30 Amp EMS Protector

[Cascadia]

Originally Posted by cavie

Please tell me that the 15 amp is a misprint! there is so such thing as a Heavy duty 15 amp cord. You must have a min of # 10 for that distance and 8 would be better.

Yes it is 10 gauge�� I'm about as fried as the surge protector this morning!

[Cascadia]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

First, a 30 amp PI EMS won't do much to protect against the inevitable voltage drop from 150 feet of 15 amp (16 ga) extension cord during "big winds and brownouts". That's an "open invitation" to start a fire (hopefully outside the RV) that may or may not engulf the RV once the grass and brush gets a good burn going......

I'd urge you to replace the PI EMS with a similar one. Obviously it did "its thing" and protected the trailer.... However, I'd look very seriously at what you're using to provide power to the trailer. With a 100' run, at 30 amps, the recommended ROMEX is at least 8 ga, but some recommend 6 ga for outdoor runs that distant from the source breaker.

If you're "only connected to 15 amps" then I'd use at least 10 ga ROMEX or "RV shore power extension cables" with the plugs protected from the elements (I use a 4x4 wood block to lift the plugs and cover with a 5 gallon plastic pail). A "heavy duty extension cord" is typically not heavier than 14 ga wiring or 12 ga at best. That's not sufficient for a 150' run, even at 15 amps.

Now, just to be clear, a 12 ga extension cord can be used to run 15 amps for "about 100 feet"... That doesn't mean you can run a 12 ga cord for 100' and then plug it into a 10 ga trailer power cord to run the other 50'.... The "gauge limitation" applies to the entire cord run. So, if the run is 150', the entire cord must be heavy enough to run the distance, not "pieced together" at the "limit of the lightest cord"....

Thank you for the info...what shore power extension cord do you use or recommend? We ran 150 feet of 10 gauge 15 amp and obviously that wasn't enough..

[travelin texans]

The EMS won't help with a direct lightening strike, which may have occurred from your discription.

[Cascadia]

No lightening at all...just wind.

[JDDilly]

You may have to make a cord if you can not find one with 8 gauge wire.

[Cascadia]

Thank you so much for the wise counsel! I ordered https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RW7ZBDS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_AH74F8T1RJJNFKDQ7F5A
And
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004809YBE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_ZQ1ZJ01PS73M6PXRHCSD

Damn..
I hope I got this right...the sticker price made my ears ring!🥴