AC Low Voltage Protection.

Good Sam RV Club Member

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Posted: 03/17/15 11:17am Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
"there is a thing on every air cond compressor called a klixon that heats up at the same rate the windings in the motor do. If in a brownout period the voltage goes down, then the amperage goes up. Fact or law of electric. the klixon will snap off until it cools and then snap back on. It should (repeat should) prevent the AC from turning to toast.If you hear the compressor cycling, turn it off.For best insurance, buy a Progressive EMS and it will turn off the electric for you. Absolute peace of mind for a couple hundred bucks."
I found what I read a while back copied above, I had not heard this before either but found it very interesting. Apparently Klixon makes a lot of switches. Sounds like if you could put one in that shuts off at 108 volts the AC would be protected from low voltage, I was hoping some electricians could comment.

Never heard of that on an a/c unit.

I too am not aware of any such Air Conditioner.

I have a Hughes auto-former.. This device will boost low voltage if it can,, and if it can not boost enough then a Surge Protector such as the Progressiv Industries job in the last post.... Very good product.

Yes an EMS will protect from low voltage/high voltage events by cutting power off until voltage is back within limits----103V t0 132V.

Problem is AC motors can incur damage at 108V.

I have a Progressive Industries unit and it has found 'reversed polarity', 'open neutral' and has cut power during low voltage excursions BUT I actively monitor AC voltage in rig and I shut down AC when voltage is low at 108V.

Need be I'll run generator until voltage improves.

I don't believe any air conditioners have such a switch. It would take a power management device to do something like that. One company that makes such devices is Progressive Industries. Their EMS are available in 30 amp and 50 amp versions

Progressive Industries 50 amp EMS

These devices will protect you from low voltage, high voltage, surges and miswiring.