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Topic: Electrical power line monitor life span (Read 575 times) previous topic - next topic

Electrical power line monitor life span

I want to install a hard wired power line monitor for over and under voltage protection.
Is there a life span to these units?
Do they lose there effectiveness with usage or age?
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Electrical power line monitor life span

Reply #1
Are you picturing a 'surge' (mostly) device, like a home unit, or an actual power conditioner..?


Dave
1991 Foretravel Grand Villa 36'
1993 Cobra Phoenix 33'

Re: Electrical power line monitor life span

Reply #2
Are you picturing a 'surge' (mostly) device, like a home unit, or an actual power conditioner..?


Dave
A surge and under voltage detector that shuts down power in either condition.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Electrical power line monitor life span

Reply #3
A big enough surge in power could damage anything in the line including your EMS system or any surge protector. They are built with diodes and resistors and very quick acting semiconductor devices and, as such, they have a working limit when it comes to the conditions to which they are subjected.

Low power won't harm them. I would expect that the details could be found on the spec sheet.

They are generally designed to destroy themselves before letting a power surge get through. Which is why Progressive Electronics is so generous when it comes to rebuilding them. It's good customer service and word gets around.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Electrical power line monitor life span

Reply #4
I was thinking of aging out.

Like a breaker in a home electrical panel that gets tripped semi frequently, and then has weakened and needs to be replaced.
Not thinking of a direct hit by lightning, or a catastrophic event, more like every day use with the occasional fault discovery, and action, then reset cycle.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Electrical power line monitor life span

Reply #5
This is the hard wired version of the power protector of choice:
EMS-HW50C

Many have installed this model themselves. Some have two units wired in.

This unit uses a heavy duty contactor relay and they do not lose their effectiveness with use or age.  For longevity, think of the EMS being closer in design to a transfer switch than a circuit breaker.

Their life span is the life span of your coach. The unit is made in the USA, company answers their phone, all service is at no charge.
Warranty Information

This company is the best, send in an old unit and get back a fully rebuilt unit.

The internal part is mainly an easily removable circuit board that they will replace at no charge.

And the unit works great to protect against a wide range of campground or generator anomalies.

Including the dreaded under & over voltage that can happen at any time and just for a moment.

The little remote digital display monitor will keep you informed volts & amps for each line, & 60 cycles.

The unit also has a replaceable common surge protection board, that shows up on the right in the photo, circuit board on left & contactor on top.  Other photo shows the control circuit board.