Re: Electrical Questions Reply #25 – December 16, 2020, 03:37:31 am Quote from: HiLola - December 15, 2020, 11:21:00 pmJust to follow up on my earlier posts about using the heat pump while plugged into the house. I was able to run it with no Ill effects and very little voltage drop. The EMS/Surge Protecter showed 117V at it’s lowest but I only ran the pump for about 10 minutes. I’m still concerned about the voltage the Bluesky unit is showing after a sunny day and being plugged in, 12.3 volts at 8pm this evening. Hoping my batteries are not going bad after less than 4 years.A big advantage of using a hard-wired surge protector, like the Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C 30 Amp RV Surge Protector, is having a remote Display, a small digital fob that is mounted somewhere in the interior, that's readily visible.The fob shows the voltage, amperage being consumed and if there are may problems with the shore power's wiring. This makes driveway camping easier by being able to see how many amp are actually being consumed. Many times we have parked in a friend or relatives driveway and ran the A/C or the electric heater using a recepticle in the house or garage, utilizing a 15 or 20-amp circuit. The rest of the rig is operated as if we are dry camping, using solar/battery power, turning the converter off and running the refrigerator on propane. The fob shows how close the amerage draw is to tripping a circuit breaker in the house.Your coach battery may on its way out, the converter should also have charged the battery, not to mention a few thousand miles of driving. Time to get the multimeter out and determine what's going on.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Electrical Questions Reply #26 – December 16, 2020, 07:59:46 am I also first check every electric pedestal I use with a circuit tester (see photo) attached to a 20amp (for meter) to 30amp (for power) corded adaptor (mine is self made) which makes the screen easier to read if the pedestal cover partially blocks the power sockets. There have been several times over the years that this procedure has paid off. It is still wise to do the checking even when returning to a campsite you have used in the past that had been okay before. Weathering of electrical connections can occur over time to cause new problems at the pedestal. 1 Likes
Re: Electrical Questions Reply #27 – December 16, 2020, 08:35:07 am Not a bad practice, but the PI surge protector checks the same things and more. 1 Likes
Re: Electrical Questions Reply #28 – December 16, 2020, 03:23:32 pm Quote from: Don Malpas - December 16, 2020, 08:35:07 amNot a bad practice, but the PI surge protector checks the same things and more.I have a handheld electrical tester for use when looking at potential campsite's electrical but normally just let the PI surge protector analyze the power, letting it automatically connect when it determines the correct conditions exist.It's totally brainless, assuming the power is wired correctly and voltage is within normal range.When setting up a new LD, it's the way to go. Portable surge protectors have too many disadvantages for my taste, YMMV.Larry 2 Likes
Re: Electrical Questions Reply #29 – December 16, 2020, 05:12:19 pm Quote from: Larry W - December 16, 2020, 03:37:31 amA big advantage of using a hard-wired surge protector, like the Progressive Industries EMS-HW30C 30 Amp RV Surge Protector, is having a remote Display, a small digital fob that is mounted somewhere in the interior, that's readily visible.I purchased a "sold separately" monitor for my Surge Guard surge protector which hangs in my kitchen. I admit I don't pay too much attention to it unless I have a problem.The previous owner of my rig had an AC Powerline Monitor plugged into one of the kitchen outlets and I keep it there as well.