Do I Need A Surge Protector For My RV? (Explained)
Recreational vehicles come with many electrical components that are always prone to damage. Mostly the complex electrical systems inside include batteries, inverters, converters, etc. But can a surge protector protect these components from any harm?
Surge protectors can be handy when there are variable voltages. It can withstand spikes in the voltages that damage the electrical components in your RV. Investing in it would be an excellent and safe decision for you.
For your convenience, I’ll cover more about surge protectors and their implications in this article. Therefore, stay with me right to the end of this article.
What is an RV Surge Protector?
RV surge protector is a device that is a barrier between unwanted power surges that might affect RV’s electrical system. You must connect it between the RV’s electrical system and the power pedestal to use it.
Some other surge protector types also can power off your RV’s electrical system whenever there is any hazardous electrical failure. I should tell you that RVs have way different wiring than houses.
Since the power isn’t received from a single source, the surge protection required for an RV is way more than that of homes.
You’ll be moving from place to place with your RV. So, there is no clue about the type of problem you will face. Moreover, whatever source the power comes from, the surge protector will act as a filter for the electrical system and protect power transfers.
How Does a Surge Protector Work?
The basic phenomenon that surge protectors are involved with is the absorption of excess voltage when it rises above the optimum level.
It mainly does it so that the appliances within a system don’t get damaged. The surge protector’s primary function is to block the surge’s pathway to the electrical equipment.
The protectors come with MOVs, also known as metal oxide varistors, that perform voltage absorption. However, this component loses its ability over time, and they require replacements after a time being.
That said, RV Surge protector models have indicator LEDs informing you about the MOV failures.
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Why Do You Need An RV Surge Protector?
I believe that there is more to RV surge protectors other than protection from electrical surges. For the RV electrical components, surges might be one of the least concerning issues.
Specific components inside the RV would be costly to replace after those are damaged. It can be caused by improper wiring or severe power shocks.
However, all these issues can be addressed by the RV surge protector with efficiency. Let me take you through some of the relevant issues that you can mitigate with RV surge protectors:
Electrical Surges
The most common reason for installing surge protectors in the electrical system is to protect from surges. As surges can directly affect electrical components, protection from them is always the priority.
Furthermore, you shouldn’t mistake it for the type of surges that often happen in homes. The household framework is much more stable and has a consistent power supply. But in the RV, that isn’t the same scenario, so you must take different precautions.
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Variable Voltage
Surges are mostly voltage spikes that don’t happen too often. But varying low and high voltage might be something prevalent in the electrical system of your RV.
The average voltage for an RV is usually 120V, and anything low is below 102V. On the other hand, above 130V is considered a high voltage condition inside the RV.
There are often low voltage conditions, which might often result from faulty wiring or enough power consumption. You’ll notice this on different appliances in your RV, where up to a particular time drop in the voltage levels is acceptable.
But continuous drops may result in a component failing. The same outcome is for high voltages. Therefore, the RV surge protectors should be part of your plan for dealing with low and high voltage.
Faulty Pedestals
Most RV parks around the country have faulty and miswired pedestals. This may result in potential damage to the trailer or RV’s electrical system. The miswired pedestals mainly cause issues like open ground, open neutral, and reverse polarity.
The ground is dedicated to discharging the excess voltage to the ground connection. If there is any current leakage, it will create no passage for the voltage. When there is open ground, that excess voltage can go anywhere, even to your RV chassis.
It is concerning for the devices and may produce bad outcomes. When the neutral line is open, then without returning to the service panel, electricity could return to appliances, severely damaging components. On the other hand, when there is reverse polarity, different functions can alter altogether.
Faulty Wiring
The wiring inside your RV can cause problematic situations very often. Significantly, a problematic ground or neutral wire will affect the appliances inside. In addition, it can even harm your life inside the RV.
Moreover, if an excess voltage is funneled to the appliances, there is no way to get destroyed.
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Lightning Protection
Since you’ll be moving from one place to another, your RV will explore different weather and environments. That is where your RV becomes a big target of lightning.
Given all the metal framing in your RV, there is a higher chance of the lighting striking your vehicle. That said since most of the RVs are parked together, it becomes more concerning in that case. In this regard, an RV surge protector can provide a solution to a great extent.
How to Protect an RV From Lightning?
It doesn’t matter whether your RV particularly gets a hit. If a strike hits an RV parked beside you, it would be enough to affect your vehicle.
A strike that hits even within a short tor range of your vehicle is enough to damage your RV. Surges will run either through the pedestals or the leveling jacks, eventually severely damaging or burning the electrical appliances. Such occurrences are terrifying, but with surge protectors, you can be protected from lightning strikes.
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FAQs.
Protecting your RV is crucial; surge protectors are a big part of it. That is why I have addressed some of the most common queries relevant to the surge protectors:
What happens if you don’t have an RV surge protector?
When you don’t have a surge protector in your RV, it cuts down the life of electrical appliances in your RV. It makes all the electrical components inside prone to severe damage or destruction.
How much surge protection do I need for my RV?
The surge protectors you need in your RV depend on the amp service used. When your RV has 50 amp service, you should buy a 50 amp surge protector. However, buying a 30 amp surge protector won’t be useful as it won’t be sufficient.
Are cheap RV surge protectors reliable?
The affordable surge protectors can protect you from voltage spikes that can fry your different components. However, for handling lightning, these need to be more suitable.
Final Thoughts
The electrical components inside your recreational vehicle are always at risk due to mishaps. Within a blink of an eye, all of those can get destroyed. This is where RV surge protectors give you breathing space.
I have met a lot of RV owners who have used their RVs without surge protectors for years. But that is massive negligence on their part. It takes just one strike to destroy everything.
You should properly assess the electrical system’s condition in your RV and then go for the type of surge protector you want in your vehicle.
Moreover, it is better to be safe than sorry. RV surge protectors provide the utmost safety, ensuring stability in your RV’s electrical system.
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Zayan is an accomplished author and a go-to expert for all things RV and camper-related. With a passion for adventure and a knack for problem-solving, he has spent years exploring the open road and fine-tuning his knowledge of recreational vehicles.
Zayan’s writing is a testament to his expertise, offering readers practical solutions to common RV dilemmas. Whether it’s troubleshooting mechanical issues, optimizing space, or planning the perfect road trip, Zayan’s insightful advice and engaging storytelling make him an invaluable resource for both seasoned travelers and newcomers to the world of RVing.
