Totonaka Park in San Carlos

We have stay here but it has been a while. Had a great stay.

http://www.ontheroadin.com/Mexico%20West%20Coast%202011/Hotel%20Playa%20Cortez%20RV%20Park.htm

rocmoc n AZ

Thanks for the reminder! Until this coach, that is where we always stayed, and really liked it. No easily accessible beach to run the dogs on, but if the power and wifi work, they can just get walked.

Nice beach just North within walking, maybe less than a mile.

rocmoc n AZ

$22.28 USD according to yesterday's BanaMex ATM rate.

You stay there without power.
I'll stay overnight in a gasolinera and pocket the $22.28
And save the 10-miles off Mex 15 diversion.

The electrical issue in the park lasted for approximately 7 hours November 2 2017. A new 250 amp main breaker was replaced a sap. The entire park has power and all is fine. Joseph the owner and manager, yes, is a UCLA graduate has managed and operated the park for 18 years. TOTONAKA RV is a great park where any issues get resolved very quickly.

We are currently at Totonaka in San Carlos, and are just as happy as always. The park is clean, neat, and still has Jose as the friendly, helpful manager. The ownership has NOT changed, and yes, Joseph is a UCLA graduate.

As stated above, there was a new transformer installed that was defective, was replaced, and all is now back to normal.

We were told that there was a group of about 20 vehicles in during that time, many who were experiencing their first trip to Mexico, and they had a difficult time with the high voltage/no voltage.

Most seem to forget, or not know that the standard voltage in Mexico is 129, not 120 as is the standard in the US. When we plugged in, the voltage was 131, but as soon as we put the Sola Basic in line, we are at 122.

The WIFI?? I'm on it now, hooked up easily, and it has acceptable speed. In Yuma two days ago, I never could get on.

Unfortunately, it appears that Totonaka received some bad reviews that were simply a case of "things happen."

We'll enjoy our night here, and stay here again in the spring on our way north.

To mince a quite minor point...

Comision Federal de Electricidad is 127 vac 60 Hz. 254 volts for servivio de dos hilos. The electrical appliance standards bureau is called NOM.

I have to work with this stuff all the time building filter suppressors and line protection for lightning strikes.

Now for extra information :)

Mexico uses neighborhood service distribution networks supplied by a WYE rather than a DELTA wound transformer. This is why in urban areas 4 vertically stacked wires are found on power poles. It is common for one 25 Kw transformer to supply a dozen residences. A 200 ampere SINGLE RESIDENCE service drop in the USA may use the same potential transformer only in single phase configuration.

Businesses who require a dedicated service drop transformer pay for the transformer and for it's installation.

(30) occupied spaces at an RV park equipped with 15 ampere receptacles operating at capacity can draw 57,000 + watts. 2 phases halve that burden to 28.000 VA each leg. Divide 57K / 3 for a three phase service transformer feed.

This will give a starting point to guesstimate park burden versus capacity issues. I have seen few three phase transformers in Mexico rated for above 25 KW.

And keep in mind, a single 15-amp receptacle per rig.

Now, run and go look at the size of that transformer :)

We were having electrical problems a few years ago. I was getting readings of 133 volts. The CFE guy came out and said it was high as on the weekends there was a high demand and the voltage dropped. There was an unused transformer a half block away that was unused. he hooked me up and my problems are gone. Voltage is usually 129 to 130. I have a 120 amp service in the house and 120 amp in my shop . With added development there are 3 small homes with 40 amps each and one boat house with a 60 amp service connected to this transformer. It is 142.5KVA !

Moisheh