wak648...Bill 94 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Word of warning, if little eyes are looking over your shoulder,do not read any further unless you are ready tohandle some nightmares.This weekend while camping a tragic event unfolded 5 sites down from ours. While I was getting the fire ready to light my DS6 said, "hey dad look at that campfire" The first thing I thought was what the hell are they burning as it was the wrong color smoke. Then I realized that the smoke was not coming from the other side of the fifth wheel, but from the bedroom slide. I immediatley yelled to the wife to call 911 grab the 20lb extingusher out of my truck and ran down to see if there was anything I could do. I was met at the front of the burning fifth wheel by the campers owner and he said that he was inside watching TV when he lost power. He said he went outside to check the breaker box and all of the breakers were tripped so he turned them back on. When he got back inside he saw smoke coming from the area where his fuse box was and he emptied the little extingusher that you get with the camper with no success so he got out. He said he was unable to move his truck from in front of the camper as the keys were still inside. About this time the campground owner showed up with a few other campers and they started to get everyone who was standing there watching away from the area. Jay the campground owner went to the camper on one side and I went to the camper on the otherside to make sure no on was home. When I got to the door of the other camper I pounded on it and when I did not hear any response I opened the door. Thankfully no one was home, but I was met at eye level by a huge german shepard who let out a big growl and woof. All I could think was please be friendly and grabbed the dog by the collar and dragged him out of the camper. At this point the fire department was showing up. I was impressed with there response time as they were a volunteer department and the station was 3-4 miles away, the Engine got on scene with 3 personel with in ten minutes!After the fire was out, it was determined that the local power company had a surge in its line to the campground that burnt up one of the two transformers that feed that section of the campground. They fire marshal said that the surge hit this gentlemans camper the hardest as it was at the end of that particular line.Here are a few pictures and a short video of the incident. Sorry that I dont have any from the inception of the incident, but my priorities we with making sure everyone was safe prior to grabbing the camera.The flame you see here is a full 100lb propane cylinder venting off.Now the after effects:It was ten minutes from when my wife called 911 to the fire was being put out by the fire department. Is a $90 surge protector worth those ten minutes of your camping vacation? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Wow!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wak648...Bill 94 Posted July 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 1) Thankfully no one was hurt2) The Montana 5th wheel behind the camper that was burning was just purchased Tuesday and the couple were on the first trip with it. It has lots and I do mean LOTs of heat damage to the outside, and the inside the fabric on the window covering and the computer monitor started to melt. It also had a lot of smoke damge on the inside. Hopefully the insurance is nice to them.3) The Montana 5th wheel in the foreground has little to no heat damage.4) The local power company was there for 3 hours after the fire replacing 2 underground transformers that they said caused the surge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 That is so sad! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 It's truly a shame when a $350 investment could have prevented it.I never leave home without it.Surge Guard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 HIC-CUP Quote Link to post Share on other sites
We4mickey 6 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Wow, you just never know what could happen. Glad everyone was okay. That is the important thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Just Whipperwhirl 24 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Oh my gosh - thats terrible - if it had happened in the middle of the night it could have been a very different outcome! Im scertain those nice campground owners ( iforget their names) feel just terrible. Good Move saving the dog - you rock! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BRDof3...Rob 40 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 I have a $250 unit that I bought last year. That represented a lot of hours in the humid heat umpiring ball games last year, but it is worth it. It has only cut us off once, that I know of. That was during a storm last summer. As far as I'm concerned, it was worth the hours in the heat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BouncingTiggers 98 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Wow that is just awful. I glad no one was injured but man that is crazy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Bill, what campground were you at? Plus now I have to go shopping those pictures scared the hell out of me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wak648...Bill 94 Posted July 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Bill, what campground were you at? Plus now I have to go shopping those pictures scared the hell out of me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Jellystone in Tunkhannock, PA Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Holy cow! Coincidentally when we picked up our new camper yesterday, the man that did the walkaround with us recounted a similar story that had happened to him. In his case luckily he was able to catch the fire quickly enough to put it out, but he said he hasn't camped without a surge protector since!I'm ordering ours tonight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Ok folks, looking for some input.Finding a few different ones out there - prices from $70 - $300 and not sure what the differences are. All seem to be from Surge Guard. Recommendations? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lil Lisa 53 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Wow!! I saw the pic on FB, but it is just amazing how fast that camper went up! I am also interested in knowing the difference between the lower and higher priced units. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wak648...Bill 94 Posted August 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 The cheaper ones will trip fir a power surge only, the more expensive one trip fit a surge, bug also trip if the voltage drops that us coming in to prevent damage to your electronics and a/c units Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 It's truly a shame when a $350 investment could have prevented it.I never leave home without it.Surge GuardHey Dave, I've looked at that unit before (actually the 30 amp version). How do you secure it so that it does not "walk away"? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lil Lisa 53 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 The cheaper ones will trip fir a power surge only, the more expensive one trip fit a surge, bug also trip if the voltage drops that us coming in to prevent damage to your electronics and a/c unitsSo the cheaper ones would help to prevent a fire?BTW - are you on your phone?? I sense auto-correct! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 The cheaper ones will trip fir a power surge only, the more expensive one trip fit a surge, bug also trip if the voltage drops that us coming in to prevent damage to your electronics and a/c unitsAnd from what I understand, voltage that is outside of the normal range is not uncommon, especially in older parks with dated hookups. Those swings, low or high, can do a great deal of damage to your electronics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BRDof3...Rob 40 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Hey Dave, I've looked at that unit before (actually the 30 amp version). How do you secure it so that it does not "walk away"?The only way to secure it is to either lock it to your trailer, or lock the power box it is plugged in to. You might find a locking mechanism that encloses the connection between your umbilical and the surge protector, but I don't know if they make those.If you're really qworried about theft, you can get these units and have them hard-wired to your TT. I've had this thing in private CG's and public, good neighborhoods and not so good. No attempt made to steal it yet. Most people wouldn't know what it was even if they noticed it, I'd bet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wak648...Bill 94 Posted August 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 I have the cheaper one, I know it tripped during this incident, but will upgrading when I have the funds.And yes Lisa I am in my phone and have been drinking to boot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SCTigerCock 171 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 OK, that is on our shopping list before we go to the Fort in October, our next camping trip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Ok folks, looking for some input.Finding a few different ones out there - prices from $70 - $300 and not sure what the differences are. All seem to be from Surge Guard. Recommendations?Some only watch for a surge others watch for hi/low voltage as well as check polarity before turning on. The 50 amp we bought checks everything for about 2 minutes before it turns on (proper voltage and polarity, open ground or neutral etc). If the voltage drops below 103 or exceeds 130 it turns off. Also look at the joule rating, the higher the better. The hardwired units are a little less expensive but if you buy a new unit then you have to get a new surge protector.Also I've seen pictures of what happens if there is a lighting strike and I don't want the surge protector inside our coach. Once it is hit it isn't a pretty sight (kind of explodes) that is why we bought the portable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 And yes Lisa I am in my phone and have been drinking to boot.ACUI (Auto Correcting Under the Influence) will get you in trouble - or at least in Deep Snarky! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Starbuc71 162 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Hey Dave, I've looked at that unit before (actually the 30 amp version). How do you secure it so that it does not "walk away"?Dave, Check this out http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/surge-guard-universal-lock-hasp/44333 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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