autoformers for dummies (me)
Hi all, I've heard folks saying autoformers "steal" power from the campground and hence from other campers. Here is my understanding of what happens. The total wattage remains the same less abou...
Forum Discussion
Hi Larry,
Triker33's autoformer seems to not work. However, I have documented in another thread that the Sola Basic does boost the voltage as expected. The Sola will boost from 90 volts to 109 volts. It will boost from 85 to 106 but that is not enough for my comfort zone. It is fast enough to react to the surge demands on the 13500 btu air conditioner, which is a bonus I did not expect. It is cute to see the voltage instantly rise 3 when the compressor cuts in.
Boost from the Sola is 110-->121 (but if input voltage were 107 then output is 118), 100-->121 (but if input voltage were 98 then output is 119) and so on.
From my point of view, the damage from low voltage, which is cumulative, to electronics, and most especially to motors is what needs to be addressed.
Since the Surge Guard cuts out at 102 (way too low) and the PI cuts out at 104 (too low), they do not properly protect from low voltage, nor do they correct low voltage. Their high voltage cut out appears to work well--but I've never heard of anyone having high voltage in a campground. The Sola does correct low voltage, and also bucks high voltage feeding the RV safe voltage power from 90 to 145 volts.
Why should I pay to fix the campground's (electrical) problems? Because I want to protect my RV--which is the whole premise of the SG and PI units (which, in my opinion they don't do well at).
As to moving to another campground--that is not always possible, nor is there any guaranty that voltage will be better at another location. Low voltage appears to be endemic at campgrounds as soon as air conditioner season arrives. Even if the electrical code were changed today, most if not all campgrounds only provide that 41% is the requirement--and all existing campgrounds would be grandfathered in.
BTW I've added surge protection to the Sola at TWICE the level offered by the SG and PI units. I hope to upgrade that even farther in the near future.
Triker33's autoformer seems to not work. However, I have documented in another thread that the Sola Basic does boost the voltage as expected. The Sola will boost from 90 volts to 109 volts. It will boost from 85 to 106 but that is not enough for my comfort zone. It is fast enough to react to the surge demands on the 13500 btu air conditioner, which is a bonus I did not expect. It is cute to see the voltage instantly rise 3 when the compressor cuts in.
Boost from the Sola is 110-->121 (but if input voltage were 107 then output is 118), 100-->121 (but if input voltage were 98 then output is 119) and so on.
From my point of view, the damage from low voltage, which is cumulative, to electronics, and most especially to motors is what needs to be addressed.
Since the Surge Guard cuts out at 102 (way too low) and the PI cuts out at 104 (too low), they do not properly protect from low voltage, nor do they correct low voltage. Their high voltage cut out appears to work well--but I've never heard of anyone having high voltage in a campground. The Sola does correct low voltage, and also bucks high voltage feeding the RV safe voltage power from 90 to 145 volts.
Why should I pay to fix the campground's (electrical) problems? Because I want to protect my RV--which is the whole premise of the SG and PI units (which, in my opinion they don't do well at).
As to moving to another campground--that is not always possible, nor is there any guaranty that voltage will be better at another location. Low voltage appears to be endemic at campgrounds as soon as air conditioner season arrives. Even if the electrical code were changed today, most if not all campgrounds only provide that 41% is the requirement--and all existing campgrounds would be grandfathered in.
BTW I've added surge protection to the Sola at TWICE the level offered by the SG and PI units. I hope to upgrade that even farther in the near future.
LarryJM wrote:Triker33 wrote:
A autoformer won't boost you from 110 to 120V most don't have that much boost.
If you have a surge protector with the low & high cutoff you won't be running your roof AC on lower power then it can handle.
That's my take on it also and why I think in the vast majority of cases an autoformer is a waste of $$$ since if it is really needed then IMO I would be looking for a different CG that has the proper facilities that I'm paying for. Another way I look at it is that it's there problem and why should I pay to fix their issue.
Larry
