Ugh! A Power Surge Hit My RV… What’s Next?
Though power outages are never fun, it’s power surges that are more likely to wreak havoc on your RV’s electrical system, appliances, and electronics. After a power surge in your RV, it’s essential to follow these steps to assess and address potential damage and ensure safety.
First of All, Safety
The first thing that you must do is to disconnect your RV from the shore power pedestal immediately. Keep your eye on the weather forecast and watch for any additional power surge possibilities such as storms – stay indoors until the weather clears.
Also, you should turn off all appliances and electronics in your RV so you won’t overload the system when you reestablish power to your RV.
Inspect the Surge Protector
The next item you should inspect and examine is your RV surge protector, if you have one, for any visible damage like burn marks, cracks, or discoloration.
Check the indicator lights on your surge protector. If they’re off or indicate an issue, the protector may be compromised and might need replacing. Look for a button or a switch that could indicate that the protector was tripped if it has that type of functionality. Some surge protectors have a button to reset the built-in circuit breaker; while resetting the surge protector will allow power to be distributed as normal, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s still capable of protecting against power surges.
While physical damage is a sure sign that a surge protector needs to be replaced, the individual components responsible for shunting excess current away from your electronics will wear out as they absorb energy. If you’re not sure how old the surge protector is, or if you know that it’s over five years old, consider replacing it, even if it doesn’t show outward wear.
If you do not have a surge protector, consider getting one to protect your RV and its contents from future electrical surges. A surge protector really should be mandatory and will save you thousands of dollars even if it works just the once. If you do not already have one, contact your local RV dealer to discuss installing one so that you can avoid any damage to your appliances in the future.
Check Circuit Breakers and GFCI outlets
After checking out your surge protector, you should then locate your RV’s circuit breaker panel and identify any tripped breakers. Reset them by flipping them off and then back on one at a time and then check the functionality of each system that is supplied by that breaker.
Locate any Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets, typically near water sources, in bathrooms and kitchens, and press the “reset” button if it’s popped out. You may end up having to replace some of these outlets if the surge protection at the source doesn’t stop the surge from entering the RV.
Inspect Appliances and Electronics
Visually inspect your appliances and electronics for any signs of damage, such as burn marks, unusual smells, or components that are hot to the touch.
If you suspect that any of your appliances were affected by the power surge, unplug it and then test it separately by plugging it into a known good outlet inside of your RV or perhaps outside the RV.
Unfortunately, you may have to replace or have your appliances repaired if your surge protector failed somehow to prevent the surge from causing any damage to the appliances and systems in your RV.
Assess RV Electrical System
If you are so inclined and have a multimeter, you can use it to check the voltage at the outlets to confirm the power supply is stable.
Next, you should look at your RV’s wiring by performing a visual inspection, looking for any loose connections, damaged insulation, or signs of overheating.
If you run into issues testing out your circuits, it most certainly will be time to call in an expert and take your RV into a dealer or other repair shop.
Reconnect and Test
After you have completed your inspections, and if everything appears okay, you can try reconnecting your RV to the shore power.
Turn on your RV’s main breaker and then the individual circuit breakers, one by one, to ensure proper function. Carefully monitor the performance of your appliances and electronics and be ready to disconnect them or turn off the breaker in case of malfunction.
When to Consult a Professional
If during your investigation you happen to find significant damage or are unable to identify the source of the problem, you must consult a qualified RV technician or electrician. They can accurately diagnose the full extent of any electrical issues and ensure safe and effective repairs.
Always remember that while an appliance might appear to work correctly immediately after a surge, there’s a possibility that internal components of this or other appliances might have been affected, potentially leading to future failure.
Electrical Safety Tips for Every RV Journey
- Surge Protection: If your rig doesn’t already have one, consider having a surge protector or an Electrical Management System installed. These devices are crucial for safeguarding your RV against power surges, low voltage, reverse polarity, and other electrical issues at campgrounds.
- Avoid Overloading: Additionally, you should always try to avoid plugging in too many devices into a single circuit to prevent overloading, which can contribute to damage from power surges.
- Check Before You Connect: When arriving at your campground before plugging in, quickly check the pedestal for any visible damage or faulty wiring.
- Watch the Weather: Keep an eye on the weather forecasts and If a thunderstorm is approaching, unplugging your RV from shore power is a wise precautionary measure.
Andrew Cole
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