The solution would be to use 2 or 3 autoformers in series!! By boosting 10 percent each time, 85 volts would become 93.5 volts, which would become 103 and then finally 113 volts. Sometimes you've gotta think outside the box... :B:B Sure, you could fry some wires somewhere from the increased current, but you might at least get enough time for your morning coffee to brew. ;)
85 volts is seriously low and well below utility company requirements (ANSI C84.1), NEMA standards or NEC min. requirements. The reason for low voltage lies with the CG/RV park and when it was built, plus the increasing power demands of RVs and the NEC (National Electrical Code) requirements that applied at the time.
Min. quantities of 50, 30 & 20 amp receptacle has changed a lot over the years along with a change in demand factors. In the 1996 NEC for example, only 5 percent of pedestals in RV parks had to be 50 amps. Today it is 20 percent. In recent years, the numbers of 50 amp RVs has substantially increased putting a much higher strain on CG wiring than it was originally designed for, resulting in issues like low voltage. 30 amp RVs can draw more power than compared to 20,30 or 40 years ago which adds to the problem. The methods used for running wiring in older CGs is different than today as well. Older CGs are more likely to have voltage problems as a result, and the older one is, the worse it can be. Some rainy day I plan to do a history of the NEC changes for CG wiring and how the wiring methods have changed.
One thing to note about electrical appliances and products that are resistive (toasters, coffee makers, heaters, hair dryers, etc.) is that output varies as the square of the voltage. 85 volts will result in a 50% output of it's rating (85/120 x 85/240). A 1,000 watt coffee maker for ex. would give you 500 watts and take a lot longer to work, if at all.
If the 85 volts is caused by the CG wiring I wouls go into dry camp mode. Or use a gen. if you have one. Low volts could possibly be due to a bad pedestal recept. or shore power cord plug. If a 30 amp pedestal has low voltage, the 20 amp receptacle will be low too. You *might* try plugging your coffee maker directly into the 20 amp recept. and if lucky might get a few more volts. Sometimes a section in a CG can be low compared to other sections.
We were at a CG this past weekend that had 108 without much running. Recently bought a Hughes autoformer and got to try it out for the first time. Maintained the volts up around 118-120 and saved us... The CG was nearly 100% full for the Independence Day holiday weekend and the power demands would have been way above what the place was originally designed to.
