Over the years, I have stayed at many campgrounds. It seems that I have experienced low voltage AC power more times than not. This year we are at a seasonal site and was experiencing low voltage on weekends (107 to 110 volt) without running Air conditioning or electric water heater. The highest voltage I could achieve during the week was 114v. I know that in time this will place a strain on my appliances. I couldn't even make decent toast and the electric griddle would take forever to heat up. decided to research and looked into voltage regulators (aka Autoformers). I decided to give one a try. I bought a 50 amp Hughes Autoformer factory direct on eBay shipped for $489 (no tax). CW wanted around $600.I will say this thing is amazing. It weighs about 48lbs and about the size of 2 bricks. Before plugging it in, I got 114 volts at a wall outlet with nothing running and 110 with AC running. After plugging in the Autoformer, I got 122 with nothing running and 117 with air conditioning running. I realize this thing is pricey but so is a new fridge or AC, TV, etc. I highly recommend this for those who experience low voltage issues. Eventually, I will hard wire the unit inside the rig because I I don't like it at the power pedestal. It is locked up but still, this thing is expensive.

Hi Steve,Does it have any surge protection built in?

Hi, Yes the Hughes Autoformer is the solution for many. I built my own with a 12 volt 500 watt (40 amp) transformer. Just about as expensive once I bought all the wiring and fittings. One time I was at a race track in Bowling Green with about 100' of extension cord, and was getting 108 volts after the 12 volt boost. So you still need to keep checking the voltage just not as often. 105 volts is fine for running the air conditioner, it will still draw a normal amperage, but lower than that, I would shut it off and suffer. CHanging the refrigerator on hot days will help by reducing your amperage into the RV by 3 amps, sometimes increasing the voltage by 2 volts. Also the refrigerator will have about 30% - 40% more cooling capacity on gas than on electric. This is due to a larger capacity burner, than the electric heat element heat output.The gas/electric heating element will actually last longer and put out less wattage on a lower voltage. At 122 volts, then the amperage will increase (compared to 117 volts) and is more likely to be damaged over the long time, due to increased amperage through the heater, making it run hotter. When I was using my voltage booster and ran the refrigerator all summer long in one place, I plugged in the refrigerator via a small 120 volt extension cord under the RV into the outside vent of the refrigerator. This allowed it to run on 108- 118 volts while I ran my A/C at the boosted voltage.Fred.

You need to make sure that campgrounds will allow you to use it. Many will not because it "steals current" from others. Just make sure.

Leeblev wrote:You need to make sure that campgrounds will allow you to use it. Many will not because it "steals current" from others. Just make sure.It doesn't "Steal current". You pedestal will still trip at 30 amps. Only difference, you will have less amperage available to the trailer.There is still the Frank's Autoformer, also.

The campground knows I have it and all I know is that it works and I am now protected. Plus I can make my bacon :)

Low voltage at campgrounds? I found the solution.

Harvey51
Explorer
Jul 25, 2014
Is there no subsidized solar in the US? I think you have considerable subsidized wind power. We have a lot of subsidized solar power in Canada, in the province of Ontario. Much of the energy is given away to US utilities because it is too expensive to store until needed. Solar needs to be tied to a demand that is greatest when the sun shines in order to be cost effective. In the US you can get collectors at a dollar a watt, far less than in Canada, while there is much less hydro electric power per capita. An RV park located away from cities would require a fairly expensive service power line. Continuous service is not critical. Several points in favour of RV parks being a good choice for deployment of solar collectors.
RR24
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
Harvey51 wrote:
Low voltage at a campground is kind of like a brown out, where the power company doesn't have the capacity to supply all its customers. Rather than cut some of them completely off, they allow the voltage to fall, which reduces the current draw.

When voltage drops current draw or (amps) goes up not down.
myredracer
Explorer II
Jul 26, 2014
SCVJeff wrote:
Gil, in the middle of everyone going round about who does and doesn't allow boost transformers, very nice write-up !

Thanks! As an EE, I'm just trying to tell it like it is.

RR24 wrote:
Harvey51 wrote:
Low voltage at a campground is kind of like a brown out, where the power company doesn't have the capacity to supply all its customers. Rather than cut some of them completely off, they allow the voltage to fall, which reduces the current draw.

When voltage drops current draw or (amps) goes up not down.

Sorry, but that is incorrect. It only goes up for AC units gut for everything else, it goes down. Ohms Law: Current = voltage divided by resistance (I=E/R).

And as I said earlier, power output of resistive device varies as the square of the voltage. If the voltage dropped to 3/4 of it's nominal/rated voltage on something like a toaster, the output will only be 3/4 x 3/4 = 9/16 of it's rating. That's why many appliances don't work well when there is a lot of voltage drop. The output of a motor only will also vary as the square of the voltage - anything from your table saw at home to large industrial motors. AC units are different though than a motor only.

As an example, if you look at 240 volt rated heaters at a store, they are often rated for 208 volts also (a commercial/industrial voltage) and for 240 volts. At 208 volts, they put out 75% of the rating which will be shown in the heater's specs.
samsontdog
Explorer
Jul 29, 2014
Cummins12V98 wrote:
samsontdog wrote:
I have never in over 10 years told that I could not use my Autoformer in a Park

You have never been to Thousand Trails Palm Springs then!

A few years ago someone convinced them that Autoformers or the like were causing their pedestals to go bad. The fact was their pedestals were ancient and were in need of replacement. I guess this last winter they had no problems with people using them. I built ours in and it works great and by doing so I don't have to lock it up as they are easily stolen.

Actually I have been there many times. It has been 10 years or so since we last went there

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Low voltage at campgrounds? I found the solution.

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