Mike, I'm an engineer, not an electrician -- so I know volts and amps, but not Code. Quite a while back, I paid a Princely sum for a high-end power protector, like >$600 over 10 years ago. It's almost as big as a football, and a real PITA to use -- especially since I keep it "behind closed doors" in my rig, and not out at the pedestal be be easily stolen.
I've lost count of the number of times that beast has saved my bacon... low-V, high-V, off-frequency, bad-ground, missing ground, swapped neutral/ground, etc. etc. etc. I have NEVER had anything in my rig damaged by power, and have never gotten a shock of any kind. YES, I've had plenty of times when I couldn't get my rig powered up... for damn good reasons.
NEVER, in any of the fault circumstances, was it visually obvious that anything was wrong.
Needless to say, I'm a power-protection evangelist. Keep up YOUR good work.
Good information Mike. I would think that more CGs would try to maintain their pedestals, if nothing else than to prevent lawsuits - which could be severe if some is injured because of a faulty pedestal. Conducting a CG wide check of all pedestals at least once a year would seem a minimal practice.
But to me the ironic thing is that most pedestals are actually very simple to test, repair and maintain. I would think that most CG maintenance people could be easily trained on pedestal electrical repair.
Richard, that’s all true. In most cases pedestal maintenance could basically be checking termination screws for proper torque, identifying and replacing worn outlets, and checking for proper voltage and grounds.
Thought I saw it all but the water pipe takes the prize.
Just last night my Surge Guard saved me again. It was late, around 8PM, after sitting on 95 south for extended periods of time and taking over 6 hours to drive through South Carolina I was fried so we were lucky to find a campground that could take us for a good nights sleep. The spot was tight to get in and the little voice in my ear said check the pedestal before trying to get in. The other voice said it will be fine it looks like a brand new setup and it was. After 30 minutes backing in our 40 foot MH I said to myself let the Surge Guard do it’s thing and it did with zero volts on leg 2, I took out my handy fluke and by golly it was. Now I had to hope that the 30 amp was good and thankfully it was. The next morning while paying the bill I mentioned it to the owner who then told me that it worked yesterday for the previous motorhome about our size, then I showed him using my meter and plugged the Surge Guard back in and he still did not believe me. I pity the next person without any type of protection.
When I saw the water pipe running thru the box I thought it was a done as a joke... but probably not. I never plug in at the pedestal without my Progressive EMS surge protector. Each time I've lost power I know the EMS saved the electronics in my MH. At home I had an electrician run power to the barn and install a pedestal last year; even tho the system is new I still put the EMS between the box and the shoreline. It might be stolen in a CG but that hasn't happened yet and if it does I'll purchase another one. The joule rating is 1790 so I'll have to replace it when that is consumed, no telling when that will be. Most of my camping is boon-docking... no pedestal required. I'm tryin' to stay safe Mike.
I think people are afraid to report situations like this in fear of not being allowed back at the campground.
Take a pic, write a letter to local authorities , use snail mail and make it anonymous. Any place you stay you can search for local government offices contact info. The life you save could be your own.
I had a reader send me a picture of a very dangerous pedestal in a Disney owned campground, and I contacted Disney corporate about it. They never called me back, but the pedestal was quietly replaced a few days later.
Mike, I'm an engineer, not an electrician -- so I know volts and amps, but not Code. Quite a while back, I paid a Princely sum for a high-end power protector, like >$600 over 10 years ago. It's almost as big as a football, and a real PITA to use -- especially since I keep it "behind closed doors" in my rig, and not out at the pedestal be be easily stolen.
I've lost count of the number of times that beast has saved my bacon... low-V, high-V, off-frequency, bad-ground, missing ground, swapped neutral/ground, etc. etc. etc. I have NEVER had anything in my rig damaged by power, and have never gotten a shock of any kind. YES, I've had plenty of times when I couldn't get my rig powered up... for damn good reasons.
NEVER, in any of the fault circumstances, was it visually obvious that anything was wrong.
Needless to say, I'm a power-protection evangelist. Keep up YOUR good work.
Good information Mike. I would think that more CGs would try to maintain their pedestals, if nothing else than to prevent lawsuits - which could be severe if some is injured because of a faulty pedestal. Conducting a CG wide check of all pedestals at least once a year would seem a minimal practice.
But to me the ironic thing is that most pedestals are actually very simple to test, repair and maintain. I would think that most CG maintenance people could be easily trained on pedestal electrical repair.
Richard, that’s all true. In most cases pedestal maintenance could basically be checking termination screws for proper torque, identifying and replacing worn outlets, and checking for proper voltage and grounds.
Thought I saw it all but the water pipe takes the prize.
Just last night my Surge Guard saved me again. It was late, around 8PM, after sitting on 95 south for extended periods of time and taking over 6 hours to drive through South Carolina I was fried so we were lucky to find a campground that could take us for a good nights sleep. The spot was tight to get in and the little voice in my ear said check the pedestal before trying to get in. The other voice said it will be fine it looks like a brand new setup and it was. After 30 minutes backing in our 40 foot MH I said to myself let the Surge Guard do it’s thing and it did with zero volts on leg 2, I took out my handy fluke and by golly it was. Now I had to hope that the 30 amp was good and thankfully it was. The next morning while paying the bill I mentioned it to the owner who then told me that it worked yesterday for the previous motorhome about our size, then I showed him using my meter and plugged the Surge Guard back in and he still did not believe me. I pity the next person without any type of protection.
I’ve advocated for yearly testing and maintenance of all campground pedestals, but so far there’s been zero response from the industry.
Pics of pedestals readers sent me while camping in Mexico are even more scary.
An Advanced/EMS Surge Protector is your best friend!
When I saw the water pipe running thru the box I thought it was a done as a joke... but probably not. I never plug in at the pedestal without my Progressive EMS surge protector. Each time I've lost power I know the EMS saved the electronics in my MH. At home I had an electrician run power to the barn and install a pedestal last year; even tho the system is new I still put the EMS between the box and the shoreline. It might be stolen in a CG but that hasn't happened yet and if it does I'll purchase another one. The joule rating is 1790 so I'll have to replace it when that is consumed, no telling when that will be. Most of my camping is boon-docking... no pedestal required. I'm tryin' to stay safe Mike.
I think people are afraid to report situations like this in fear of not being allowed back at the campground.
Take a pic, write a letter to local authorities , use snail mail and make it anonymous. Any place you stay you can search for local government offices contact info. The life you save could be your own.
I had a reader send me a picture of a very dangerous pedestal in a Disney owned campground, and I contacted Disney corporate about it. They never called me back, but the pedestal was quietly replaced a few days later.
Now hold on guys. That first picture was an early design by the campground owner on how to provide
(hot water) at the pedestal. :):)
If I ever saw that at my camping spot not only would I not stay there but I would contact the local inspectors. WOWWWWW
Few older campgrounds seem to be inspected. I have dozens of pictures like this (and worse) from readers all around the country.