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From: Ted Heise <theise@panix.com>
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel
Subject: Re: Wyoming Trip Report (May-Jun 2025)
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2025 21:13:34 -0000 (UTC)
Organization: My own, such as it is
Message-ID: <slrn105m57u.rb.theise@panix2.panix.com>
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On Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:44:35 -0500,
  sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:
>  On 6/24/2025 2:01 PM, Ted Heise wrote:
> > On Tue, 24 Jun 2025 11:20:33 -0500,
> >    sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:

> >>> I recalled also that the power testing device I use each 
> >>> time on a new campsite before plugging in the trailer had 
> >>> shown an error at the suspect campsite (though it came up 
> >>> all green after I shut off the 30 A and tried a second 
> >>> time).

> >>   I'm curious about this "power testing device" you use.  Do 
> >>   you just test what is coming out of the box and then put it 
> >>   away, or is it always on the line in case of surges or 
> >>   other faults?
> > 
> > It was part of a kit I bought from the dealer when I picked up 
> > the trailer, this has info on it...

> > https://tinyurl.com/msyjrs3s
> > 
> > And yes, after testing I put it away.  I have no idea how 
> > robust the surge protector is, I just use it.
> 
>  OK.  So you plug in the tester and if that is ok you put the 
>  surge module in and plug into that.  Then on, you are protected 
>  from low/high voltage and power surges.  That was what I was 
>  interested in.

Yep.


> > There has been a place or two (inluding the site with the 
> > problematic power) where the plug in panel didn't have a 
> > cover. Strikes me as suboptimal if it rains.
> 
>  Also it's probably illegal almost everywhere.  That's it can 
>  kill you power.

Oh, I didn't describe it very well.  I was talking about the metal 
cover that one swings up to access the outlets, not the metal of 
the pedestal itself.


> >>   FWIW, I use a Power Watchdog and it works nicely, though I 
> >>   did have to cover up the one side as it had a ridiculous 
> >>   bright light coming off of it.
> > 
> > Is this some device that goes inside the trailer?  If it goes 
> > on the plug in pedestal, it must be *really* bright to be a 
> > bother.
> 
>  It goes in at the pedestal.  You plug it in and it can be 
>  connected to from your phone.  Gives a readout of current 
>  voltages and how much you have used.  As far as the light, it 
>  was ridiculous that they would think it is OK for it to be as 
>  bright as it was.  Now I'm very wary of not intruding on other 
>  people's enjoyment of things, and having this bright a light 
>  seemed ridiculous...

Very considerate.  One of the "features" of the camp we stayed at 
in western Nebraska (Merritt Reservoir) is stargazing.  Apparently 
they went after (and got) some kind of designation...

https://outdoornebraska.gov/location/merritt-reservoir/

When I was up to pee in the night (maybe 2:00 am?) I stepped out 
the trailer door to have a look.  The view wasn't impressive, 
partly because the next trailer had all their external LED lights 
on.  <rolls eyes>

I tend to be sensitive to light *in* the trailer too, and have 
resported to putting black electrical tape over the brighter 
indicator lamps that I can't turn off somehow.  The "Magic Fan" on 
the ceiling over the bed seems to have a nice thermostat 
controlled setting, but it has a *really* bright green LED that 
lights uo in that mode.  And if I put tape over it, the remote no 
longer works (i.e., the IR receiver must be very near that LED).  
So I haven't used it yet during the night.

-- 
Ted Heise      <theise@panix.com>       West Lafayette, IN, USA