Surge protectors etc

I also have a couple of devices I have written about in previous threads on this forum which I can use to test the pedestal outlet before I plug in to not only check for polarity but for correct voltage. I have been known to roam from site to site in RV parks in Mexico looking for a properly wired pedestal - I have also been known to rewire pedestals myself. I also have a pigtail dogbone thingy I made up that reverses polarity so if only reverse is available and I don't want to mess with it I just plug in my reverser and all is well. Many other tricks developed over years of travel in Mexico and messing around with their electricity.

High voltage in the US is rare compared to the common inadequate CG wiring and low voltage.

In Mexico (this is the Mexico Forum) the CFE standard in many areas is 127 VAC. We often see the 127 or more - in some area I see 132 as the norm. Many variables whether you have high or low in Mexico. Can vary from one side of the RV park to the other. The device I suggest is for Mexico and the question asked I believe was about Mexico. A low voltage regulator could be useful in the US - but maybe not so much in Mexico.

This seems like a possible choice for 30A only.

Using 2 for 50A would be about $600. And I'm not sure that 2 of these will work on 50A because it's 120/240 with a common neutral. But maybe I don't understand how it could be used.

It is all in the wiring. If you do not understand it you need an electrician to wire it.

You will rarely if ever see 50amp in Mexico. To get two legs going to your two 50amp RV legs you would need to wire the unit internally so that you plug into a 15, 20, 30 amp pedestal in Mexico and then have it come out the other side to a 50amp socket - which would mean the feed from the pedestal is then split internally in the wiring. Trust me - it can be done.

But if you want true 50amp for use in the US you WOULD need two units and you would need the larger units if you really need the two 50amp feeds - for a total of 100amps. But we only use ours in Mexico and on some rare occasions in the US when we have inadequate RV park wiring - which is usually not on 50amp circuits - older campgrounds with bad wiring only.

It can be complicated - but it works. I wired my own but I have been doing wiring for most of my life and was trained as an electronics technician by the US Navy - so I probably have a better idea of how to do it. An electrician should be able to wire so you have your basic 15, 20, 30amp feed in Mexico come out of the regulator so you just plug in your 50amp RV plug to the regulator outlet. We have been using ours for several years so I know it works. You will NOT get 50amp out if you feed 15, 20, 30 amp in - which is what we usually get in Mexico.

The 4000VA ISB appears to cost $3656.00 I'd love to have one but......

That's pesos! If the current exchange rate is 15 (don't know) you divide by 15 for US dollars - about $245

Hi,

The 4000VA ISB appears to cost $3656.00 I'd love to have one but......

http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.mx/MLM-515981807-corrector-de-voltaje-isb-4000-va-sola-basic-b-_JM

briansue wrote:
This page on the ISB website has more info and a picture - Google Translate may translate the page . . .

http://www.isbmex.com/reguladores-domesticos/

High voltage in the US is rare compared to the common inadequate CG wiring and low voltage.

I had 160V on a 30A plug one night and my PI HW50C shut down the power. I've had 2x reverse polarity and numerous cases of low voltage. I've low voltage on 50A which again was inadequate CG wiring.

briansue wrote:
One for each leg so wiring it to feed two legs may require an electrician - they do not come wired to plug in. But this device corrects not only low voltage but high voltage.

This seems like a possible choice for 30A only.

Using 2 for 50A would be about $600. And I'm not sure that 2 of these will work on 50A because it's 120/240 with a common neutral. But maybe I don't understand how it could be used.

Personally I would use a unit designed for 50A.

This is the type of Surge Guard we use - but even with the Voltage Regulator it tends to trip a lot in Mexico. These can be found at RV parts stores such as Camping World.

http://trci.net/products/surge-guard-rv

They also have Voltage Regulators but the ones they make only correct low voltage - whereas the ISB in Mexico corrects both low and high voltage.

The problem with a surge protector in Mexico is there is a built in delay in most of them to protect the AC unit - whether you have one or not - the delay can be up to 3 minutes. So what happens is you get a split second surge and then have to wait 3 minutes for the power to come back on.

What the voltage regulator does is give you a relatively clean and even 120 or so volts which makes equipment happy. Continual low or high voltage can cause equipment problems and eventually the equipment will fail. Nice even voltage can increase longevity of equipment.

There could be surge guards that do not have the delay but we do not have one as we do have AC units and want them protected. Ours is built in so it is there all the time no matter where we travel. We sometimes turn it off in Mexico. But we still use it for all other travels.

This page on the ISB website has more info and a picture - Google Translate may translate the page . . .

http://www.isbmex.com/reguladores-domesticos/

You can find a "Voltage Regulator" in Mexico that they use in many businesses there. You may have to order but only takes a couple days to get one. Some Ferreterias carry them or can get them. We bought ours a few years ago and it has worked fine. One for each leg so wiring it to feed two legs may require an electrician - they do not come wired to plug in. But this device corrects not only low voltage but high voltage. These are the only ones I have ever found and they can only be found in Mexico to my knowledge - I once saw one on ebay in the US for a ridiculously high price. I am thinking we may have paid around $300 but not sure.

ISB Voltage Regulators
http://www.isbmex.com
Líder en el mercado mexicano, por su amplia gama de reguladores de voltaje tanto industriales, tipo computadora como domésticos que ofrecen una protección adecuada a sus equipos
Leader in the Mexican market for its wide range of voltage regulators, both industrial and domestic computer style offering adequate protection teams

http://translate.google.com

COMPENSADOR DE VOLTAJE CVR es un regulador automático diseñado especialmente para mantener niveles óptimos de voltaje para aquellos equipos que inclusive utilicen un motor de corriente alterna que están dentro de la capacidad del compensador; protegiéndolos contra las variaciones severas de tensión del sistema de suminisro eléctrico.

VOLTAGE COMPENSATOR CVR is an automatic controller specially designed to maintain optimal levels of voltage for equipment to even use an AC motor which are within the capability of the compensator, protecting them against severe voltage variations of electrical suminisro system.

El CVR lleva a cabo su funcionamiento mediante dos pasos de elevación y uno de reducción del voltaje de entrada. Esto se realiza por medio de un autotransformador y un circuito de control que mantienen el voltaje de salida en los niveles seguros para la correcta operación de sus equipos.

The TRC carries out its work through two steps of elevation and a reduction of input voltage. This is done by means of an autotransformer and a control circuit maintaining the output voltage at safe levels for proper operation of your equipment.

Es un dispositivo electromagnético que consiste en un transformador de potencia y un circuito electrónico de control, el equipo está operado por un microcontrolador que da como resultado un producto muy confiable, eficiente, rápido y de alta precisión en su operación. Construido con los mejores materiales y un proceso de manufactura muy especializado, un equipo que puede operar ininterrumpidamente por mucho tiempo y que no requiere mantenimiento. El CORRECTOR DE VOLTAJE está diseñado para mantener un voltaje estable en una instalación eléctrica del tipo usado en casa habitación. El CORRECTOR DE VOLTAJE provee un voltaje adecuado para alimentar refrigeradores, lavadoras, alumbrado, equipo de bombeo, planchas, aire acondicionado y todos los equipos que tiene en su instalación eléctrica, aún en líneas tan bajas como 87 V~ y desde una operación sin carga hasta 60 A para el modelo 8000 VA y 30 A para el de 4000 VA.

Is a device consisting of a power transformer and an electronic control circuit, the computer is operated by a microcontroller which results in a very reliable, efficient, fast and highly accurate in its operation. Built with the finest materials and highly specialized manufacturing process, a team that can operate continuously for a long time and requires no maintenance. The VOLTAGE CORRECTOR is designed to maintain a stable voltage in an electrical system of the type used in household. VOLTAGE CORRECTOR provides the proper voltage to power refrigerators, washing machines, lighting, pumping equipment, irons, air conditioning and all the equipment you have in your electrical system, even as low as 87 lines V ~ and from a no-load operation up to 60 A for Model 8000 VA and 30 A for the 4000 VA.


CARACTERÍSTICAS MÉCANICAS POR MODELO
• Gabinete construido en lámina de acero de gran robustez mecánica, con acabado en pintura especial a prueba de intemperie.
• Tablilla de conexiones para entrada y salida en ambas capacidades.
• Cuenta con soporte para montaje en pared.
• Indicadores luminosos de operación en la parte frontal del equipo.

MECHANICAL FEATURES BY MODEL
• Cabinet constructed in steel sheet of high mechanical strength, special paint finish, weatherproof.
• Tablet for input and output connections in both capacities.
• It has support for wall mounting.
• Operation Lights in front of the computer.

Recuerde sea cual sea su voltaje de línea de entrada, usted tendrá un mejor voltaje a la salida del corrector, por ejemplo:
ENTRADA V~ 85 90 95 100 110 120 135 140 145 150 155
SALIDA V~ 103 109 115 121 121 120 121 125 130 134 139

Remember, whatever the input line voltage, you will have a better output voltage corrector, for example:
INPUT V ~ 85 90 95 100 110 120 135 140 145 150 155
OUTPUT V ~ 103 109 115 121 121 120 121 125 130 134 139

VOLTAGE

IN = OUT
85 = 103
90 = 109
95 = 115
100 = 121
110 = 121
120 = 120
135 = 121
140 = 125
145 = 130
150 = 134
155 = 139

CORRECTOR DE VOLTAJE 8000 - 4000
Regulador Electrónico, mantiene estable la energía eléctrica y cuenta con supresor de picos
VOLTAGE CORRECTOR 8000 - 4000
Electronic Throttle, stable electricity and surge has

MODELO 4KVA 8KVA
Ancho A 29,0 cm 38,0 cm
Fondo B 21,0 cm 24,0 cm
Altura C 25,5 cm 29,2 cm
Peso 12,7 kg 18,9 kg

MODEL 4KVA 8kVA
Width A 29.0 cm 38.0 cm
Fund B 21.0 cm 24.0 cm
Height C 25.5 cm 29.2 cm
Weight 12.7 kg 18.9 kg

ESPECIFICACIONES ELÉCTRICAS
ENTRADA
Voltaje de entrada 127V~+15, 7% -33%
(85 a 147 V~)
Frecuencia de entrada 60± 3 Hz
Sistema monofásico 4KVA(4000 VA)/ 8 KVA(8000 VA)
(*) Factor potencia 0,98 mínimo
(*) Eficiencia 99%
SALIDA
Voltaje de salida 102 a 129 V~
* a plena carga y a voltaje de línea nominal

ELECTRICAL
INPUT
Input Voltage 127V ~ +15, 7% -33%
(85 to 147 V ~)
Input Frequency 60 Hz ± 3
phase system 4KVA (4000 VA) / 8 KVA (8000 VA)
(*) 0.98 Minimum Power Factor
(*) 99% Efficiency
OUTPUT
Output voltage 102 to 129 V ~
* a full load at nominal line voltage

Recuerde sea cual sea su voltaje de línea de entrada, usted tendrá un mejor voltaje a la salida del corrector, por ejemplo:
ENTRADA V~ 85 90 95 100 110 120 135 140 145 150 155
SALIDA V~ 103 109 115 121 121 120 121 125 130 134 139

Remember, whatever the input line voltage, you will have a better output voltage corrector, for example:
INPUT V ~ 85 90 95 100 110 120 135 140 145 150 155
OUTPUT V ~ 103 109 115 121 121 120 121 125 130 134 139

VOLTAGE

IN = OUT
85 = 103
90 = 109
95 = 115
100 = 121
110 = 121
120 = 120
135 = 121
140 = 125
145 = 130
150 = 134
155 = 139

The ISB devices cannot provide more amps than the breaker to the parking space allows. You cannot get more from the outlet than the wiring provides for. So the ISB devices have potential but cannot improve on the electricity provided. What the ISB device can do is provide better voltage. It will not make a 15amp circuit provide you with 30amps. But if the outlet is capable the ISB devices are good up to these ratings…….

4000VA @ 120VAC = 33.4 AMPS

8000VA @ 120VAC = 66.8 AMPS

I do not think there are any parks in Mexico where more than the 4000VA ISB device might be necessary.