Surge protector on sale for south of border travelers

....... Includes park power diagnostic light, as well as boost indicator light, spike and surge protection and polarity and ground test functions..I

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-power-cords/30-amp-autoformer.htm

I used this on my TT primarily, but also had a portable 30a surge protector that mainly sat in the storage bin. You know...Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

I guess I have seen some low voltage too. Both high and low is why we got the CORRECTOR. I am not sure about the 12VDC stuff as that should be separate from the show power but I don't know for sure. A few years ago we were in Paa Mul and I think lightning got our inverter battery charger so I had to rig up an outside battery charger which did not provide enough amps so I would start the engine to charge the batteries. I am not expert on any of this but do have lots of stuff I use in MX that we do not need in the US most of the time. I still check pedestals in the US too and sometimes use the CORRECTOR and always use the surge protector. We have had the protector drop out in the US too. We did get by for years without the CORRECTOR but am glad we have it now.

Brian: Although we have encountered high voltage at some parks we have also seen voltage below 90. I have also been in parks where he voltage is high but if a caravan comes in the voltage becomes unusable. What worries me is all the electronic boards that are 12 volts. If your unit has some sort of convertor is the 12 volt side regulated?

Moisheh

I think the write up on the Hughes equipment is quite clear - it raises voltage but there is no mention of lowering voltage. Nothing I am aware of that is readily available in the US claims to lower voltage. The main problem in MX is high voltage and not low voltage - at least most of the time in our experience.

What happens with a surge protector is it shuts off for about 3.5 minutes if there is a microsecond of voltage above the set level. So if voltage surges for a split second you have to wait for it to come back on. If the protector is set for 131 or 132 and voltage goes to 133 for a split second you will have to wait the full 3.5 minutes for power to come back on. Wait 5 minutes and another surge can shut you down for another 3.5 minutes. Which is why we have the CORRECTOR. It works.

You may not need any of this equipment but then again you might. Much of today's equipment is more sensitive than previous equipment. Depends on what equipment you have and what equipment you need. Electronics can be damaged - computers - TVs - refrigerator control panels - DVD - - it is my understanding that an AC can be harmed more by low voltage than high voltage but I am not sure. There are places in MX that do not have enough power to allow AC use anyway - fans usually work. Most, but not all, RV fridges run on propane as well as electricity so may work fine - unless you have an all electric residential model as we do.

Some travel in MX for years without any protection and do just fine. It is all a matter of opinion, experience, and budget.

Thanks for the input. I'm going to give Hughes a call and see if they have specific recommendations for which models I'll need for travel in MX. It's not clear if I need the autoformer + a surge protector. We'll need protection from surges >131. It sounds like the auto model is for boosting at lower voltage, but says it does offer protection for surges and brownouts. Does this unit take care of both issues?? I think I might need "electrics for dummies".

Not that I will be of much help, but I have used one of the Hughes 30A Autoformer's for years and I'm completely happy with it. It is supposed to assist in both surges as well as "brownouts".

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-power-cords/30-amp-autoformer.htm

RichieC don't get too caught up in some of the discussion so far on this thread. While valueable to some in your case I strongly advise you to lpurchase at least a 30 AMP Surge protector. it will propect you from most of the power gremlins. If it "kicks out" great, then run the genny. it will protect you from total electronic destruction that I have seen seen in some parks.

I'm totally confused about what to do. We are traveling in our Class B through Mexico this September. This is an all gas model, no propane.
Traveling with two dogs, we will need a/c at least some of the time. We can just run the generator and burn up a ton of gas and not even worry about hooking up to the electricity, which we, by the way,no nothing much about. I guess that would beat frying a fridge and/or a/c system. I don't have a problem springing for the portable surge protector, but not sure how to go about getting the above mentioned equipment, especially as this is our first time in MX.

Any suggestions for these two neophytes? Thanks

The difference between the Hughes and the CORRECTOR DE VOLTAJE is the Hughes will only increase voltage and the CORRECTOR will either increase or decrease as needed. Since we mostly experience high voltage in Mexico we primarily need something to lower voltage and not to raise it. As far as I know you can only get the CORRECTOR in Mexico - for about maybe $250. I have seen them on ebay but they want about $800 for them and that is just a ripoff. Almost any hardware type store in Mexico can order one and get it in a couple days. Use the website I posted above to research the info and to use to order. We think you only need the 4000 for the average RV based on available power in most RV parks. They are not wired so if you don't know electricity you may have to pay to have it wired. I put a 30amp plug on the input but can adapt to 15/20amp - and have a 50amp plug in for the outlet. By no means does that intend to suggest you can get 50amp service - it is just the way I wired it to eliminate more adapters. Some wiring parts can only be found in US - just to further complicate this issue.

I am going to answer my own question as I found an operational guide for Hughes Transformers. YES you can use a 50 amp unit on a 30 or 20 amp outlet/post/hookup with an adapter. Still don't know about a Surge Protector.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

NOTE: I should have added, be careful with the output amps. You will not have 50 amps from a 30/20 amp hookup, you are still limited by the parks output amps.