Forum Discussion

mamaw56's avatar
mamaw56
Explorer
Jul 22, 2016

Electrical

We have a Hughes 50 AMP Autoformer Voltage Regulator. Yesterday the coach power went off in the main living area. AC stayed on in the bedroom however. It seems to be that one leg of the regulator failed. Is there a way to repair it or should we buy a new one. It's only 5 years old. Seems to me that they should last longer than that for what they cost but I have no other experience to go on...please advise.

8 Replies

  • While the Autoformer is a robust appliance, I did have a failure on mine - I have it plugged in constantly in a basement compartment and I lost power on one side of the RV once. After checking the pedestal, I determined that the outlet on the Autoformer had a loose connection on one of the hot lines - the plug was no longer making contact with the outlet. I replaced the outlet on the box and it's been working great for over 5 years now. The outlets work by forcing the plug blades to push their way into a piece of metal that's been bent over so that it contacts both sides of the blade. Over time the metal fatigues and it loses its ability to keep a tight connection with the blade. Normally that happens when something is constantly being plugged in and unplugged, such as the outlets on the campground pedestal, but I learned that it can also happen when something is plugged in all the time and never unplugged.
  • I agree it's not the autoformer. Remove the autoformer and see if the problem persists. If it does, start the trouble shooting process with the circuit breakers and GFCIs. The circuit breakers on the inverter are hard to spot if you don't know what you're looking for. Usually they are simply small button breakers. Look closely as they are easily overlooked.....Dennis
  • You may also want to check any GFI outlets that you have to see if any of them have tripped. Your AC will not be on a GFI.
  • dons2346 wrote:
    Sounds like you popped a circuit breaker on your inverter. Find your inverter and reset both breakers.

    If only part of your electrical plugs went dead, there is nothing wrong with the autoformer.


    x2 - check the inverter
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    For those to fail is kind of rare, But as Dons said, breakers (And a few other things) do fail.. I would start there.. NOTE: Though one would THINK that the dual ganged 50 amp breaker in the park's box.. or in your motor home, is that way so that both sides (legs) trip together.. Such is not the case. that is often two standard single breakers with a tie bar between the handles but packaged in a single case.. (Sorry if that is hard to read)
    One case with two breakers each independent, only the handles are tied together.
  • Sounds like you popped a circuit breaker on your inverter. Find your inverter and reset both breakers.

    If only part of your electrical plugs went dead, there is nothing wrong with the autoformer.