Is Your RV Surge Protector Safe?

Is Your RV Surge Protector Safe? 🌩️ New Tech Tip: Is Your RV Surge Protector Safe? 🚐 - Protecting your RV's electrical system is crucial, and a surge protector is your first line of defense. In this week's tech tip, we're diving into how to ensure your RV surge protector is safe and functioning correctly.
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[@rstokes8044]

Hi Todd I have a silly thought. What about just turning off the main breaker, 30 amp, 50 amp, inside the rig. Then plug into the pedestal. That way there is no draw on the rig. Then turn on the main breaker. Good idea??

[@chuckh1958]

I don't think it's a silly thought at all. I had the same thought and was just going to post the same comment. Turn off the main breaker in the RV. In fact my grand design manual says you're supposed to do that anyway.

[@Dougy_Fresh]

This video could have been 15 seconds long if he had this commonsense idea.

[@rstokes8044]

@Dougy_Fresh Maybe it just slipped his mind. He is usually spot on with everything..

[@betterwithrum]

@@Dougy_Freshguessing you aren’t a teacher. Not an insult just an observation

[@btorr2945]

Maybe just easier to make sure the A/C is off and not have to lay on the floor under the bed to pull the breaker switch. Or simply…….Not everyone has the breaker switch in a convenient place. This sarcastic answer only pertains to? You know who you are! The person just not thinking about it? No offense intended. Have a great day!

[@The_New_Smokey]

We just plug the surge protector without the cable connected. Once I get an E0 message, then I plug in the rig. We always turn the ac off until power is functioning in the rig. We take baby steps to turning devices on.

[@susanryan622]

Can’t thank you enough for all the knowledge and laughs you’ve given me! Your videos are the bomb and are a high point of my week! I’m a newbie with 6 200 watt panels on the roof, 2000 watt inverter and 2 200AH lithium batteries. My question is about parasitic draw… everything we buy these days: phones, computers, flashlights, even blenders, come with charging cords. If I leave those cords plugged into USB or regular outlets in the camper without a device attached, are they drawing any power? Plugging and unplugging isn’t a big deal BUT I would LOVE to be able to leave cords in designated outlets so I don’t have to hunt for them every time I need one in my huge 18ft camper! Thanks again! Knowledge is power… no pun intended. 😆 7:36

[@susanryan622]

Thanks for your input! I went big on my solar because I expect to be in the PNW for a while where clouds can go on for daaaaaaays. Having eight devices that need regular charging, I don’t want to get caught short.

[@sharonnah32]

Todd - thanks so much - great question from viewer & great video to explain it all .... I also try to tune in every week to learn more!

[@anthonyb2334]

Great video. Very valuable information. Thank you

[@sifilmaker]

When plugging into any campground, you should have your master shutoff in your RV turned off. Keep a checklist and follow it all the time you will be fine. Practice it and take your time learning the routine. Plugging in your surge protector, letting it go active and then plugging in your wire wont help if you have a sudden draw on the line from the AC going on etc. The safest routine is once you are ready to plug into the park, shut your master off in the RV, if there is a circuit breaker at the post, shut that off too, plug in, then turn on the circuit breaker at the post, finally turn the master on in the RV. Do this in reverse when unplugging. Most problems occur when you are in a hurry, or in bad weather when youre rushing to plug or unplug. Create a routine for everything and follow it. From hooking your trailer to your vehicle, thru setting it up at the site etc.. Checklist everything. You'll never have a problem.

[@jerrybonniwell2133]

I wholly agree with checklists, but I do question your process. I also agree that turning off your main breaker is the right thing to do if there is no breaker on the pedestal, we have done that for years. However, if there is a breaker on the pedestal, I leave my main breaker on. I would rather put any surge current on their breaker contacts than mine.

[@goldfinger180024]

Great stuff once again Todd!

[@tims4558]

My surge suppression that I connect to the pedestal has a delay built in so I have no concerns about what is in the ON position in the RV. It takes about 90 seconds for the surge suppression to kick in and allow current to flow to the RV. With all that said, it is very rare that there is no circuit breaker at the pedestal. Very rare.

[@CasitaRvLife]

Thanks for the good info. This is why we have a hardwired WatchDog.

[@janicehubbell]

Great advice. Thanks Todd.

[@joegallo6447]

If you have no way of shutting the power from the pedestal just turn your main breaker in the RV off before doing any connections.

[@martinsipple6478]

Thank you so much Todd.

[@TheSunfire96]

Can you travel with a gas generator running to power your camper on a bumper rack to keep fridge running?

[@JaredTwomey]

This was a way longer video than it needed to be, just turn off your main breaker plug everything in, flip the main breaker on

[@walterrafolski5662]

Todd, which is best a hard wired protector or a pedestal plug in one? Great video as always..

[@Capnchaos4202]

2 minute tech Tuesday is now 7 min

[@tedfisk1211]

We typically boondock so when we come upon a campground with electric, we proceed carefully. I plug my surge protector in first and look at the lights. If all is good, then I run the wire from the trailer to the surge protector. All of our appliances are off in the trailer when in transit so we turn them on once power is connected. I really enjoy your tech tip tuesdays.

[@patbullard9276]

I do it exactly the same as you. Breaker off, plug in pms, breaker on to test the power supply, if good breaker off, plug in power cord.

[@paulhudson8321]

If got a question Todd. My Lance camper came with 2 100 W solar panels and 2 100 amp hr lithium batteries. I have a portable 100W solar panel is it ok to hook it into the system to add that extra 100W. Thanks 🇨🇦👍

[@msheron]

Change the name to Tech Tip Tuesday....LOL I really have no where to be so whether it is 2 minute or 8 minutes I listen! Bwaaaa Ha Ha. Great tip my friend as we no matter if we have a pedestal with a breaker switch to off or not have our AC and all things we can off prior to hooking in.

[@Fleebit]

Could you not just flip your main breaker inside the RV to off before you plug it into the pedestal?

[@akosibrian8417]

Hi todd, I have question to you. I have a 12 v fridge and I have a solar panel on my trailer. My question is there a problem if I have my fridge on drawing power from my battery while on the road then upon arrival at my camp site plug my power to power pedestal without turning my fridge off?

[@plastichair856]

Hi Todd, I have a problem in my class A Rv ,every time I connect short power my converter doesn’t charge my batteries? Batteries are new and changed my inverter thinking it was. Let me know. I am always watching your show in Tuesday.Thank you

[@kevinrichardson1978]

How about turning off the battery disconnect switch

[@tankertim]

What about turning off your coaches power disconnect switch? Would that work in this case???

[@seanwaite4755]

If I can't turn off the breaker at the pedestal, I turn off my main breaker in the rv to plug in and out

[@terrymccorkle1674]

Could you just turn off the main breaker in the rv?

[@jonathanbell5561]

Just turn off main breaker in RV.

[@63GBPackerfan]

Hi Todd. Great advice. What if I plug my Watchdog into a hot pedestal and then plug the shoreline into the Watchdog? Any issues with that sequence?

[@mikeandshawnahual4072]

Not Todd but this should help. 1 Connect power cord to RV. 2 Connect power cord to Watchdog. 3 Watchdog to pedestal. No chance of being distracted and not connecting before delay has counted down.

[@dontwantnospam]

Turn off any heavy load.......If it runs on AC, turn off the breaker before you plug in!!! Why didn't you mention that?????????????

[@myrvguy]