. I'm also a passionate soccer fan and the proud owner of CamperRules.com, a website dedicated to helping campers and outdoor enthusiasts make the most of their adventures. With years of experience exploring the wilderness and a deep love for the sport of soccer, I'm always looking for new ways to combine my two passions and share my knowledge with others. Follow me for tips, tricks, and insights on all things camping and outdoor recreation.
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