stupid question, but I have to ask

[Giggles]

Ok, I know this is a very stupid question, but...I have to ask.

So, in 2 weeks, my lease on my apartment is done, and I am headed out on the road. (And I cannot wait! So excited...)

Anyway,  I know  I will not be staying in campgrounds very often (I hope), but when I do stay in a campground...

1. Do I need to use a surge protector between my extension cord and the campgrounds electrical outlet? (I got a 40 foot extension cord, made for outdoor use. I have multiple , multiple surge protectors. I will be using a Bluetti Power Station. I just bought it the other day on Amazon, but it hasn't arrived yet...so I can't look at their specs.

2. If the answer is yes, will the type of surge protector that I use on my computer (the long whole with 4 or 5 AC outlets) work? Or do I need a specific one for my power station?

3. bought an for electrical appliances (the kind with the weiird AC plug), so I could test the portable a/c unit that came with my van. (I removed the A/C unit, and I'm putting in my storage unit.) Do I need to use the electrical appliance adapter at campgrounds?

I'm trying to pack up everything I don't need and put it in my storage unit, but as I was a packing ups all my electrical cords and surge protectors, I iwasa thinking....wait a second....I might need this!

Thanks in advance....
Giggles

 

[Giggles]

P.S. I did read a couple articles about the Bluetti and I could not find the answer...which is why I'm asking here.

 

[highdesertranger]

Surge protectors are never a bad idea. However I will admit I have no experience with them. Most RV people say they are a must. Most also say the type sold for household use are a joke and you need the type made especially for RV's. I forget the reasons but it's a common theme.

Ah I see you have the power strip type. Those are the ones they say don't really work and don't bother with them. The so called experts say you need the type that plugs into the pedestal.

I don't understand the weird AC plug you are talking about. Got a picture or a link? Do you mean a 20amp?

Hopefully someone with more knowledge on the subject will chime in.

Highdesertranger

 

[Cammalu]

I don’t know why it’s still a problem but you certainly need to check those pedestals before you plug in at least. Sometimes they can be poorly wired. I don’t know how to check them but people use those little hand held gizmo electrical testers.

At some parks you will definitely get surges as there are so many campers trying to use the elec at once. I’ve heard many, many stories about things going haywire and burning up plugging in at a campground.

The surge protectors for RVs are expensive but not as expensive as what could happen if you don’t use one.

 

[crofter]

I mounted a multi plug surge strip in the van for use when I have shore power. So far nothing has burned up.
-crofter

 

[B and C]

Campgrounds normally have 50 amp, 30 amp and 15/20 amp outlets.

I carry an outlet tester similar to this one" https://www.amazon.com/Receptacle-T...=1617909004&s=lamps-light&sr=1-7&ts_id=495336

I only use the 30 amp or 15/20 amp outlets so I carry an adapter that lets me use the above tester in a 30 amp outlet.

 

[bagabum]

Ok, I know this is a very stupid question, but...I have to ask.
2. If the answer is yes, will the type of surge protector that I use on my computer (the long whole with 4 or 5 AC outlets) work? Or do I need a specific one for my power station?

Giggles, not a stupid question. The piece you have is for surge protection of the lightening strike type or high energy transient spike,  it can be  the cheap sacrificial type that blows and you replace or possible the resettable type. What you need for noisy power from AC's all around you kicking on and off is UPS. (Uninterruptable Power Supply)  The way it works is power is coming into this unit at the end of your extension cord and it is continuously powering a charger that is charging a battery which is now feeding a PSW inverter. In door only, sounds expensive but they are not.  You can have noise, interruptions, etc and not know it except an indicator light may come on to tell that you are on UPS . In an event, it can provide about 20-30 minutes of 120VAC   supply at half / full load from the internal battery..  This is it on Amazon.[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SKX78P...tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=[/SIZE][/font]

 

[aMUSEd]

Everything seems to cost less on eBay.

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[bagabum]

That's odd, I have not noticed that with the kinds of stuff I purchase. (tools. building supplies, camping / fishing / hunting hardware, gadgets, cooking utensils, etc)  I have found ebay to be higher in almost everything I have  compared,  I was left unprotected twice (screwed), never on Amazon,  and the shipping is normally slow and normally not free????  Must be a different line of products!

 

[aMUSEd]

I saved over $30 on 120W solar, the exact same item. Portable power supply was also cheaper. Shipping is slower and you have to pay attn to return policy. You are right about returning stuff. Amazon makes it simple. I also like being able to have stuff sent to their "lockers" because I'm often not home and pkgs get stolen.

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[aMUSEd]

Right now ive got a 250w ecoflow river (200W input). And ive got a portable 120w solar panel coming on Monday.

Would you buy the 250w River add-on or another separate 250 portable power source? I'm thinking having additional outlets and being able to have power at both ends of the van or one inside and the other outside would be nice.

Ive got an instapot and 12v refrigerated cooler, fans, phone, hot water kettle, & USB warming blanket.

Your suggestion was to buy an uninteruptable power supply, to protect their power supply and a good extention cord (what gauge?). When i looked at the power supply $70, it looked like it could be used instead of an additional power source, but charging it in the van might be a bugger. I know there's something wrong with that idea, plz tell me.


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[bagabum]

I saved over $30 on 120W solar, the exact same item. Portable power supply was also cheaper. Shipping is slower and you have to pay attn to return policy. You are right about returning stuff. Amazon makes it simple. I also like being able to have stuff sent to their "lockers" because I'm often not home and pkgs get stolen.

Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

Thanks for sharing ,  now I know, !!

 

[thegoodtom1]

First, the only stupid question is the one not asked. At times RV parks can not only be mis-wired, but also under-wired. This is usually caused by the long run each socket comes from. Anyone that has been around the parks has usually replaced their plug. It can end up melted. Add to that 30, 100, even 250 RV's at a park coming off the same service. Since few parks isolate each user, you will get fluctuations in the power. It could be someone before you turning on the A/C, or someone after you running the microwave. For a moment, your power drops and then surges. Some appliances have a minimal ability to counter this with capacitors and diodes, but they are designed for household use that will not surge the way a park will. I installed a progressive industries built in unit, to safeguard my rig. I see it as a life vest, a pain in the @$$ until it saves me. Hope this helps.

 

[Jimmyflorida]

That's odd, I have not noticed that with the kinds of stuff I purchase. (tools. building supplies, camping / fishing / hunting hardware, gadgets, cooking utensils, etc)  I have found ebay to be higher in almost everything I have  compared,  I was left unprotected twice (screwed), never on Amazon,  and the shipping is normally slow and normally not free????  Must be a different line of products!

As someone who sells online shipping is never free someone has to pay for it so if you get "free shipping " it's just worked into purchase price should also check for lowest price if an item is $50 with free shipping I would much wether pay $30 shipping and $15 for item and save $5 just mt 2 cents

 

[highdesertranger]

Let's get back on topic. Which is surge protection. Highdesertranger